PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOUNDS IN SENNA SIAMEA LEAVES POWDERS FOR INSECT PEST CONTROL

Abstract

Laboratory evaluation of phytochemical compounds and insecticidal/repellent effect of Senna siamea L. leaves was conducted. Ethanol, methanol and distilled water were used as extraction solvents for the conduct of untargeted Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the leave extracts. To mention but few, the ethanol extracts revealed the presence of  2-[2-(2-Ethoxyethoxy) ethoxy]ethyl acetate (C₉H₁₈O₅); 3-Methylmannoside (C₇H₁₄O₆); 7H-Chromen-7-one, 8-hydroxy-2,4-dimethyl (C₁₁H₁₀O₃); 3,5-Dimethylanisole C₉H₁₂O as compound with the highest percentage area.Methanol extracts showed Thiophene, tetrahydro-2-methyl- (C₅H₁₀S); 4,6-Di-O-methyl-.alpha.-d-galactose (C₈H₁₆O₆); 2-Furancarboxaldehyde, 5-[(5-methyl-2-furanyl)methyl]- (C₁₁H₁₀O₃); 5,9-Undecadien-2-one, 6,10-dimethyl- (C₁₃H₂₂O) as compound with the highest percentage area. Distilled water extraction revealed Phosphoric acid, dimethyl(4-methoxy-3-t-butylphenyl) ester (C₁₃H₂₁O₅P); Vitamin E (C₂₉H₅₀O₂); Naphtalene-1,3-dicarbonitrile, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2-hydroxy-4-phenyl (C₁₈H₁₄N₂O); Lanosterol (C₃₀H₅₀O) as compound with the highest percentage area. Phytochemicals have been used for many years to control insect pest damage in agricultural crops. Pyretre, Nicotine, Rotenone and tobacco have long been used as control agents against insects in some regions of sub-Saharan Africa. Unlike synthetic chemical insecticides that kill both pests and non-target organisms, botanicals pesticides are relatively target specific. They are also biodegradable, environmentally friendly, and can also be used in insecticide resistance management programs. Hence, could serve as good alternatives to chemical insecticides.