In vivo and in vitro investigations on rotenoids from Indigofera tinctoria and their bioefficacy against the larvae of Anopheles stephensi and adults of Callosobruchus chinensis.

ABSTRACT

Various plant parts of Indigofera tinctoria L. were collected separately at different growth stages and analysed for their rotenoid content. The total rotenoid content decreased with age; among the plant parts, maximum content was in leaves and minimum in stem. The identity of different rotenoids was confirmed by melting point, mixed melting point, UV and infrared spectral studies, and gas-liquid chromatography. Six rotenoids (deguelin, dehydrodeguelin, rotenol, rotenone, tephrosin and sumatrol) were isolated, identified and quantified in vivo. The static cultures of Indigofera tinctoria were established from seeds on RT medium, and maintained for a period of six months by frequent subculturings. Only four rotenoids were present in callus cultures; sumatrol and tephrosin were absent. The maximum content was found in eight week old tissue after fresh subculturings and minimum at 2 weeks. The toxicological studies of in vivo and in vitro extract against the pulse beetle (Callosobruchus chinensis) and mosquito (Anopheles stephensi) larvae, showed that rotenoids were more effective against mosquito larvae than Callosobruchus chinensis. Extracts from callus was more effective against both the test animals than that from plant parts.