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VOL. 11, ISSUE 2 (2026)
Plant-derived pesticides as sustainable alternatives for agricultural insect pest management with ecotoxicological considerations
Authors
Sambasivam Suganya
Abstract
The growing reliance on synthetic pesticides
in intensive farming disrupts the ecosystem's natural equilibrium, affecting
pest populations and diminishing essential interactions among organisms.
Consequently, efforts in recent years have increased to develop safe and
sustainable pest control methods as alternatives to synthetic pesticides.
Plant-derived pesticides are viable substitutes for conventional pesticides.
Although they may not always be highly effective, they pose less risk to the
environment and are safer for humans and other living beings. Ecotoxicity
probabilities were examined for plant components, including
(–)-homopterocarpine, limonene, α-pinene, β-himachalene, and
(E)-β-caryophyllene, with ratios above 0.50 indicating potential environmental
risk. Predictions for skin irritation and corrosion showed confidence levels of
60, 50, and 70% for azadirachtin, resveratrol, and nimbandiol, respectively. It
has been clearly demonstrated that these compounds can be used in agricultural
insect pest management without causing environmental pollution. Given that the
confidence levels were 50% or close to 50%, severe toxicity was unlikely. Based
on the toxicity assessment, this study concluded that these compounds may be
beneficial for managing insect pests in agriculture. This review provides
information on the chemical makeup of plant-based pesticides, their mechanisms
of action, and their significance in agricultural production. Plant-derived
pesticides are effective in managing a wide range of crop pests,
cost-effective, readily biodegradable, and operate through multiple mechanisms.
Furthermore, their raw materials are readily accessible and exhibit low
toxicity to nontarget organisms.
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Pages:541-547
How to cite this article:
Sambasivam Suganya "Plant-derived pesticides as sustainable alternatives for agricultural insect pest management with ecotoxicological considerations". International Journal of Entomology Research, Vol 11, Issue 2, 2026, Pages 541-547
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