BIOLOGICAL-ACTIVITY OF EXTRACTS OF TEPHROSIA-NUBICA (BOISS) BAKER AGAINST SPODOPTERA-LITTORALIS (BOISD.) AND AGROTIS-IPSILON (HUFN.)

The biological activity of Tephrosia nubica extracts was tested agains t the cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis and greasy cutworm, Agrot is ipsilon. The methanolic and chloroformic extracts induced serious c hronic effects on the larvae, pupae and adults. They reduced percentag es of pupation and moths emergence, prolonged larval and pupal periods , caused reductions in egg production and egg hatchability and increas ed percentage of sterility. Phytochemical, chromatographic and spectra l analysts of the methanolic extract, which was the most effective one , revealed the presence of three flavonoidal glycosides (kaemferol 3,7 -dirhamnoside, quercetin 3-galactoside 7-rhamnoside and quercetin 3,7- dirhamnoside), rotenones and deguelin. However, four prenylated flavon es (semiglabrin, Pseudosemiglabrin, apollinine and lanceolatin A) were isolated from the chloroformic extract.