Formulation and evaluation of eco-friendly handmade herbal mosquito repellent cone

A mosquito belongs to the insect-family Culicidae, order Diptera, suborder Nematocera and class Insecta. Mosquito act as vector which carries many disease causing parasites and viruses. Preventing mosquito spread is immensely necessary to stop spread of various contagious diseases. Now days, uses of plant based mosquito repellent have increased as synthetic repellents contains many noxious chemicals which can cause possible toxicity like skin toxicity and causes swelling, redness, itching and many health problems. The herbal mosquito repellent cones were prepared by using saw dust, cow dung, gum acacia, neem powder, eucalyptus powder and lemon grass powder. Lemon grass has insecticidal property. Saw dust increases the combustion. Gum acacia act as binder. Cow dung shows antioxidant and mosquito repellent property. Neem has mosquito repellent property. Herbal mosquito repellent cone were prepared by hand rolling method. The evaluation parameters of herbal mosquito repellent cone contain burning time (min), smoke visibility, odor, irritation test, ash weight (g.) and mosquito repellent activity. The formulation LNC containing lemon grass powder along with neem powder and cow dung in equal ratio shows best activity and maximum effectiveness in reducing mosquito number in comparison with all other formulations. In present study, the powders used in formulation were herbal based and eco-friendly and producing no side-effect on use. Here an attempt has been made to find out the novel formulation of different herbal plant powders containing alone and with combination for mosquito repellent cone.

Insecticidal potency of mixtures of plant powders and Actellic SuperTM (Pirimiphos-methyl + Permethrin) on Callosobruchus chinensis F. and Sitophilus zeamais Motch

Insect pests still cause substantial quantitative and qualitative grain loss ranging from 20 to 100% in small holder farming systems in tropical countries. Synthetic pesticides are recommended as stop gap measures for the management of stored product insect pests. However, their application has not been fully exploited in small scale farming due to environmental, health, and economic concerns. As a result, new researches have shifted focus to exploiting pesticidal plants as alternatives to synthetic pesticides. Therefore, the current study evaluated mixtures of plant powders and reduced amount of Actellic superTM (pirimiphos-methyl + permethrin) as alternative insecticide formulation against Callosobruchus chinensis and Sitophilus zeamais. Green grams and wheat grains were mixed with a mixture of plant powders in the ratios of 1:1, 1:3 and 1:9 to obtain four rates (0.0, 2.0, 6.0 and 10%w/w). Grains and plant powders were also mixed with reduced amount (10, 25, and 50 %) of recommended rate of Actellic SuperTM to obtain dosages as above. Twenty unsexed adults, 1-5 day old S. zeamais and C. chinensis were introduced into treated grains. The mixture of C. lusitanica: T. vogelii powders in the ratios of 1:1, 1:3 and 1:9 caused mortality in C. chinensis of 55, 95 and 85%, respectively. At the same ratio, E. saligna: L. camara mixture produced mortality in S. zeamais of 77, 82, and 85% respectively. In mixture of C. lusitanica and T. vogelii and reduced amount of Actellic SuperTM by 50% the mortality of C. chinensis was 85 and 80 % respectively. Similarly, E. saligna and L. camara and reduced amount of Actellic SuperTM by 50% caused a mortality of S. zeamais of 48 and 97% respectively. The application of plant powders and reduced amounts of synthetic insecticide has the potential to be applied in stored product pest control

Influence of Freeze-Dried Phenolic-Rich Plant Powders on the Bioactive Compounds Profile, Antioxidant Activity and Aroma of Different Types of Chocolates

In this study, the blueberries (BLUB), raspberries (RASB), blackberries (BLCB), pomegranates pomace (POME) and beetroots (BEET) freeze-dried powders were used as the sources of phenolic compounds to enrich different types of chocolates, substituting a part of the sweetener. It was found that 1% addition of fruit or vegetable powders to chocolates increased the content of total phenolic compounds (flavan-3-ols, phenolic acids and anthocyanins) of enriched dark and milk chocolates compared to the control ones dependent on the powder used. Among the enriched chocolates, the chocolates with the addition of BLUB powder were characterized by the highest total polyphenol content. The highest percentage increase (approximately 80%) in the total polyphenol content was observed in MCH chocolate enriched with BLUB powder. Chocolates incorporated with BLUB, RASB, BLCB and POME powders presented a richer phenolic compound profile than control counterparts. The highest DPPH radical-scavenging capacity was exhibited by the DCH98S chocolate enriched with BEET powder. However, the DCH98ESt chocolates enriched with POME and BEET powders demonstrated the highest FRAP values. An electronic nose analysis confirmed the existence of differences between the profiles of volatile compounds of various types of chocolates enriched with fruit or vegetable powders. Thus, the enrichment of dark and milk chocolates with BLUB, RASB, BLCB, POME and BEET powders seemed to be an interesting approach to enhance bioactivity and to enrich the sensory features of various chocolate types.

Plant powders protect stored wheat from infestation by lesser grain borer Rhyzopertha dominica (fabricius) (Bostrichidae: Coleoptera)

Rhyzopertha dominica (Bostrichidae: Coleoptera) is one of the most serious devastating insect pests attacking stored wheat grains in Nigeria. The most common strategy adopted in controlling this insect pest is the application of synthetic pesticides which is costly, toxic to non-target organisms and is non eco-friendly. Botanical pesticides are recently used as alternatives to synthetic pesticides due to their non-hazardous effect on the environment and non-target organisms, cost effectiveness and direct impacts on the target organisms. This study was carried out to determine the toxicity of leaf powders obtained from three species of plants: Ageratum conyzoides, Momordica charantia and Tephrosia vogelii in the control of R. dominica infestation on stored wheat grains. Five doses (0.50, 1.00, 2.00, 4.00 and 8.00 g) per 20.00 g were measured from the powdered leaves of the tested plants with ethanol treatment as the control (0.00 g 20.00 g-1). The powdered doses were applied onto wheat grains before the insects were introduced. The experiment was laid down in completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. The data obtained was analyzed using analysis of variance at 5% probability level with Least Significant Difference used to separate the means. The results showed significant (p ≤ 0.05) differences in the magnitude of toxicity imparted by various doses of the powders on R. dominica. The treatments influence high rate of mortality, reduced number of laid eggs and emerged adults when compared with the control. The toxicity of the powders increased with increase in dosage. It was concluded that 8.00 g 20.00 g-1 of the powders were more toxic to R. dominica, inducing 28.00-77.30% insects’ mortality thereby protecting grain damage to as low as 1.04% at 6th month of storage. T. vogelii leaf powders were recommended for use against R. dominica in stored wheat grains. Key words: botanicals, dose, lesser grain borer, wheat

Fumigant Activity of Four Plant Powders against Cowpea Weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Stored Adzuki Bean

Background: Cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is one of most common species pest that attack various types of beans in the storage. Plant-based insecticides are considered as good candidates as alternatives to methyl bromide and phosphine for controlling pest in storage. Plenty of reports about plant powder as grain protectant, conversely a little information on plant powder as fumigant had been reported. This study was designed to observe the effects of plant powders of clove, holy basil, lemongrass and turmeric as fumigant on the biological parameters of C. maculatus under laboratory conditions.Methods: Experiments were conducted on plant powders against biological parameters of cowpea weevil. No choice test method was followed to assess the bioefficacy of the four natural fumigants on adult longevity, fecundity, F1 progeny, bean damage and weight loss of bean under completely randomized design (CRD).Result: Fumigant toxicity of four plant powders (clove, holy basil, lemongrass and turmeric) varied amongst doses. Clove powder showed significantly lower adult longevity, fecundity of female, number of F1 progeny, bean damage and weight loss of bean at 1 g and 3 g dose per container. Major volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in clove powder were eugenol (48.64%) and caryophyllene (43.09%) identified by solid phase microextraction followed with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (SPME-GC/MS). These two major constituents might explain the fumigant toxic activities of clove powder towards C. maculatus biological parameters.

Prospects of using a liquid ring vacuum pump with automatic adjustable discharge window when grinding grape seeds and pomace

Для повышения сохранения биологически активных веществ, уменьшения энергопотребления в процессе измельчения и получения порошка заданной степени помола из виноградных выжимок и семян предлагается использование установки двухступенчатой дисково-шаровой вакуумной мельницы. Предложенная конструкция двухступенчатой мельницы оказывает влияние на безопасность работы (исключаются взрывы) и экологичность (не создает запыленности окружающей среды). В конструкции разработанной установки важным объектом является вакуумный насос. Приведены устройство и основные принципы работы классического одноступенчатого водокольцевого вакуумного насоса производства ОАО «БЕСКОМ» и жидкостно-кольцевого вакуумного насоса с возможностью автоматического регулирования размеров нагнетательного окна, разработанного в ФГБОУ ВО «ТГТУ» на кафедре «МИГ». Показаны основные преимущества предлагаемого насоса по сравнению с классическим вариантом. На основе испытаний был проведен сравнительный анализ разработанного жидкостно-кольцевого вакуумного насоса с автоматическим регулируемым размером нагнетательного окна и классического вакуумного насоса равной быстроты действия, результаты которого продемонстрировали существенную эффективность использования первой машины. Установлено, что затраты удельной мощности в процессе транспортирования растительных порошков на 20-25% ниже при равной быстроте действия. Экономический расчет демонстрирует эффективность применения новой конструкции разработанного вакуумного насоса в технологическом процессе тонкого измельчения сухих растительных продуктов за счет вакуумного отвода заданной фракции помола. Поэтому разработанный насос рекомендуется использовать для измельчения сухих сыпучих растительных продуктов на крупных перерабатывающих предприятиях агропромышленного комплекса, пищевой, фармацевтической и парфюмерной отраслях промышленности. To increase the preservation of biologically active substances, reduce energy consumption in the grinding process and obtain a powder of a given degree of grinding from grape pomace and seeds, it is proposed to use a two-stage disk-ball vacuum mill. The proposed design of a two-stage mill affects the safety of work (excluding explosions) and environmental friendliness (does not create a dusty environment). An important object in the design of the developed installation is the vacuum pump. The device and basic principles of operation of a classic single-stage liquid ring vacuum pump manufactured by JSC "BESCOM" and a liquid ring vacuum pump with the ability to automatically adjust the size of the discharge window, developed at the TSTU Department of MIG are presented. The main advantages of the proposed pump in comparison with the classic version are shown.Based on the tests, a comparative analysis of the developed liquid ring vacuum pump with an automatically adjustable discharge window size and a classical vacuum pump of equal action speed was carried out, the results of which demonstrated the significant efficiency of using the first machine. It has been established that the specific power consumption in the process of transporting plant powders is 20-25% lower with the same speed of action. An economic calculation demonstrates the effectiveness of using a new design of the developed vacuum pump in the technological process of fine grinding of dry plant products due to the vacuum removal of a given grinding fraction. Therefore, the developed pump is recommended to be used for grinding dry bulk plant products at large processing enterprises of the agro-industrial complex, food, pharmaceutical and perfumery industries.