Botanical Extracts as Eco-friendly Alternatives for Insect Pest Management in Stored Products: A Review

Abstract

The persistent use of synthetic insecticides in stored grain pest management has raised several concerns, including the emergence of pest resistance, environmental contamination and human health hazards. Consequently, there is an increasing interest in the use of botanical extracts as sustainable and environmentally benign alternatives. This review consolidates research findings on various plant-based insecticides that exhibit toxic, repellent, antifeedant and growth-disrupting effects against key storage pests such as Tribolium castaneum, Sitophilus zeamais, Rhyzopertha dominica, Trogoderma granarium and others. Extracts and essential oils from plants like Azadirachta indica, Curcuma longa, Murraya koenigii and Lantana camara have demonstrated high efficacy in mortality, repellency and feeding inhibition. The accumulated evidence highlights the potential role of botanicals in integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, promoting safe and effective pest control in stored products.