Novel application of Trichilia Heudelotii planch: effectiveness of different polarity of organic solvents of leaf and stem bark extracts on the control of cowpea beetle

Callosobruchus maculatus (cowpea beetle) is a field-to-store pest causing over 90% losses of cowpea. The search for new plant-derived crop protectant that can be explored as alternative to synthetic pesticides is urgently needed. Thus, the phytochemical screening, as well as the bioactivity of different polarity of organic solvents of leaf and stembark extracts of Trichilia heudelotii (Meliaceae), was investigated against the field-to-store insect pest Callosobruchus maculatus in laboratory bioassay. The non-polar (hexane) and polar (ethanol) extracts [0.0 (control), 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 ml] of the leaf and stem bark were added to 100 g of cowpea. The following parameters of the cowpea weevil life cycle were analysed at the various concentrations: adult mortality, oviposition rate, number of larvae and pupae, and emergence of first filial progeny. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, saponins in both the non-polar and polar extracts. Furthermore, the various treatments used were significantly (p< 0.05) effective in controlling C. maculatus from 1 and also 30 days after treatment (DAT) for both the non-polar and polar extracts when compared to the control. However, the most effective treatment was observed with the polar (EtOH) stem bark extract at 1.5 ml, which caused more mortalities and fewer emergence of the insect. Our findings suggest that the non-polar and polar leaf and stem bark of T. heudelotii extracts could serve as a sustainable and potential alternative to synthetic chemicals in pest control

Mapping inequalities in exclusive breastfeeding in low- and middle-income countries, 2000–2018

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF)—giving infants only breast-milk for the first 6 months of life—is a component of optimal breastfeeding practices effective in preventing child morbidity and mortality. EBF practices are known to vary by population and comparable subnational estimates of prevalence and progress across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are required for planning policy and interventions. Here we present a geospatial analysis of EBF prevalence estimates from 2000 to 2018 across 94 LMICs mapped to policy-relevant administrative units (for example, districts), quantify subnational inequalities and their changes over time, and estimate probabilities of meeting the World Health Organization’s Global Nutrition Target (WHO GNT) of ≥70% EBF prevalence by 2030. While six LMICs are projected to meet the WHO GNT of ≥70% EBF prevalence at a national scale, only three are predicted to meet the target in all their district-level units by 2030