ABSTRACT

American cockroaches are considered a common pest in Malaysia. They have a negative impact on humans in terms of the destruction and spreading of pathogenic organisms. The use of synthetic repellent has led to chemical pollution and it also brings harmful toward the human. Plant-based insect repellents are believed to be comparable or better alternatives to synthetic repellents. In this study, Sekentut (Paederia foetida) leaves extracts was tested for repellence and lethal activity on American cockroach (Periplanata americana). In the plant extraction process, dried leaves were soaked in ethanol and the solvent was removed using a steam bath to obtain leaves extracts. The leaves extracts were diluted with distilled water at 10% (v/v), 25% (v/v), 50% (v/v), and 100% (v/v) concentration. The difference of concentration was tested for repellence towards P. americana for 30 minutes of exposure meanwhile lethal was tested for P. Americana for 72 hours of exposure. One-way ANOVA and Probit analysis were performed for statistical analysis. The pure P. foetida leaves extract (100%) indicated excellent repellency (100%) and was found to be an effective repellent against American cockroaches. For lethal activity, the findings discovered that P. foetida with 100% of concentration has the strongest insecticidal activity toward American cockroaches with LC99 value of 83%. Based on the outcomes, P. foetida used in this study might be considered to be an effective repellent and insecticide against P. americana.

Keywords: Lethal effect, Paederia foetida, Periplanata americana, Repellent