Azadirachta indica as natural pesticide for Pomacea canaliculata control: a review / Nik Amalia Nasratiena M. Z. … [et al.]

Pomacea canaliculata, or golden apple snail, is known as a major rice pest in Malaysia. Since 2002, almost 20000 ha of rice-growing areas in Malaysia have been infested by P. canaliculata. The snail destroys the rice seedlings by consuming the soft stems and leaves of the paddy. Consequently, farmers use synthetic pesticides to control the invasion of P. canaliculata. However, farmers have concerned about the negative impact of synthetic pesticides on human health and the environment, as well as the high costs of the application. Azadirachta indica is one of the most well-known plants for natural pesticides that has played a vital role in pest management and is widely used in agriculture. The seed and leaf extracts of A. indica have been used as a biological molluscicide in controlling P. canaliculata. The most common active compounds in A. indica are azadirachtin, salannin, meliantriol, and nimbin. Previous studies established that the pesticidal properties of A. indica are derived from azadirachtin, which inhibits the acetylcholinesterase enzyme (AChE) activity of the pests. Most of the research only focused on A. indica extracts and essential oils as the lethal doses and time to achieve lethal effects. Therefore, this review provides information about the infestation of P. canaliculata and the effectiveness of A. indica as a biopesticide due to the inhibition of AChE, which is known as the primary resistance mechanism of pesticides in many pests.