Phytochemical analysis and nematicidal-insecticidal activity of an acetone extract of Prosopis laevigata against Haemonchus contortus and Melanaphis sorghi

Medicinal plants are an important source of bioactive compounds that have various biological effects on pests and diseases of agricultural and livestock importance. The present study evaluated the nematicidal and insecticidal effects of the acetone extract (E-Ac) of Prosopis laevigata leaves. The tests were carried out under in vitro conditions. E-Ac had 100% nematicidal activity against Haemonchus contortus at 40 and 20 mg/mL, while at 10 mg/mL it had nearly 60% mortality against L3 H. contortus larvae. When E-Ac was incorporated into an artificial diet, it had an 88% insecticidal effect against Melanaphis sorghi at 72 h at 10 mg/mL. The phytochemical profile of E-Ac revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, coumarins, tannins, sterols/terpenes and saponins. The results of the present study reveal that E-Ac has secondary metabolites with anthelmintic activity against L3 larvae of H. contortus and insecticidal activity against adults of M. sorghi, which could represent a viable and affordable allelopathic tool in the control of gastrointestinal nematodiasis in small ruminants and against aphids of agricultural importance.