Comprehensive evaluation of isolated compounds from Sphaeranthus indicus for pest control, investigating their larvicidal, pupicidal, ovicidal, and antifeedant activities against Spodoptera litura.

The increasing threat of agricultural pests, such as Spodoptera litura, has led to over-reliance on synthetic pesticides, resulting in resistance issues. This study investigates the pesticidal potential of bioactive compounds isolated from Sphaeranthus indicus against S. litura, focusing on ilicic acid, 7α-hydroxyfrullanolide, phytol, nonacosane, and β-isocostic acid. These compounds, extracted from the hexane leaf extract, were evaluated for ovicidal, antifeedant, larvicidal, and pupicidal activities. Ilicic acid exhibited the highest efficacy across all assays. In the ovicidal assay, it achieved 89.6 % mortality at 2 ppm, followed by phytol (83.6 %), 7α-hydroxyfrullanolide (82.4 %), nonacosane (73.6 %), and β-isocostic acid (69.2 %). The antifeedant assay showed ilicic acid with 72.61 % inhibition at 2 ppm, while larvicidal activity revealed an LC of 0.76 ppm. Pupicidal activity further confirmed its potency, with an LC of 0.79 ppm. These results highlight the potential of S. indicus-derived compounds, particularly ilicic acid, as eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic pesticides for S. litura control. Statistical analysis confirmed the significance of these findings, underscoring their applicability in integrated pest management strategies. This study offers promising insights into sustainable pest control solutions.