SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND INSECTICIDAL ACTIVITY OF ECOFRIENDLY CHITOSAN-BASED COMPOSITES

Abstract

Evaluation of some medicinal plants extracts which mixed with eco-friendly polymeric materials. Some medicinal plants have been extracted (Achillea fragrantissima and Cleome droserifolia) and the obtained crude extracts have been blended with suitable eco-friendly polymeric materials, namely, Chitosan and some cellulose derivatives. The blended materials have been characterized and their insecticidal activity has been also tested. In formulations F2 - F13 and F19 – F23 the extracts potency was decreased to less than 50% while showed more than 50% in case of F1 and F14 – F18. The conventional chemical and spectroscopic techniques have been used in the characterization in addition to other necessary techniques needed for their biological activity. The series of concentrations from Chitosan were prepared and tested against Culex pipiens and Musca domestica larvae mixed with both extracts at LC50 level. The obtained results have been collected; tabulated and possible justification has been included as well. While the increasing of Chitosan concentration in polymer mixtures increasing the potency of tested plant extracts. The temporal effect of mixtures number 4 and 5 revealed that the effect of mixtures continues for more than 15 days against Culex pipiens while their effect is almost stopped after 6 days in case of Musca domestica. From the last experiment we found that mixture No 4 is more persistent than mixture No 5 in fields. The results of the current work reveal that the potency of utilization of many polymers is due to their absorptive activity towards the plant extracts and also for their compatibility toward them. Besides, there is a synergistic effect of the polymer components enhancing the effect of the plant extracts.