The Biological Activity of Cupressus sempervirens Extracts against Musca domestica
Ahmed I. Hasaballah *
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt.
Ahmed Z. Shehata
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt.
Mohammad A. Fouda
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt.
Mostafa I. Hassan
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt.
Mohammed E. Gad
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The biological activity against the larval, pupal and adult stages, moreover, the efficacy on reproductive potential, antifeedant and repellency activity of ethanolic, acetone and petroleum ether, leaves and stems extracts of C. sempervirens against the housefly, M. domestica were evaluated. The larval and pupal duration, pupal mortality, adult emergence and growth index were highly affected by different extracts tested. The antifeedant and repellent activity of was varied depending on the solvent, plant parts used in extraction and the dose of extract. Tested extracts significantly reduced the fecundity and increased the sterility. Based on LC50, the toxicity may be arranged as follows: leaves > stems. Petroleum ether extract from leaves was more effective in inducing the fecundity, antifeedant, repellent actions and egg-hatchability than those from stems. These results may provide an opportunity to develop alternatives to costly organic pesticides using some available cheap plants, which are usually safe to the environment and to other living organisms.
Keywords: C. sempervirens, M. domestica, toxicity, fecundity, antifeedant, pesticides