Differential biological activities of the solvent extracts of Ceriops decandra (Griff.) and their phytochemical investigations

Abstract

Abstract Objective The present study was aimed to investigate the potent antifungal, and larvicidal phytochemical compounds from crude leaf organic solvent extracts of Ceriops decandra against phytopathogenic fungi and larvicidal activity against 3rd and 4th instar larvae of Spodoptera litura and Aedes aegypti . Methods The phytochemical constituents of three organic solvent (methanol, chloroform, and ethanol) extracts of the leaves of C. decandra were analyzed by GC–MS. Larvicidal activity of the crude extracts of C. decandra leaves was determined by topical application to early 3rd and 4th instar larvae of S. litura . Lethality was estimated by applying different concentrations (100–5000 μg/mL) of the crude extracts. Results and discussion The principle phytochemical constituents present in the chloroform extracts are triterpenes, Lupeol (66.95%) and α-amyrin (6.68%) are the major constituents. Chloroform extracts of C. decandra leaves showed strong antifungal against Pythium aphanidermatum , Rhizoctonia solani , Pyricularia oryzae , Curvularia oryzae and Fusarium oxysporum with zone of inhibition diameter (IZD) of 29 mm, 27 mm, 28 mm, 28 mm and 28 mm, respectively at a concentration of 500 μg/mL. Ethanolic extracts showed poor antifungal activity against the test fungi. The 3rd and 4th instar larvae of S. litura is more susceptible to the chloroform extracts of C. decandra with a LD 50 value of 328.5% and 498.6% respectively. The LD 50 value of chloroform extract was 251.2% and 309.7% against 3rd and 4th instar larvae of A. aegypti . Chloroform extracts of C. decandra showed a marked significant activity against 3rd and 4th instar larvae of S. litura and A. aegypti . Conclusion This investigation demonstrates the potency of organic solvent extracts of leaves of C. decandra in controlling the wide spreading of fungal diseases and larvae and thus contributes as an affordable way to control phytopathogenic fungi, S. litura and A. aegypti .