Phytochemical composition and pesticidal properties of herbal prototype produced by analytical biosciences laboratory on selected crop pests

Abstract

There are growing concerns about pesticide resistance and environmental safety in Uganda due to the high use of synthetic pesticides for controlling crop pests. This situation creates a serious need for natural alternatives. This study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition and pest-killing properties of a formulated archived herbal pesticide prototype. During the study, phytochemical screening and bioassay tests were conducted on selected crop pests to identify the phytochemical components of the prototype and its effectiveness against agricultural pests known to resist common pesticides used by farmers. The phytochemistry results showed four main phytochemicals; alkaloids, phenolic compounds, saponins, and flavonoid. In this analysis, alkaloids were present in higher concentration followed by phenolic compounds and flavonoids and finally saponins with the least concentration. These compounds are known for their insecticidal and antimicrobial properties. The herbal prototype was then tested on four major crop pests: termites, black ants, aphids, and beetles. The mortality rates observed after exposure to the prototype were 90% for termites, 80% for black ants, 100% for aphids, and 70% for beetles. These results highlight that the herbal extract has a strong pest-fighting potential mostly against soft bodied insects like aphids and termites and moderate potential against insects with hard cuticle like black Ants and aphids. This suggests that it could serve as a viable and environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic pesticides. The study recommends further field trials, toxicological studies, and dose-response assessments. These steps would evaluate its effectiveness and safety in real agricultural conditions and determine its lethal dose 50 (LD50) to find the appropriate dosage for practical use.