Philippine E-Journals

Phytochemical Screening and Insecticidal Testing of Mother in Law’s Tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata)

Solita Evangeline S. Bañez | Liza A. Castor

 

Abstract:

Medicines and insecticides are expensive nowadays, this situation propelled the researchers to look into the potential uses of abundant mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata Laurentii). This experimental study determined the phytochemical screening and insecticidal testing of mother-in-law’s tongue. Three phases were included: extraction, phytochemical screening (Mayer, Wagner, Froth, Color, Fehling, Gelatin & Burchard) and insecticidal testing on different insects. Mean, standard deviation and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to analyze the data. Results showed that the ethanol extract of the leaves and rhizomes contain alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins , sterols and triterpenes. The leaves and rhizomes of Sansevieria trifasciata can be made into insecticides and more effective than carbamate. The researchers recommend that studies should be conducted for the quantitative analyses of alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, sterols and triterpenes present in the whole plant. Pharmacological testing and microbio logical assay of the whole plant are also recommended. The leaves and rhizomes of mother- in- law’s tongue can be organic insecticides and are recommended for farmers to use in their crops because these are cheaper and safer. Further studies should be conducted using other concentrations of mother-in-law’s tongue leaves and rhizomes or mixed together against insects.