Dose-mortality, Cytotoxicity and Repellent Activity of Abutilon hirtum (Lam.) Sweet against Callosobruchus chinensis (L.), Artemia salina L. and Tribolium castaneum (Hbst.)

Petroleum ether (Pet. ether), chloroform (CHCl₃) and methanol (CH₃OH) extracts of the aerial parts of Abutilon hirtum (Lam.) Sweet were subjected to dose-mortality against the stored grain pest Callosobruchus chinensis (L.), cytotoxicity against brine Shrimp Artemia salina L. nauplii and repellent activity against adult beetles of Tribolium castaneum (Hbst.). Against C. chinensis only CH₃OH extract showed promising mortality and provided LD₅₀ values 1.344, 1.294, 1.243 and 1.152 mg/cm² after 6, 12, 18 and 24 h of exposure respectively, however, Pet. ether and CHCl₃ extracts didnt show mortality. Against A. salina nauplii Pet. ether, CHCl₃ and CH₃OH extracts showed cytotoxic effects; while Pet. ether extract gave LC₅₀ values 2461.031, 642, 191.233, 94.618 ppm after 6, 12, 18 and 24 h of exposure respectively, and CHCl₃ extract provided LC₅₀ values 1336.124, 679.387, 276.961 and 199.988 ppm; and CH₃OH offered 531.896, 212.840, 91.499 and 72.975 ppm after 6, 12, 18 and 24 h of exposure respectively. For repellency against T. castaneum adults CHCl₃ extract showed significant result at 1% level of significance (P < 0.01), while the CH₃OH extract showed moderate repellency at 5% level of significance (P < 0.05), but the Pet. ether extract didnt show any significant repellent activity.