INSECTICIDAL FEASIBILITY OF ADELFA

(NERIUM OLEANDER L.) LEAF EXTRACT

CABRIANA, CHARISSE KHARYLE B.

DENIEGA, JOHN JEROLD

JAROVILLA. JK DWIN A.

JO, YUN JEONG M.

RACASA, LEILA CHER D.

 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

With the increasing concern for environmental safety and human health, development of

alternative control methods for crop production against major pests of crops becomes a necessity

in order to meet the high demands of food supply particularly in developing countries like the

Philippines. However, massive use of pesticides having become the norm of crop protection in

the Philippines, as influenced by the Green Revolution of 1995 (Briones, 2005), can pose serious

threats to the environment as well as to human health thus the researchers came to study Adelfa

as an alternative natural insecticide.

Adelfa – scientifically called Nerium oleander L. is an evergreen shrub, a member of the

dogbane family Apocynaceae, which thrives in subtropical regions, toxic in all its parts

(Farooqui and Tyagi, 2018). It contains a mixture of very toxic cardiac glycosides of which

oleandrin, neriine, Cardenolides, gentiobiosyl, oleandrin and odoroside are the main gylcosides

(Duke 1985).

Barbosa, Fontenele-Neto, and Soto-Blanco (2008) found that the cardiac glycosides of

Nerium oleander cause poisoning by inhibiting Na+, K+-ATPase pump – an enzyme found in

the plasma membrane of all animal cells, to alter functions. Accidental and/or experimental

Nerium oleander (Adelfa) toxicities has been reported in cattle (Aslani and Rezkhani, 2000),

sheep (Aslani, 2004), dog (Humphreys, 1998) and many others due to ingestion of the plant.

In 2011, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) found that the first trial phase of

oleander extract could be safe for use in treating cancer specifically bladder, colorectal, breast,
pancreatic and appendiceal cancers. The leaves, flowers, and stem extracts of Nerium oleander

(Adelfa) is also effective and can be used as a natural source of antioxidant (Iran, 2012). It also

showed effectiveness in activities like anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, and

larvicidal,activity (Farooqui and Tyagi, 2018).

Fruit flies, on the other hand, is economically the most important insect pest of fruit in

Southeast Asia, and can cause losses as high as 90-100%. They not only hinder supply but also

prevent the development of export markets especially to lucrative markets like USA, Japan and

Australia due to their strict quarantine regulations. According to Singh (1991), fruit flies are the

major obstacles in agriculture specifically in development of the fruit industry.

Since fruit flies are a major concern in the Philippines and there is, also a need of finding

an environment-friendly pesticide to ensure the human health and environment safety, the

researchers chose to conduct the study of the “Insecticidal feasibility of Nerium oleander

(Adelfa) leaf extract”

Statement of the Problem

The researchers specifically aims to answer the following:

1. What is the mortality rate of Drosophilia melanogaster (fruit fly) when inflicted

with Nerium oleander (Adelfa) leaf extract in concentrations of:

a. 25%

b. 50%

c. 75%

d. 100%
 2. Which concentration percentage is most effective in eliminating Drosophilia

melanogaster (fruit fly).

3. How many days are needed to achieve lethality to 50% of the total number of

Drosophilia melanogaster (fruit fly).

Objectives of the Study:

1. To determine the mortality rate of Drosophilia melanogaster (fruit fly) at

different concentrations of Nerium oleander (Adelfa):

a) 40 grams banana + 2.5 ml water + 10 ml Adelfa leaf extract

b) 40 grams banana + 5 ml water + 10 ml Adelfa leaf extract

c) 40 grams mashed banana + 7.5 ml water + 10 Adelfa leaf extract

d) 40 grams mashed banana + 10 ml water + 10 ml Adelfa leaf extract

2. To identify which concentration percentage is most effective in eliminating

Drosophilia melanogaster (fruit fly)

3. To determine how long it would take to eliminate 50% of the Drosophilia

melanogaster’s (fruit fly) population.

Significance of the Study:

The result of this study will help the community gain knowledge of the potential of

Nerium oleander as pesticide. It will also benefit farmers with large-scale farms to draw their

attention and interest in using inexpensive and accessible oraganic pesticide instead of chemical-

based ones.
 It is also significant to know ways on how we can lessen water pollution, new pests,

resistance to pests, and chemical dependency through plant-based pesticides to control the

hazards caused by chemical pesticides.

Hypothesis:

There is a no significant insecticidal activity of Nerium oleander (Adelfa) leaf extract to

Drosophilia melangoster (fruit fly).

There is a significant insecticidal activity of Nerium oleander (Adelfa) leaf extract to

Drosophilia melangoster (fruit fly).

Scope and Limitations of the Study:

This study only focuses on the potential of Nerium oleander (Adelfa) as an insecticide to

Drosophilia melanogaster (fruit fly). Only the leaves of the said plant would be used for the

study.

Definition of Terms:

Adelfa is a small tree that thrives in tropical and subtropical countries that contains toxic

in all its parts.

Cardiotoxicity is the occurrence of muscle damage that makes the heart weaker and not

as efficient in pumping and therefore circulating blood. (Wikipedia.org, 2017)

Cardiac glycoside is a class of organic compound that increase the output force of the

heart and decrease its rate of contractions by acting on the cellular sodium-potassium ATPase

pump.
 Fruit fly is a small fly that feeds on fruit.

Decoction is the process of boiling a plant to extract its flavor or principle.

Toxicity is the degree to which a chemical substance or a particular mixture of substances

can damage an organism. (Wikipedia.org)