Effects of Melia azedarach on Triatoma infestans

• Published in: Fitoterapia Vol. 70; no. 4; pp. 421 - 424
• Main Authors: Valladares, G.R, Ferreyra, D, Defago, M.T, Carpinella, M.C, Palacios, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01-08-1999; Elsevier; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; General pharmacology; Insecticidal activity; Medical sciences; Melia azedarach; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Repellent activity; Triatoma infestans; South America; Argentina; America; Repellent activity; Triatoma infestans; Insecticidal activity; Melia azedarach; Insecticide; Fruit; Pharmacognosy; Insecta; Pesticides; Extract; Plant leaf; Meliaceae; Biological activity; Medicinal plant; Heteroptera; Technical card; Folk medicine; Arthropoda; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Plant origin; Repellent; Spermatophyta; Invertebrata; Reduviidae
• ISSN: 0367-326X; 1873-6971
• DOI: 10.1016/S0367-326X(99)00051-9

Extracts from fruits and leaves of
Melia azedarach were tested for repellent and insecticidal properties against eggs and nymphs of
Triatoma infestans, the vector of Chagas disease. Unripe fruit extract was highly repellent for first and fourth instar nymphs. Ripe fruit had a weaker effect while leaves were ineffective. No effects on egg hatching, nymph survival or development time were detected, but first instar nymphs reared in contact with extract-treated refuges were significantly smaller than controls after moulting.