Biopesticide Activity of Costus Igneus -A Preliminary Study

Costus igneus plant was tested for potential biopesticide use against D. melanogaster larvae as a model organism. Aqueous and methanol extracts were prepared using fresh leaves of C. igneus. Methanol extracts experiential more effective with LC50 (50% lethal concentration) at 2.71% whereas aqueous extract recorded 1.25 folds higher than methanol with LC50 at 3.37%. The LC50 values were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Results explain 92.4% and 83.2% competence of methanol and aqueous extracts of C. igneus against D. melanogaster larvae correspondingly. The preliminary results proposes C.igneus plant as a potent source of biopesticide.