Abstract

TOXIC EFFECTS OF CASSIA ALATA ON BIOCHEMICAL AND ENZYMATIC PARAMETERS OF TRIBOLIUM CASTANEUM (HERBST)

Upadhyay R.K.*, Gupta R.K., Prajapati K.K. and Ahmad S.

Abstract

In the present investigation different Cassia alata solvent extracts wereevaluated for its toxic effects on T. castaneum in the laboratory. Itseffect was observed on changes in the level of different bio-moleculesand certain metabolic enzymes of T. castaneum at different timeperiods i. e 4hr, 8hr, 12hr and 16hr following sub-lethal (40% and 80%0f 24-h LD50) exposures different solvent extracts of C. alata wasstudied. Six extracts were applied for obtaining LD50 values. The LD50values of acetone, chloroform, petroleum ether, methanol, hexane andwater was found to be very low i.e. 0.840μg/gm, 0.510μg/gm,0.590μg/gm, 1.57μg/gm 0.310 μg/gm and 2.50μg/gm respectively.Activity of different bio-molecules i. e. glycogen, protein, DNA, RNA and amino acids intreated beetles (T. castaneum) was significantly (p<0.05) decreased after 16 hr treatment incomparison to control beetles. Hexane extract have shown higher depletion i.e. 51.39%,40.82%, 28.25%, 32.18% and 28.33% in glycogen, protein, DNA, RNA and amino acidsrespectively. Same Above extract have potentially inhibit the activity of acid phosphatase(54.85%), alkaline phosphatase (60.71%), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (62.69%) andglutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (72.37%), lactic dehydrogenase (85.46%) andacetylcholinesterase (63.51%) and obstruct the physiological homeostasis. Low LD50 valuesobtained in different fractions and its action on enzymes and other biomolecules indicatesthat Cassia alata possess potential candidates that can be used for control of T. castaneumand other stored grain insects.

Keywords: Tribolium castanem, Cassia alata, Enzymatic changes, bio pesticides.