fruit. Ijato et al. (2011) reported that these plants extracts in addition to their ability
to retard mycelial growth of the fungi, they also inhibit their spore germination.
Other reports on the antifungal activity of plant-based pesticides include that of
Prapassom et al. (2012) who reported the efficacy of 14 crude leaf extracts including
Piper sarmentosum, Cymbopogon citratus, Citrus hystrix, Murraya paniculata,
Ocimum basilicum, Ocimum canum, Annona squamosal, M. oleifera, Psidium
guajava, Ocimum sanctum, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Artocarpus heterophyllus,
Cassia siamea, Mentha cordifolia, using ethanol, methanol, and chloroform (80%)
as solvents against C. gloesporioides (Penz.) and found that crude methanol extract
of P. sarmentosum leaves effectively inhibited the growth of fungal mycelium
(100%), followed by crude chloroform extract(81.85%). Similarly, extracts from
the bark, roots, and leaves of A. indica at 400 and 500 mg/ml concentrations tested
against C. gloesporioides, a causal agent of field soft rot of fruit completely inhibit
the growth of the fungus (Ijato et al. 2011).
The challenge in agrochemical industry today is not only to formulate pesticides
with high efficiency, but also need to developed better brands with improved safety
to the users and have less impact to the environment (Polychniatou and Tzia 2014).
Not only that, such formulations should be an adequate delivery system that will
resolve the problem of inconsistency associated with bipesticides that reduce their
rate of competition with long standing synthetic pesticides in the market (Su et al.
2014). Since bipesticides are formulated with active ingredients and inert ingredients (Jiang et al. 2011), the primary aim of formulation process is to make the active
ingredient easy to handle, use, ensure that that it is stable during storage and
transport, and achieved an adequate shelf life in the formulation. The active
ingredient should possess antimicrobial or chemical properties that can control the
target pest. Specifically, the active ingredient should function as antifungal,
antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, cytotoxic, repellent, destroyer, killer, or mitigate
pest, or as plant regulator, desiccant or defoliant. Bioactive compounds (active
ingredients) of biopesticides come from various sources that include those extracted
from botanicals (plants) such as rotenone, MoCBP 3 , nicotine, pyrethrum, saponins
for the preparation of plant-based biopesticides. Typical example of plant-based
biopesticide is that of MILSANA and REGALIA formulated from anthraquinone
containing extracts of giant knotweed (Reynoutria sachalinensis). Both biopesticides are commercially developed and marketed by Marrone Bio Innovatives Inc
sold as MILSANA
® and REGALIA
® . Both have antifungal and antibacterial
properties against various fungal and bacterial pathogens. In addition, they also
serve as plant defence inducers and act in the accumulation of fungistatic phenolic
compounds in the plants (Huang and Campbell 2016; Su et al. 2014).
2.4.3 Pharmacological Applications in Drugs Development
Another application of bioactive natural compounds is in the field of drugs development as a result of their efficacy and safety concerns of the hundreds of millions of
74
T. Ahmadu and K. Ahmad
to retard mycelial growth of the fungi, they also inhibit their spore germination.
Other reports on the antifungal activity of plant-based pesticides include that of
Prapassom et al. (2012) who reported the efficacy of 14 crude leaf extracts including
Piper sarmentosum, Cymbopogon citratus, Citrus hystrix, Murraya paniculata,
Ocimum basilicum, Ocimum canum, Annona squamosal, M. oleifera, Psidium
guajava, Ocimum sanctum, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Artocarpus heterophyllus,
Cassia siamea, Mentha cordifolia, using ethanol, methanol, and chloroform (80%)
as solvents against C. gloesporioides (Penz.) and found that crude methanol extract
of P. sarmentosum leaves effectively inhibited the growth of fungal mycelium
(100%), followed by crude chloroform extract(81.85%). Similarly, extracts from
the bark, roots, and leaves of A. indica at 400 and 500 mg/ml concentrations tested
against C. gloesporioides, a causal agent of field soft rot of fruit completely inhibit
the growth of the fungus (Ijato et al. 2011).
The challenge in agrochemical industry today is not only to formulate pesticides
with high efficiency, but also need to developed better brands with improved safety
to the users and have less impact to the environment (Polychniatou and Tzia 2014).
Not only that, such formulations should be an adequate delivery system that will
resolve the problem of inconsistency associated with bipesticides that reduce their
rate of competition with long standing synthetic pesticides in the market (Su et al.
2014). Since bipesticides are formulated with active ingredients and inert ingredients (Jiang et al. 2011), the primary aim of formulation process is to make the active
ingredient easy to handle, use, ensure that that it is stable during storage and
transport, and achieved an adequate shelf life in the formulation. The active
ingredient should possess antimicrobial or chemical properties that can control the
target pest. Specifically, the active ingredient should function as antifungal,
antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, cytotoxic, repellent, destroyer, killer, or mitigate
pest, or as plant regulator, desiccant or defoliant. Bioactive compounds (active
ingredients) of biopesticides come from various sources that include those extracted
from botanicals (plants) such as rotenone, MoCBP 3 , nicotine, pyrethrum, saponins
for the preparation of plant-based biopesticides. Typical example of plant-based
biopesticide is that of MILSANA and REGALIA formulated from anthraquinone
containing extracts of giant knotweed (Reynoutria sachalinensis). Both biopesticides are commercially developed and marketed by Marrone Bio Innovatives Inc
sold as MILSANA
® and REGALIA
® . Both have antifungal and antibacterial
properties against various fungal and bacterial pathogens. In addition, they also
serve as plant defence inducers and act in the accumulation of fungistatic phenolic
compounds in the plants (Huang and Campbell 2016; Su et al. 2014).
2.4.3 Pharmacological Applications in Drugs Development
Another application of bioactive natural compounds is in the field of drugs development as a result of their efficacy and safety concerns of the hundreds of millions of
74
T. Ahmadu and K. Ahmad