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Importance and implementation of essential oil of Pakistanian Acorus calamus Linn., as a biopesticide

Rajput Muhammed Tariq¹, s. naimul-hasan naqvi², MUHAMMAD IQBAL CHOUDHARY³ AND AHMED ABBAS³

Abstract: The Pakistanian Acorus calamus (Fam.: Araceae) is locally found (Nasir, 1978) in Chitral, Peshawar, Jhelum valley, Thalawan valley, Mandi and Kashmir. The common name of A. calamus is sweet flag. It is found in marshy places and along the river banks from 600-2000m. The root-stock (modified stem) commonly called as rhizome, is medicinal and yields an essential oil used in the manufacture of soap, cosmetics and in the liquor industry. It is also used as medicine for stomach complaints, snake bite, as an insect repellent and for remittent fevers. The essential oil of A. calamus is volatile (Aromatic) and contains acorenone, b-gyrjunene, Isoshyobunine, b-asarone, Calamendiol, a-selinene, a-calacorene, Calamusenone, Camphene and Shyobunone as main active ingredients. In the present paper the essential oil of A. calamus was tested against dengue fever virus vector mosquito Ae. aegypti larvae (late 3^rd instar) The LC₅₀ was found to be 1250ppm by WHO-method, (Anon., 1970). The IGR effects were observed on lower i.e. 150, 300, 450, 600 and 750ppm dose. The abnormalities were increased with the increase of dose. Phytotoxicity on cotton crop was recorded @ 1.5 litre/acre, whereas no phytotoxicity was recorded on mango tree and coconut plants upto the dose of 2 litres/acre. While 70-90% control of mango hoppers on mango trees in Mirpurkhas Sindh and rhinoceros beetles on coconut plants in Hub, Balochistan was recorded. Anti-fungal activity was recorded on cuts and wounds on sheep in Hub, Balochistan. The acorus oil prevents the cuts and wounds from fungal growth and the cuts & wounds heal up rapidly as compared to control. Systematic control of root knot nematode was also recorded in cotton and brinjal plants by using 0.25% solution of calamus oil, given to the infected plants. The scale insects were also controlled by the same systematic method by using 0.5% dilution to the infected cotton plants. The control of mealy bugs on cotton, brinjal and Abutilon indicum was achieved by spray method using 0.5% solution, repeated weekly for one month in Sindh and Balochistan. Beside this the different aspects of acorus oil activity and suggestions for implementation as biopesticide in agriculture and health sector with special reference to Pakistan have been discussed in detail.

¹M.A.H. Qadri Biological Research Centre, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan.

²Department of Pharmacology, BIPS, Baqai Medical University, Toll Plaza, Gadap Town, Karachi, Pakistan

³International Centre for Chemical & Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan