Work Package 3: Phytochemical characterisation of active materials Lead partner: NRI-UOG Involved partners: RBGKEW, MUM, UZ

Justification Use of plants as pesticides established & effective for crop, storage protection, livestock treatment. Use of plants as pesticides established & effective for crop, storage protection, livestock treatment. So why the need for chemistry? So why the need for chemistry? Requires expensive equipment Requires expensive equipment Time consuming Time consuming

Pesticidal plant use improved via understanding the chemistry that governs activity e.g., Pesticidal plant use improved via understanding the chemistry that governs activity e.g., enhancing application methods enhancing application methods water soluble components applied as water extracts reducing amounts needed water soluble components applied as water extracts reducing amounts needed improving harvesting strategies - less long term damage improving harvesting strategies - less long term damage correct time of year correct time of year correct part of plant correct part of plant identifying alternatives species for scarce or threatened ones identifying alternatives species for scarce or threatened ones some plants are effective & popular but over-harvested some plants are effective & popular but over-harvested abundant plants with similar chemistry environmentally benign alternative abundant plants with similar chemistry environmentally benign alternative Authentication & validation Authentication & validation Identification of toxins Identification of toxins Justification - scientific

The ability of SADC partners to carry out this analytical work is presently limited The ability of SADC partners to carry out this analytical work is presently limited capacity needs to be built. capacity needs to be built. This WP will incorporate significant training component This WP will incorporate significant training component analytical and preparative techniques analytical and preparative techniques bioassays techniques bioassays techniques Justification - institutional

Objectives WP3 Chemical profiling of at least 10 pesticidal plants - selection based on information arising from WP2 Chemical profiling of at least 10 pesticidal plants - selection based on information arising from WP2 through literature surveys. through literature surveys. from published indigenous use in pest control. from published indigenous use in pest control. information obtained from farmers information obtained from farmers plants that farmers demonstrate to be effective plants that farmers demonstrate to be effective Plants used in other places but not in our region. Plants used in other places but not in our region.

Identification of key bioactive components Identification of key bioactive components Use literature & chemical database compound searches Use literature & chemical database compound searches Chemical analysis using LC-MS / GC-MS / NMR Chemical analysis using LC-MS / GC-MS / NMR Compound purification Compound purification Biological activity testing of processed materials, extracts & pure compounds to verify activity Biological activity testing of processed materials, extracts & pure compounds to verify activity Optimise approaches to harvesting e.g., Securidaca longepedunculata Optimise approaches to harvesting e.g., Securidaca longepedunculata Roots vs. bark Roots vs. bark Water extract vs. powdered root/bark. Water extract vs. powdered root/bark. Ensure correct ID of species Cissus populnea vs. Cassia sophera Ensure correct ID of species Cissus populnea vs. Cassia sophera Objectives WP3

Capacity building through staff exchange & training of SADC scientists (Mzuzu University & University of Zimbabwe) Capacity building through staff exchange & training of SADC scientists (Mzuzu University & University of Zimbabwe) in UK labs at NRI-UOG and RBG-Kew in UK labs at NRI-UOG and RBG-Kew through formal training – PhD? through formal training – PhD? to develop appropriate analytical techniques for technology available in SADC. to develop appropriate analytical techniques for technology available in SADC.

Outputs At least 3 peer reviewed papers. At least 3 peer reviewed papers. Training document for rapid and straightforward chemical analysis of plant materials Training document for rapid and straightforward chemical analysis of plant materials Specifically plants for which info is collected within the project. Specifically plants for which info is collected within the project. More general techniques specific to biological activity testing More general techniques specific to biological activity testing Provision of standard texts e.g., Phytochemical methods Provision of standard texts e.g., Phytochemical methods Methods to be relevant. Methods to be relevant.

Where & How? RBG-Kew NRI-UOG can provide RBG-Kew NRI-UOG can provide analytical chemistry GC-MS, LC-MS, NMR analytical chemistry GC-MS, LC-MS, NMR compounds isolation compounds isolation biological activity testing biological activity testing Stored product pests e.g., Callosobruchus & Sitophilus spp. Stored product pests e.g., Callosobruchus & Sitophilus spp. Field crop pests e.g., Bemisia & Spodoptera spp. Field crop pests e.g., Bemisia & Spodoptera spp. Invertebrate & unicellular parasites? Invertebrate & unicellular parasites? Needs to be prioritised – what are the most important and relevant tests Needs to be prioritised – what are the most important and relevant tests Mzuzu University & University of Zimbabwe Mzuzu University & University of Zimbabwe Analytical plant chemistry – HPLC. Analytical plant chemistry – HPLC. Biological activity testing Biological activity testing Capacity building and training Capacity building and training

Questions for discussion Training – who & how? Training – who & how? Who works on which plants? Who works on which plants? Divided up by plants species or use? Divided up by plants species or use? Material Transfer – access to plants. Material Transfer – access to plants. Biological activity testing. Biological activity testing. Who runs which bioassays? Who runs which bioassays? Which organisms? Which organisms? Where to get livestock parasite bioassays done Where to get livestock parasite bioassays done