Abstract
Plant extracts offer an alternative approach to safeguarding stored food products. Our research is focused on assessing the insecticidal properties of aqueous and ethanolic extracts containing bioactive compounds obtained from two species of Azolla; A. pinnata and A. Microphylla against pests that affect stored food items. Two drying processes were conducted in order to compare the yield of bioactive compounds (freeze-drying and oven-drying). We employed two extraction methods (maceration and decoction), using ethanol and water as solvents. Phytochemical screening of both extracts was carried out by CG-MS analysis. The insecticidal properties of the obtained extracts were assessed using the spraying method on larvae and adults of Tribolium castaneum. The results indicated that the freeze-dried samples had the highest yield, with the ethanolic extract by decoction recording the highest value at 26.07%. GC-MS analysis for both species confirmed the existence of primarily fatty acid, terpenoid, steroid, coumarin, and flavonoid derivatives compounds Overall, the various extracts exhibited high toxicity against both larvae and adults. The mortality rate was increased according to the increasing concentration of extracts. The lowest LC50 of A. pinnata and A. microphylla extracts were found to be 872.42 µg/mL and 894,65 µg/mL, respectively. The aqueous extract caused higher toxicity, reaching 96%. The results of this study may indicate that the dry matter from A. pinnata and A. Microphylla demonstrated effective toxicity against individuals of T. castaneum. The potency of this effect is evidenced by the mortality of both the larvae and adults.