Screening of the insecticidal activity of extracts from 106 plants in northwest area of China

【Objective】 In this report we described the evaluating results covering 106 species of plants in the northwest area of China in order to find new plant materials for the development of botanical pesticide.【Method】 Acetone extracts of 106 plants were evaluated for insecticidal activity against the 3rd larva of Mythimna separata W.and Plutella xylostella L.by a leaf dipping method,with concentration of 1 g/mL.【Result】 Ten plant extracts showed strong antifeedant against the 3rd larvae of M.separata W.,and the antifeedant(24 h)was higher than 95.0%,six plant extracts showed obvious toxic activity against M.separata W.,and the mortality(72 h)was higher than 30.0%.In addition,Acanthopanax gracilistylus W.W.Smith,Cephalotaxus sinensis(Rehd.Et Wils.)L.,Carpesium abrotanoides Linn.,Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.and Paeonia suffruticosa Andr.showed strong antifeedant and toxic activity against the 3rd larvae of P.xylostella L.,whose antifeedant(48 h)and mortality(72 h)were more than 90.0%.【Conclusion】 The results suggested that extracts from A.gracilistylus W.W.Smith,P.suffruticosa Andr.,C.sinensis(Rehd.Et Wils.)L.,C.abrotanoides Linn.and G.uralensis Fisch exhibited both strong antifeedant and toxic activity against the two selected insects,and are well worth investigating.