A review of the use of phytochemicals for insect pest control

The search for safe and environmentally-friendly pest control options has led to the exploration of pesticidal plants for potential alternatives. Plants from several families have been reported to exhibit a wide range of biological activities against insect pests, some of which have been scientifically validated. Recently, attention has focused on the identification of the compounds present in plants that possess insecticidal properties. Although there is a wealth of information available on this field of science, the data are scattered in various journals and other publications.This paper presents a review of the literature on biological activities of pesticidal plant extracts, types of insecticidal phytochemicals, synergistic effects of pure compounds and crude extracts, role of botanical insecticides in integrated pest management, drawbacks of phytoinsecticides, and methods employed in the screening and validation of such products.