Chemical Composition of Biological Pesticides in Leaf of Chromolaena odorata

Abstract

The increased use of pesticides in the control of vector pests has raised some concern over the adverse effect of these chemicals on humans, domestic animals and their environment. This research was undertaken to harness the beneficial use of the extract of Chromolaena odorata, as biopesticide. This study aims to determine bio-pesticidal chemical composition in ethanolic extract of Chromolaena odorata (Siam weed). Fresh and healthy leaves of Chromolaena odorata, were harvested. They were air dried for four weeks on the laboratory bench, pulverized and extracted using soxhlet apparatus and ethanol as the solvent. The bioactive of ethanolic extracts from the siam weed were profiled using gas chromatography flame ionization detector (GC-FID). The ethanolic extracts underwent GC-FID analysis, which identified 49 components. According to the bioactive contents of the extracts from the plant, these substances fall within the class of terpenes, esters, sterols, and triterpenoids, which were recognized to have active plant-protective and healthimproving effects on economic food crops. Consequently, from the various literatures, the GC-FID analysis of the phytochemical components found in the siam weed extracts showed the potential to serve as biological insecticides, nematicides, bactericides and fungicides.