Insecticidal activities and phytochemical screening of crude extracts and its derived fractions from three medicinal plants Nepeta leavigata,Nepeta kurramensis and Rhynchosia reniformis

The extracts and its derived fractions from three medicinal plants species nepeta leavigata,nepeta kurramensis and rhynchosia reniformis were tested for insecticidal activities and preliminary phytochemical evaluation with the intention of standardization and proper manage of bioactive principles in such heterogonous botanicals and to encourage drug finding work with plants. the crude extracts and fractions from nepeta plants showed moderate to strong insecticidal activity. among the fractions from nepeta kurramensis the n-butanol fraction showed strongest insecticidal activity with 89% mortality rate against tribolium castaneum followed by methanol extract with 88% mortality ratio and in case of nepeta leavigata the potential activity was showed by methanol extracts with 93% mortality rate against the tested insect. surprisingly none of the extract /fractions obtained from rhynchosia reniformis plant exhibited any insecticidal activity. the phytochemicals screening results revealed that both species of nepeta showed similar phytochemicals profile. the group of chemicals terpenes,flavonoids and glycosides were observed in all the extracts/fractions of nepeta plants. while phenolic compounds,acidic compounds and alkaloids were found in methanolic extracts,chloroform fraction and ethyl acetate fraction. the rhynchosia reniformis was observed to be a good source of phenolic compounds,flavonoids,terpenes,alkaloids and fats. © 2016,pakistan botanical society. all rights reserved.