Phytochemical analysis and evaluation of rodenticidal powder from Daphne gnidium under laboratory and field conditions

This paper reports the raticidal effect of the powder and the two extracts of Daphne gnidium against Wistar rats at the laboratory level and Rattus norvegicus in wheat storage warehouses. A quantitative phytochemical study was conducted alongside a histopathological study of the liver, lungs, kidneys, and intestine. The yield values obtained from the methanolic and aqueous fractions were 18% and 21.2% respectively. The content of polyphenols (mg EqAG/g DM (Dry Matter)), flavonoids (mg EqQr/g DM (Dry Matter)) and tannins (mg EqCat/g DM (Dry Matter)) were 23.02 ± 2.02, 21.22 ± 1.24; 8.64 ± 0.87, 5.94 ± 0.19 and 6.37 ± 0.26, 4.14 ± 0.17 in the methanolic and aqueous extract. Clinical signs were noted. The powder caused the highest dose-dependent mortality rate with LD50 and LD90 values of 2754, 3981 mg/kg/d and 3020, 4365 mg/kg/d in males and females respectively. The powder recorded a reduction rate of 53% against the R. norgevicus in wheat storage warehouses. The histopathological examination revealed the presence of abnormalities. © 2022 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.