Antifeedant Activity and Toxicity of n-Butanol Fractions from Bitung Seeds (Barringtonia asiatica (L.) Kurz) against Grayak Caterpillar Larvae (Spodoptera litura)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36526/jc.v8i2.6901Keywords:
antifeedant, Barringtonia asiatica, biopesticide, botanical insecticide, triterpenoid saponins, Spodoptera litura, toxicityAbstract
The increased use of synthetic pesticides has led to resistance problems in pests such as armyworms (Spodoptera litura), causing negative environmental impacts and necessitating the development of plant-based biopesticide alternatives. The seed of the fish poison tree (Barringtonia asiatica), which are rich in triterpenoid saponins, shows potential as a source of bioactive compounds for pest control. This study aims to analyze the total saponin content in B. asiatica seed fractions, determine the antifeedant activity at various concentrations against S. litura larvae, and assess its toxicity. The methods included the extraction of seeds through methanol maceration, liquid-liquid fractionation using n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol, as well as qualitative and quantitative saponins analysis, and antifeedant and toxicity assays using the no-choice half-leaf feeding method on third-instar larvae. The findings show that the highest saponin content was found in the n-butanol fraction at 22.08%, followed by the methanol-water fraction 14.96% and the ethyl acetate fraction 8.92%. The antifeedant activity of the n-butanol fraction at concentrations of 5%, 7.5%, and 10% ranged from 5.69% to 13.52%, with no significant differences among concentrations. Toxicity increased with concentration, with larval mortality reaching 66.67% at 10%, which was significantly different from lower concentrations. These findings indicate that the n-butanol fraction of B. asiatica seeds exhibits toxicity and is therefore effective as an antifeedant. It can be further developed as a candidate botanical insecticide against S. litura larvae at higher concentrations, with additional studies needed for formulation optimization and long-term evaluation.
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