Exploring termiticidal properties and GC/MS-based chemical profile of Lantana camara (L.)

India accounts for almost 10 % of the worlds' termite species. Odontotermes horni is one of the most important termites, posing significant threats to agricultural and horticultural ecosystems. The persistent nature of synthetic termiticides necessitates the development of alternative control strategies. The present study investigates the phytochemical composition and potential termiticidal and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory properties of Lantana camara (L.) leaf against O. horni. Methanolic, ethyl acetate, and aqueous extracts of L. camara (L.) leaves were used to assess their toxicity. The methanolic extract exhibited the highest potency, with an LC50 of 0.98%, followed by ethyl acetate (1.40 %) and water extract (8.81 %). The per cent mortality recorded at 2.5 % concentration for methanol, ethyl acetate, and aqueous extract was 96.20, 78.75 and 21.25, respectively. By fumigant action, the L. camara (L.) leaf extract at a 5% concentration of methanol, ethyl acetate and aqueous extract resulted in 68.75, 42.50 and 26.25 percent mortality, respectively. The methanolic extract showed the highest AChE inhibition (52.39 %), followed by the ethyl acetate (47.00 %) and the aqueous (43.53 %) extracts after 24 hours of exposure. GC-MS analysis of plant volatiles of the L. camara (L.) revealed 196 compounds, including terpenoids, known for termiticidal activity.