Insecticidal Activity of Garlic Extract and their Constituents

Garlic ( Allium sativum L.) is a globally cultivated perennial plant that is used as a spice or medicinal herb.
Garlic has been used in the world in general, to treat coughs, toothache, dandruff, hypertension,
atherosclerosis, hysteria, diarrhea, dysentery, diphtheria, vaginitis, and many other conditions (Rivlin
2001). The chemical composition of the essential oil derived from garlic has been widely studied and has
been reviewed in many studies (e.g., Lanzotti 2006, Corzo-Martinez et al. 2007). The garlic essential oil
or extract has been evaluated for insecticidal and acaricidal and antifeedant activity as well as repellency
against many insects and mites, including grain storage insects and mites, mosquitoes, and termites (Ho
et al. 1996, Chiam et al. 1999, Landolt et al. 1999, MustaÞzur and Motoyama 2000, Jarial 2001, Park and
Shin 2005, Trongtokit et al. 2005, Park et al. 2006, Prowse et al. 2006, Hincapie et al. 2008, Kimbaris et
al. 2009, Isikber 2010, Yang et al. 2010, Campbell et al. 2011, Jahromi et al. 2011, Martinez-Velazquez et
al. 2011, Mikhaiel 2011, Rotaru-Stancic et al. 2011, Tedeschi et al. 2011, Attia et al. 2012, Ileke and
Olotuah 2012, Meriga et al. 2012).

Nevertheless, the possible impact of garlic extract on beneficial organisms needs more study prior to the
widespread use of such a product. Garlic essential oil and its active components have limited durability
under retained conditions because of their volatility; thus, while natural enemies are susceptible to
direct contact, it is unlikely that predators and parasitoids reinvading treated crops 1 day after
treatment would be contaminated by residue contact, as often happens with conventional insecticides
(Isman 2006). Upadhyay and Singh (2012) believe that the lectins or lectin like compounds (ASAL) in
garlic may interfere with different aspects of the insect life cycle. Lectins serve as plant defences against
insects, viruses, fungi, bacteria and mites (Peumans and Van Damme 1995, Saha et al. 2007, Roy et al.
2008, Chakraborti et al. 2009). These garlic compounds are toxic to many insects and can be a strong
deterrent to feeding and egg laying behavior (Michiels et al. 2010). They bind to and damage sensory
receptors, midgut receptor proteins, intracellular proteins and other vital proteins within the insects’
digestive tract.

Garlic ( Allium sativum) has a remarkable therapeutic ability as it prevents carcinoma invasion, offers
cardiovascular defense, cholesterol lowering, blood pressure, anti-platelet function, and the
production of thromboxane. It protects against atherosclerosis and related disorders and helps to
lower serum glucose , insulin, triglycerides and uric acid levels, as well as insulin resistance, and
decreases the level of cytokines. It demonstrates hypolipidemic, anti-platelet, and procirculatory
effects, and antimutagenic and antiproliferative properties. Via immune enhancement, it avoids cold
and flu symptoms and exhibits anticancer and chemopreventive behaviors. Allicin (S-allyl cysteine
sulfoxide), a potent antioxidant which demonstrates cardioprotective and neuroprotective behavior,
is the main active component of garlic. Diallyl trisulfide, a major garlic derivative, could inhibit cell
proliferation in a variety of cancer cells by activating either cell cycle arrest or apoptosis.
Organosulfur compounds from garlic inhibit the growth of transplanted as well as spontaneous
cancers in preclinical animal models without any adverse side effects. Garlic is a good source of
anti-invasive, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, chemopreventive,
hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, apoptotic, cardioprotective, antidiabetic agents and shows
insecticidal effects against lepidopteran, coleopteran, dipteran and homopteran insect pests. Hence,
its constituents could be used to develop alternatives to conventional insecticides for control of
serious fruit and vegetable pests. Garlic herbal preparations can reduce non-target exposure to
hazardous insecticides and curb resistance development in insects.

URLS:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/
299441471_Garlic_A_potential_source_of_pharmaceuticals_and_pesticides_A_review

http://greyduckgarlic.com/garlic-controls-insects.html

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/6e9d/e2a0a28b5aac27611edaa0775a4f7f977c02.pdf

https://publicrelations.colostate.edu/2003/09/30/nutrition-column-garlic-may-repel-pests-as-
well-as-people/