Toxicity and Repellant Activity of Three Spice Materials on Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) Adults

Abstract

The chloroform extracts of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.), ajowain (Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Link.) and fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-grecum L.) were tested against the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Hbst.) adults through residual film assay and their repellent activity were also conducted. The LD50 values for coriander, ajowain and fenugreek were 316.173 and 243.5895, 271.4573 and 232.7095, and 159.0106 and 4.194236 ?g/cm2 for 24- and 48 h of exposure respectively. According to the intensity of activity the toxicity were found in the order of fenugreek> ajowain >coriander, while the repellent activities were in the order of fenugreek> coriander> ajowain. Key words: Coriandrum sativum, Trachyspermum ammi, Trigonella foenum-grecum biological activity, Tribolium castaneum. J. bio-sci. 14: 127-130, 2006