The toxicity Evaluation of a medicinal plant Ruta montana in a biological model Drosophila melanogaster under laboratory conditions

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the chemical composition of essential oil extracted from Rutamontana (Rue) and to evaluate its insecticidal activities with respect to a medically important biological species, Drosophila melanogaster. The EO extracted from R.montana was tested at different concentrations on pupae, larvae and adults of D.melanogaster under laboratory conditions according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO). Effects were examined on mortality, enzyme biomarkers (GSTs and catalase) and biochemical composition of adults. EOs obtained by clevenger-type hydrodistillation of aerial parts of the medicinal plant Rutamontana (P1) belonging to the family Rutaceae collected in zone 1 (mountain Ouenza) and zone 2 (Boulhaf –Edir montain) has respectively a yield of 1.49 0.27% and 0.75 0.083% of the dry matter. Their chemical composition was determined by CPG/SM. The chemical analysis showed that the EOs of R.montana The terpenic compounds identified in the zone 1(P1) plant represent 21 compounds, 87.43% of the total composition of which 68.47% are monoterpenes while 30,54% are terpene hydrocarbons sesquiterpenes of total terpene compounds. R.montana EO of zone 2 (P2) consists of 17 compounds, 91.38% terpene derivatives, corresponding to monoterpenes while the remainder represents 8.62% other chemical components (alkane, cymene, organic and aromatic compounds). Toxicological tests carried out according to the WHO standard protocol, revealed the pupicide, larvicide and adulticide activity of R.montana EO on D.melanogaster. Enzyme activity determined in adults treated with EO (LC50) revealed a decrease in GSTs and catalase activity, respectively. R.montana EO can be effective in biological control of vinegar fly D.melanogaster. Moreover, the development cycle study shows that EOcauses a decrease in the number of males and females of different generations. In addition, they significantly reduce protein, carbohydrate and fat content in both male and female adults. This is probably due to the stress conditions imposed by the treatment of these insects that need an additional supply of energy from carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. The ecological characterization of the two zone soils (1 and 2) is carried out: particle size, organic matter, pH and electrical conductivity. The analysis results show that the samples analyzed are characterized by an abundance of certain heavy metals especially for iron and zinc.