Author(s)

Lokpriy Pandey, Ravi Kant Upadhyay

Department of Zoology (Environmental Science), Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur, India.

In the present study, Citrus maxima essential crude oil extract was used to prepare combinatorial formulations and workers of Indian white termite Odontotermes obesus were treated topically with 40% and 80% of 24 hr LD50 values of these formulations. In subsequent bioassays levels of various enzymes i.e. alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase and acetylcholinesterase were evaluated to determine the anti-termite efficacy of Citrus maxima essential oil based combinatorial formulations. S-RET-A, S-RET-B and S-RET-C caused significant (p > 0.05) decrease in glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase i.e. 87.47%, 86.81% and 81.77% & 82.04%, 79.39% and 74.75% respectively at 16 h treatment. In vivo exposure of 40% and 80% of LD₅₀ of combinatorial formulations caused very significant (p > 0.05) reduction in all the test enzymes i.e. alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase expect acetylcholinesterase levels after 16 h all tested treatments in comparison to control. Both dose-response and time period were found important in physiological alteration in levels of various enzymes. Combinatorial mixtures of Citrus essential oils have shown synergistic activity against termites. The research findings of the present study would help termite control in crop fields, gardens and houses in a sustainable way.

Citrus maxima, Essential Oils, Odontotermes obesus, Enzymes, Inhibition, Termiticidal Action

Pandey, L. and Upadhyay, R. (2023) Toxic Effects of Citrus maxima Based Combinatorial Formulations on Important Metabolic Enzymes in Indian White Termite Odontotermes obesus. Advances in Enzyme Research, 11, 11-33. doi: 10.4236/aer.2023.112002.