Effect of Chenopodium ambrosioides L. (Chenopodiaceae) aqueous extract on reproduction and life span of Drosophila melanogaster (Meigen) (Diptera: drosophilidae)

Abstract

Several plants used in folk medicine has bioactivity that depends on dosage. Chenopodium ambrosioides is a plant with anti-helmintic and insecticide activities. The objective of this work was to observe effects of C. ambrosioides on life span and reproduction of a model-organism, Drosophila melanogaster. Larval and adults were fed on two kinds of medium: a standard nourishing medium and standard nourishing medium with 0,1 % of aqueos extract of C. ambrosioides. The flies reared on medium with plant extract had less offspring and significative difference in sex ratio. The life span of both sex were affected by the plant aqueuos extract: females seems to die early than males. Larval phase survivor females reared on medium with extract had a longer life span, which can be attributable to shorter life span of males reared on medium with plant extract.