The antiplasmodial activity of spermine alkaloids isolated from Albizia gummifera.

In the present study the methanolic extract of Albizia gummifera was fractionated into various fractions. These fractions were tested against choroquine sensitive (NF54) and resistant (ENT30) strains of Plasmodium falciparum. All other fractions apart from the alkaloidal fraction showed low activity with IC 50 above 3 microg/ml. The alkaloidal fraction exhibited strong activity against NF54 and ENT30 with IC 50 of 0.16+/-0.05 and 0.99+/-0.06 microg/ml, respectively. Five known spermine alkaloids were isolated from the alkaloidal fraction. These alkaloids exhibited activities against NF54 and ENT30 with IC 50 ranging from 0.09+/-0.02 to 0.91+/-0.10 microg/ml. Four of the alkaloids were further evaluated for in vivo activity against rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei. The alkaloids showed percentage chemosuppression of parasitaemia in mice ranging from 43 to 72%. The use of the extracts A. gummifera for treatment of malaria in traditional medicine seems to have a scientific basis.

Fumigant toxicity of the essential oils of some African plants against Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto.

The essential oils from 15 species of African plants selected by ethnobotanical considerations and field inspection (odour and presence of insects) were screened for fumigant toxicity to Anopheles gambiae s.s. in the laboratory. Essential oils from 6 species showed varying levels of toxicity, with Conyza newii (Compositae) and Plectranthus marruboides (Labiateae) being the most potent. Fifty compounds representing approximately 74% of the essential oil of C. newii were identified by GC-MS and GC-coinjection (for available standards). The major and some of the minor constituents of the two oils were assayed at different doses. Two compounds, from C. newii, perillaldehyde and perillyl alcohol, exhibited higher fumigant toxicity (LD50 = 1.05 x 10(-4) and 2.52 x 10(-4) mg cm(-3), respectively) than the parent oil (2.0 x 10(-3) mg cm(-3)). GC-MS analysis of the essential oil of P. marruboides gave results similar to that previously reported. Interestingly, none of its components were active, suggesting that the insecticidal activity of the oil results from either some of the minor components or as a blend effect of some of the major constituents.

Traditional use of mosquito-repellent plants in western Kenya and their evaluation in semi-field experimental huts against Anopheles gambiae: ethnobotanical studies and application by thermal expulsion and direct burning.

Ethnobotanical survey in 2 communities in western Kenya revealed that the most commonly known repellent plants were Ocimum americanum L. (64.1%), Lantana camara L. (17.9%), Tagetes minuta L. (11.3%) and Azadirachta indica A. Juss (8.7%) on Rusinga Island, and Hyptis suaveolens Poit. (49.2%), L. camara (30.9%) and O. basilicum L. (30.4%) in Rambira. Direct burning of plants is the most common method of application for O. americanum (68.8%), L. camara (100%) and O. basilicum (58.8%). Placing branches or whole plants inside houses is most common for H. suaveolens (33.3 and 57.8% for the respective locations), A. indica (66.7 and 100%), and T. minuta (54.8 and 56.0%). The repellency of plants suggested by the ethnobotanical survey and other empirical information was evaluated against the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae s.s. Giles in experimental huts within a screenwalled greenhouse. Thermal expulsion and direct burning were tested as alternative application methods for the selected plants O. americanum, O. kilimandscharicum Guerke, O. suave Willd., L. camara, A. indica, H. suaveolens, Lippia uckambensis Spreng and Corymbia citriodora Hook. When thermally expelled, only H. suaveolens failed to repel mosquitoes, whereas the leaves of C. citriodora (74.5%, P < 0.0001), leaves and seeds of O. suave (53.1%, P < 0.0001) and O. kilimandscharicum (52.0%, P < 0.0001) were the most effective. Leaves of C. citriodora also exhibited the highest repellency (51.3%, P < 0.0001) by direct burning, followed by leaves of L. uckambensis (33.4%, P = 0.0004) and leaves and seeds of O. suave (28.0%, P = 0.0255). The combination of O. kilimandscharicum with L. uckambensis repelled 54.8% of mosquitoes (P < 0.0001) by thermal expulsion. No combination of plants increased repellency by either method. The semi-field system described appears a promising alternative to full-field trials for screening large numbers of candidate repellents without risk of malaria exposure.

Volatile infochemicals used in host and host habitat location byCotesia flavipes Cameron andCotesia sesamiae (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), larval parasitoids of stemborers on graminae.

FemaleCotesia flavipes Cameron andCotesia sesamiae (Cameron) were attracted to odors in a Y-tube olfactometer from uninfested maize (Zea mays L.), sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.)], and napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach). In dual choice tests,Cotesia flavipes showed a preference for maize over sorghum, while maize and napier grass were equally attractive. In contrast,Cotesia sesamiae preferred volatiles from sorghum and napier grass over those from maize. The two parasitoids were significantly more attracted to maize infested with the stemborers,Chilo partellus (Swinhoe),Chilo orichalcociliellus Strand,Sesamia calamistis Hampson, andBusseola fusca (Fuller), than uninfested maize. In dual choice tests,Cotesia flavipes andCotesia sesamiae were unable to discriminate between odors from plants infested by the different species of stemborers.

Proximity of release points of pheromone components as a factor confusing males of the spotted stem borer,Chilo partellus, approaching the trap.

The effect of proximity of the release points of the two pheromone components (Z)-11-hexadecenal and (Z)-11-hexadecen-1-ol of the spotted stem borer,Chilo partellus (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) on behavior of the males and on trapping efficiency was investigated. Separating the dispensers of the two components in the trap by a mere 3 cm resulted in a threefold decrease in trap performance, compared to very close release of the components. The result is attributed to possible distortion of the pheromone signal, resulting in confused behavior ofC. partellus males in the vicinity of the trap. The ethological and practical implications of the phenomenon are discussed.