www.ijird.com April, 2019 Vol 8 Issue 4 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT DOI No. : 10.24940/ ijird/ 2019/ v8/ i4/ APR19037 Page 101 Phyto-Chemicals of Some Plants Powder as Anti-Insects Agents against Cowpea Weevils Callosobruchus Maculatus Coleoptera: Bruchidae 1. Introduction Cowpea weevil Callosobruchus maculatus is an agent of massive destruction causing the major lost in stored cowpea worldwide. Infestation of C. maculatus can be up to 90% in markets and village stores (Ofuya, 2010). In West Africa up to 100% damage to stored cowpea by C. maculatus may occur in just few months of storage (Maina, 2012). Besides storage, infestation can also occur from field which significantly reduces the quantity and quality of seeds reserved for sowing, food and trading purposes (Lale & Ofuya, 2001). Cowpea is usually treated with chemical insecticides before storage, to prevent infestation by destructive insects such as C. maculatus. Chemical insecticides; however, are restricted because of the development of pest resistance, health hazards and risk of environmental contamination (Isman, 2006). C. maculatus ability to resist chemical insecticides such as dichlovors (DDVP) has been reported (Olajire et al., 2016); in addition several deaths have been reported to consumption of cowpea treated with chemical insecticides for storage (FAO, 2010).Stored-product pest management in most part of the world has relied on the use of chemical insecticides; however, chemical control methods are restricted because of the development of pest resistance, health hazards and risk of environmental contamination (Isman, 2006). Therefore, in the current scenario, there is urgent need to develop safer, environmental friendlier and efficient alternatives that have potential to replace synthetic chemical insecticides and convenient to use. Plants powders and their components have shown to possess potential for development as insecticides and they may have advantages over conventional insecticides in terms of low mammalian toxicity, rapid degradation and local availability (Liys et al., 2001). Phytochemical compounds such as Alkaloids, Terpenoids, Flavonoids, Tannins, Saponins and Phenolic compounds are reported to possess anti-insects activities (FAO, 1999). The presence of these compounds forms the basis of the insecticidal properties of the plants powder and extracts. These compounds can affect ISSN 2278 – 0211 (Online) Abdullahi A.M Lecturer, Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University Kashere Gombe, Nigeria Zainab Tukur Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Bayero University Kano, Nigeria Hafizu M.S Lecturer, Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University Kashere, Gombe, Nigeria Abdulkadir Tahir Ahmad Lecturer, Department of Biological sciences, Federal University Kashere, Gombe, Nigeria Abstract : In this study, leaves powder of Lamium purpureum, Cyperus retrorsus, Lantana camara, Helianthus annuus, Citrus aurantifolia and Cestrum nocturnum were screened for secondary metabolite constituents and insecticidal activity against Cowpea weevils (Callosobruchus maculatus).Phytochemicals screening of the powder revealed the presence of alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, tannins, saponnins, phytosteroids, phenolic compounds, proteins and aminoacids, oil and fats as well as reducing sugars in the plants investigated. Alkaloids were absent only in C. retrorsus, H. annuus and C. nocturnum, Flavonoids were absent in L .purpureum, C. retrorsus, H. snnuus and C. nocturnum, Terpenoids were absent in C. retrorsus and C. nocturnum, saponnins were absent in C. retrorsus only, Phenolic compounds were absent only in H. annuus, Phytosterols were absent in L.purpureum, C. retrorsus and C. nocturnum. Proteins and amino acids were present only in L. purpureum and H. annuus. Oil and fats were absent in C. retrorsus and C. nocturnum while reducing sugars were absent in L. purpureum, C. retrorsus and C. nocturnum. The plants powder indicates insecticidal activity in a dose dependent manner, higher doses has stronger effect, all the experimental plants caused significant mortalities (p<0.05) of the C. maculatus. LD50 (g) showed thatH. annuus (6.2)andC .nocturnum (6.2) were most toxic to C. maculatus than L. purpureum (9.7), C. aurantifolia (12.8) andL. camara (12.8) were more toxic than C. retrorsus (18.2) which was least toxic to adults of C. maculatus. Therefore, these phytochemical constituents of plants powder have potential to be used as control agents of C. maculatus infestations and could be use as replacement or supplements to conventional chemical insecticides which price, availability and technology of applications may be out of reach to poor farmers. Keywords: Powder, phyto-chemical, screening, insecticidal activity, callosobruchus maculatus