"Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant Potential, and Insecticidal Activity of Moringa oleifera Extracts Against Tribolium castaneum: A Sustainable Approach to Pest Management"

Moringa oleifera , known for its rich phytochemical profile, offers a promising natural alternative for sustainable pest management. This study investigates the phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity, and evauates for the first time the insecticidal potential of M. oleifera extracts against Tribolium castaneum . Extracts were obtained from different plant parts (leaves, stems, roots, and seeds) using ethanol, methanol, acetone, and distillated water. Phytochemical analysis revealed high concentrations of total phenolics (7.18 µg GAE/mg DW in ethanol leaf extract), flavonoids (23.52 µg QE/mg DW in ethanol leaf extract), tannins (245.4 mg CE/g DW in acetone seed extract), saponins (13.7 in methanol leaf extract), and alkaloids (30.06 mg atropine/100mL in water stem extract). HPLC analysis identified various bioactive compound, including phenolic acids (gallic acid, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid), flavonoids (apigenin, quercetin, kaempferol), flavanols (catechin, epicatechin, procyanidin dimers), and iridoids (oleuroside). Among these, gallic acid, quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside and kaempferol were detected in high concentrations. Antioxidant assays showed significant free radical scavenging activity, with methanol root extract displaying the highest DPPH inhibition (7.1%). Total antioxidant activity peaked at 36.12 mg GAE/g DW in methanol stem extract. Insecticidal bioassays demonstrated that ethanol root extracts achieved 90% mortality of T. castaneum within 24 hours at a 30% concentration. These findings highlight M. oleifera as a potent bioinsecticide with strong antioxidant properties, supporting its integration into sustainable pest management strategies. Further research should focus on formulation stability and field application for large-scale use.