Crude plant extracts have been used as insecticides from ancient times. Keeping in view the environmental issues related to the excessive use of insecticides, plant derived products have been intensively investigated for their insecticidal potential. Alpinia galanga, a medicinal plant belonging to family Zingiberaceae exhibits a wide range of biologicial activities. Thus, the present study aims to evaluate the anti-insect potential of A. galanga against Spodoptera litura (Fab.), a polyphagous pest causing economic losses to many agricultural crops in India. Addition of A. galanga extracts to the larval diet adversely affected the survival and development of S. litura. Ethyl acetate extract was found to be the most effective causing 67.50% larval mortality at 2500 ppm and extending the development period by 12.73 days as compared to control. Purified compounds isolated from A. galanga viz. 1′-acetoxychavicol acetate and galangin exhibited more larvicidal activity in comparison to crude extracts. Both of the compounds also retarded the development of S. litura. The present study implies that A. galanga extracts have the potential to manage insect pests, although there is need to evaluate the field efficacy.

粗制植物提取物自古以来就被用作杀虫剂。考虑到与过量使用杀虫剂有关的环境问题，已对植物衍生产品的杀虫潜力进行了深入研究。高良姜Alpinia galanga，属于姜科的一种药用植物，具有广泛的生物活性。因此，本研究旨在评估高良姜对小菜蛾（Spodoptera litura）（Fab。）的杀虫潜力，该多食性害虫对印度许多农作物造成了经济损失。在幼虫饮食中添加高良姜提取物会不利地影响斜纹夜蛾的生存和发育。发现乙酸乙酯提取物是最有效的，与对照相比，它在2500 ppm时引起67.50％的幼虫死亡率，并使发育期延长了12.73天。从高良曲霉分离的纯化的化合物。与粗提物相比，乙酸1'-乙酰氧基查韦醇和高良姜精表现出更多的杀幼虫活性。两种化合物还阻碍了斜纹夜蛾的发展。本研究表明，尽管有必要评估田间药效，但高良姜提取物具有处理害虫的潜力。