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Poisonous plants and their uses as insecticides in Cajamarca, Peru

Plantas toxicas y sus usos como insecticidas en Cajamarca, Peru

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Abstract

This study focuses on the use of botanical pesticides in Cajamarca, Peru. Fieldwork was conducted in four Quechua communities located in different ecological zones. Interviews and collection of specimens yielded 64 poisonous species and 22 species considered useful because of their toxic properties. The yellow fever mosquito bioassay was applied to methanolic extracts of the latter 22 species to determine their toxicity toAedes aegypti L. larvae. Most extracts showed weak to moderate activity, although three were found to have strong pesticidal activity.

Resumen

Durante este estudio se colectó información sobre el pasado y presente uso de pesticidas botánicos en Cajamarca, Perú. El trabajo de campo se realizó en cuatro municipalidades, localizadas en diferentes zonas ecológicas. Las entrevistas y colecta de especímenes produjo 64 especies tóxicas y 22 plantas consideradas útiles dadas sus propiedades tóxicas. Se aplicó la prueba biológica del mosquito de la fiebre amarilla, a extractos en metanol de estas últimas 22 especies, con el fin de determinar su toxicidad a las larvae deAedes aegypti L. y proveer información preliminaria sobre la actividad insecticida de los extractos botánicos. La mayoría de los extractos mostraron actividad débil a moderada, excepto tres que mostraron fuerte actividad insecticida.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shanghai, China

    Olga L. Orozco

  2. Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, 60022, Glencoe, IL

    David L. Lentz

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  1. Olga L. Orozco
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  2. David L. Lentz
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Correspondence to Olga L. Orozco.

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Orozco, O.L., Lentz, D.L. Poisonous plants and their uses as insecticides in Cajamarca, Peru. Econ Bot 59, 166–173 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1663/0013-0001(2005)059[0166:PPATUA]2.0.CO;2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1663/0013-0001(2005)059[0166:PPATUA]2.0.CO;2

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