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DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1556220
Phytochemical and insecticidal studies on T. arjuna
Plants have co-evolved with insects, developing sophisticated mechanisms to defend themselves. Plants synthesize a wide range of compounds called secondary metabolites that are not directly related to plant metabolism but help the plants defend themselves against pests. Terminalia arjuna (TA) is a tree that belongs to the family Combretaceae and is found in abundance throughout India, Burma, Sri Lanka and Mauritius. The bark and fruits from this tree have been used in Ayurveda (the ancient Indian medicine system) for various ailments. Previous studies from our lab have shown the crude ethanolic extract of TA (bark) to show growth inhibition and pupation delay in third instar of Drosophila melanogaster. In the current investigation, we have extracted the TA bark sequentially with hexane, ether, ethyl acetate and ethanol and have looked at the sequentially obtained ethanolic extract and its effects on the growth inhibition in larvae of D. melanogaster. Phytochemical analysis on the ethanolic extract of TA shows the presence of saponins, flavonoids, and carbohydrates. Results of the bioassays as well as phytochemical analysis will be presented.