Avaliação da toxicidade do extrato de folhas de Annona squamosa para Aedes aegypti, Nasutitermes corniger e Sitophilus zeamais

Abstract

The high environmental toxicity of the compounds currently used for control of insect pests, as well as the emergence of resistant populations have stimulated the search for new agents with insecticidal activity. In this work, an extract of Annona squamosa (Annonaceae) leaves was evaluated for the presence of proteins and secondary metabolites. The effect of the extract on larvae of Aedes aegypti (vector of dengue, yellow fever, zika and chikungunya) and adults of Nasutitermes corniger (urban pest) and Sitophilus zeamais (agricultural pest) was also investigated. The chemical characterization of the extract revealed the presence of proteins, lectin (HAE = 21,3) and trypsin inhibitor (15,6 U/mg) activities, as well as secondary metabolites the classes of flavonoids (rutin), cinnamic derivatives (chlorogenic acid), saponins, anthraquinones, terpenes and steroids. The extract was in toxic to A. aegypti larvae and the concentration required to kill 50% of larvae (CL50) was 1.9% (m/v). On the other hand, the extract did not affect the survival of N. corniger soldiers and workers. S. zeamais adults showed mortality ranging from 51.2 to 63.8% regarding the control when fed with the diet containing the extract (15 to 75 mg/g), but a strong deterrent feeding effect was detected. This data revealed that the insects die from starvation and not from intoxication due to the extract intake. The treatment with the extract resulted in high mortality of Hyalella sp. at the concentration corresponding to the LC50 for A. aegypti. However, the presence of the extract interferes with the pH and the amount of dissolved O2 in the culture solution, suggesting that Hyalella sp mortality cannot be a result of a direct toxicity of the extract. In conclusion, the A. squamosa leaf extract is an interesting candidate for use in the control of A. aegypti populations and as a protection agent for stored grains against the S. zeamais attack. Additionally, the use of the extract in the environment needs caution due to the high mortality detected for Hyalella sp.