Phytochemical composition, antioxidant potential, and insecticidal activity of Moringa oleifera extracts against Tribolium castaneum: a sustainable approach to pest management
Abstract Moringa oleifera’s rich phytochemical profile positions it as a promising natural alternative for sustainable pest management. This study characterizes the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of M. oleifera extracts and, for the first time, evaluates their insecticidal potent...
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BMC
2025-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Plant Biology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06626-3 |
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| author | Ben Khedher Ghada Rezgui Marwa Tawaf Ali Shah Mutwakel Dabiellil Turki M. Dawoud Mohammed Bourhia Triki Tebra Chargui Hadhami Slatni Tarek Chaffei-Haouari Chiraz |
| author_facet | Ben Khedher Ghada Rezgui Marwa Tawaf Ali Shah Mutwakel Dabiellil Turki M. Dawoud Mohammed Bourhia Triki Tebra Chargui Hadhami Slatni Tarek Chaffei-Haouari Chiraz |
| author_sort | Ben Khedher Ghada |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Moringa oleifera’s rich phytochemical profile positions it as a promising natural alternative for sustainable pest management. This study characterizes the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of M. oleifera extracts and, for the first time, evaluates their insecticidal potential against Tribolium castaneum (red flour beetle). Extracts from leaves, stems, roots, and seeds were prepared using ethanol, methanol, acetone, and distilled water. Phytochemical analysis identified high levels of total phenolics (7.18 µg GAE/mg DW, ethanol leaf extract), flavonoids (23.52 µg QE/mg DW, ethanol leaf extract), tannins (245.4 mg CE/g DW, acetone seed extract), saponins (13.7%, methanol leaf extract), and alkaloids (30.06 mg atropine/100 mL, water stem extract). HPLC quantification revealed abundant bioactive compounds, including phenolic acids (gallic, caffeic, chlorogenic, and ferulic acids), flavonoids (apigenin, quercetin, kaempferol), flavanols (catechin, epicatechin, procyanidin dimers), and iridoids (oleuroside), with gallic acid, quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside, and kaempferol as dominant constituents. Antioxidant assays demonstrated significant activity, with methanol root extract showing 71% DPPH inhibition and methanol stem extract exhibiting the highest total antioxidant capacity (36.12 mg GAE/g DW). Insecticidal bioassays revealed ethanol root extracts induced 90% mortality in T. castaneum within 24 h at 30% concentration, outperforming other extracts. These findings underscore M. oleifera’s dual functionality as a potent bioinsecticide and antioxidant, advocating for its integration into sustainable pest management. Further research should optimize extraction protocols and field-scale formulations to enhance practical applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-726294bbbfdd4892809e5d0eedd3984b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2229 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Plant Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-726294bbbfdd4892809e5d0eedd3984b2025-08-20T03:52:20ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292025-05-0125111410.1186/s12870-025-06626-3Phytochemical composition, antioxidant potential, and insecticidal activity of Moringa oleifera extracts against Tribolium castaneum: a sustainable approach to pest managementBen Khedher Ghada0Rezgui Marwa1Tawaf Ali Shah2Mutwakel Dabiellil3Turki M. Dawoud4Mohammed Bourhia5Triki Tebra6Chargui Hadhami7Slatni Tarek8Chaffei-Haouari Chiraz9Laboratory of Plant Productivity and Environmental Constraints (LR18ES04), Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University Tunis El ManarLaboratory of Plant Productivity and Environmental Constraints (LR18ES04), Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University Tunis El ManarCollege of Agriculture Engineering and Food Science, Shandong University of TechnologyUpper Nile UniversityDepartment of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud UniversityDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ibn Zohr UniversityLaboratory of Dry Lands and Oases Cropping, Institute of Arid Regions (IRA)Laboratory of Plant Protection, National Institute of Agronomic Research (INRAT)Laboratory of Extremophile Plants (LPE), Centre of Biotechnology of Borj Cedria (CBBC)Laboratory of Plant Productivity and Environmental Constraints (LR18ES04), Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University Tunis El ManarAbstract Moringa oleifera’s rich phytochemical profile positions it as a promising natural alternative for sustainable pest management. This study characterizes the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of M. oleifera extracts and, for the first time, evaluates their insecticidal potential against Tribolium castaneum (red flour beetle). Extracts from leaves, stems, roots, and seeds were prepared using ethanol, methanol, acetone, and distilled water. Phytochemical analysis identified high levels of total phenolics (7.18 µg GAE/mg DW, ethanol leaf extract), flavonoids (23.52 µg QE/mg DW, ethanol leaf extract), tannins (245.4 mg CE/g DW, acetone seed extract), saponins (13.7%, methanol leaf extract), and alkaloids (30.06 mg atropine/100 mL, water stem extract). HPLC quantification revealed abundant bioactive compounds, including phenolic acids (gallic, caffeic, chlorogenic, and ferulic acids), flavonoids (apigenin, quercetin, kaempferol), flavanols (catechin, epicatechin, procyanidin dimers), and iridoids (oleuroside), with gallic acid, quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside, and kaempferol as dominant constituents. Antioxidant assays demonstrated significant activity, with methanol root extract showing 71% DPPH inhibition and methanol stem extract exhibiting the highest total antioxidant capacity (36.12 mg GAE/g DW). Insecticidal bioassays revealed ethanol root extracts induced 90% mortality in T. castaneum within 24 h at 30% concentration, outperforming other extracts. These findings underscore M. oleifera’s dual functionality as a potent bioinsecticide and antioxidant, advocating for its integration into sustainable pest management. Further research should optimize extraction protocols and field-scale formulations to enhance practical applications.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06626-3Antioxidant activityBioactive compoundsFlavonoidsInsecticidal propertiesMoringa oleiferaNatural pesticides |
| spellingShingle | Ben Khedher Ghada Rezgui Marwa Tawaf Ali Shah Mutwakel Dabiellil Turki M. Dawoud Mohammed Bourhia Triki Tebra Chargui Hadhami Slatni Tarek Chaffei-Haouari Chiraz Phytochemical composition, antioxidant potential, and insecticidal activity of Moringa oleifera extracts against Tribolium castaneum: a sustainable approach to pest management BMC Plant Biology Antioxidant activity Bioactive compounds Flavonoids Insecticidal properties Moringa oleifera Natural pesticides |
| title | Phytochemical composition, antioxidant potential, and insecticidal activity of Moringa oleifera extracts against Tribolium castaneum: a sustainable approach to pest management |
| title_full | Phytochemical composition, antioxidant potential, and insecticidal activity of Moringa oleifera extracts against Tribolium castaneum: a sustainable approach to pest management |
| title_fullStr | Phytochemical composition, antioxidant potential, and insecticidal activity of Moringa oleifera extracts against Tribolium castaneum: a sustainable approach to pest management |
| title_full_unstemmed | Phytochemical composition, antioxidant potential, and insecticidal activity of Moringa oleifera extracts against Tribolium castaneum: a sustainable approach to pest management |
| title_short | Phytochemical composition, antioxidant potential, and insecticidal activity of Moringa oleifera extracts against Tribolium castaneum: a sustainable approach to pest management |
| title_sort | phytochemical composition antioxidant potential and insecticidal activity of moringa oleifera extracts against tribolium castaneum a sustainable approach to pest management |
| topic | Antioxidant activity Bioactive compounds Flavonoids Insecticidal properties Moringa oleifera Natural pesticides |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06626-3 |
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