LARVICIDAL, ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES AND PERTURBATION OF TRANSMINASES ACTIVITIES OF TITANIUM DIOXIDE NANOPARTICLES SYNTHESIZED USING MORINGA OLEIFERA LEAVES EXTRACT AGAINST THE RED PALM WEEVIL (RHYNCHOPHORUS FERRUGINEUS)

Amal M. F. Al-Bartya and Reham Z. Hamzab*

ABSTRACT

The red palm weevil (RPW) Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is one of the major pests of palms. The larvae bore into the palm trunk and feed on the palm tender tissues and sap, leading the host tree to death. The aim of this study is to assess the larvicidal activity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPS) synthesized from the aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera against the Rhynchophorus ferrugineus. The present study also aimed to investigate the effects of Moringa oleifera on the glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) activities in tissue homogenates of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus larvae beside measuring antioxidant enzyme activities of SOD and MDA .The gut microbiota of insects also plays a remarkable role in the host life and understanding the relationship dynamics between insects and their biological control of insect pests so we also measured transminases enzyme activities in the gut of the insects. Results showed that mortality increased in the larvae stage by using this prepared solution of natural extract with titanioum dioxde nanoparticles at concentration 75 mg/L and this was the best concentration used. Conclusions: TiO2NPS could be used along with Moringa oleifera extract against Rhynchophorus ferrugineus larvae.

Keywords: Moringa oleifera extract, Titanium dioxide nanoparticles, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, antioxidant activities.