Insecticidal Activity of Ricinus communis Leaf Extracts Against Bactrocera zonata and Bactrocera cucurbitae: Identification of Potential Bioactive Compounds

Abstract

Simple Summary This study evaluated the insecticidal potential of R. communis leaf extracts against the major agricultural pests Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett), and the peach fruit fly Bactrocera zonata (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae). The methanol and ethyl acetate fractions demonstrated the highest bioactivity, and 11,14,17-eicosatrienoic acid was identified as a candidate constituent associated with mortality responses. Other compounds, such as neophytadiene and hentriacontane, showed comparatively lower activity. The findings suggest that R. communis extracts could contribute to plant-based pest management strategies. However, further research is needed to isolate pure compounds and validate their efficacy under field conditions.