Disease-carrying insects transmit many of the most serious human diseases. After decades of repeated
use of insecticides, all of these vector species have demonstrated the ability to develop resistance
to insecticides. This has necessitated the development of more efficient and environmentally safe
alternatives in the form of biopesticides. Plants contain a wide range of potential phytochemicals
that target a specific target, are rapidly biodegradable, environmentally friendly, and have a variety
of therapeutic effects, making them a treasure trove of biological materials. Moreover, this has led to
the creation of highly effective new drugs. The present study aims to demonstrate the specific active
components in Physalis peruviana calyces that were collected in two consecutive fruiting seasons
through UPLC/MS and multivariate data analyses. The extracts were prepared using 70% methanol/
water and petroleum ether for each season, then evaluated against disease-carrying vectors, Culex
pipiens and Musca domestica. The UPLC/MS analysis resulted in the tentative identification of fifty-four
secondary metabolites belonging mainly to flavonoids, phenolic acids, withanolides, triterpenoids,
phenyl propanoids, and many others. After various intervals of exposure, plant extracts in this study
showed high insecticidal activity against mosquito and housefly larvae, Cx. pipiens, and M. domestica.
Data showed that P. peruviana methanol extract (POM) appeared to be most effective (MO%) against
Cx. pipiens (LC50 = 8.18 mg/ml) and M. domestica larvae (LC50 = 9.87 mg/ml), 24 h post-treatment. The
relative toxicity revealed that the old P. peruviana extract (POM) was the most effective in killing
larvae, followed by the POP extract, while the modern extracts (PNM and PNP) were less successful on
mosquito and housefly larvae. Thus, Physalis peruviana calyx extracts can act as a potential biocontrol
agent against certain medical insects. |
