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VOL. 11, ISSUE 3 (2026)
Efficacy of medicinal plants against Heliothis armigera (Hübner): An evidence-based research paper on botanical bioactivity, mechanisms and field efficacy
Authors
Ankita Awasthi
Abstract
Heliothis (Helicoverpa) armigera, the cotton bollworm and gram
pod borer, is one of the most economically damaging polyphagous lepidopteran
pests worldwide, and widespread resistance to synthetic insecticides has
intensified the search for effective, sustainable alternatives. This paper
presents a structured evidence synthesis of laboratory and field studies
quantifying the insecticidal, antifeedant, ovicidal and growth-disrupting
efficacy of medicinal and botanical plant extracts against H. armigera.
Eight plant-derived treatment groups — Azadirachta indica, Annona squamosa,
Vitex negundo, Calotropis gigantea, Ocimum spp., Citrus sinensis, Cheilocostus
speciosus, and essential-oil monoterpenoids (thymol, 1,8-cineole) — were
assessed for reported lethal concentrations, mortality percentages, and
mechanisms of action, and their relative efficacy was tabulated for comparison.
Results show that azadirachtin-based neem formulations remain the most
extensively validated and potent botanical option (LC50 ≈ 12.95 µg a.i./mL
against third instar larvae), while acetogenin-rich Annona squamosa seed
extracts, flavonoid/terpenoid-rich Vitex negundo leaf extracts, and
thymol-based monoterpenoid mixtures also demonstrate substantial and
mechanistically distinct activity. A relative toxicity index comparing unit-matched
treatment groups indicated azadirachtin was roughly 7.5 times more potent than
Bacillus thuringiensis on a µg a.i./mL basis, while thymol and Vitex negundo
ethyl acetate/hexane fractions showed closely comparable potency on a
percentage w/v basis. Mechanisms identified include antifeedant deterrence,
ecdysteroid-mediated developmental disruption, acetylcholinesterase inhibition,
oxidative stress induction, and digestive enzyme impairment. Field-scale
efficacy is consistently lower and more variable than laboratory efficacy, and
combination treatments with microbial agents (Bacillus thuringiensis,
nucleopolyhedrovirus) or synthetic diamides produced additive mortality at
reduced individual dose levels. The paper concludes that medicinal plant
extracts constitute a scientifically credible and practically valuable
component of integrated pest management for H. armigera, though
standardisation, formulation stability and field validation remain the
principal barriers to wider adoption.
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Pages:114-119
How to cite this article:
Ankita Awasthi "Efficacy of medicinal plants against <i>Heliothis armigera</i> (Hübner): An evidence-based research paper on botanical bioactivity, mechanisms and field efficacy". International Journal of Entomology Research, Vol 11, Issue 3, 2026, Pages 114-119
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