Antibacterial effects of manna and shoot extracts from Echinops tenuisectus Rich. and E. polygamous Bung. and Manna trehala- making Larinus

Abstract

Introduction: Echinops tenuisectus from Sarpol-e Zahab and E. polygamous from Saveh are
two plants on which the insect Larinus makes cocoons (manna trehala) with medicinal
properties.
Materials & Methods: Larinus growth and metamorphosis stages on two plants from March
2016 to October 2017 later in a range of five thousand meters in two areas was studied. The
antimicrobial effect of three concentrations of shoots and manna trehala methanolic extracts on
bacteria was studied by disk method.
Results: Adult Larinus in both regions, with warming air and formation of plant shoots, emerge
from the soil and feed on plant foliage. With the formation of the inflorescence of the plant in
May, the Larinuses mating and lay eggs in the inflorescence florets. From the end of May,
Larinus larvae hatch from eggs and florets and feed from flowers and shoots. From early July
to early September, the larvae make cocoons, and in September and October, the
metamorphosis of the larvae ends, and the adult insect emerges by piercing the cocoon.
Methanolic extract of both plants had antibacterial effect in all concentrations, but manna
extract had a stimulating effect on bacterial growth.
Conclusion: Larinus insects feed from Echinops and put their metamorphic stages in a cocoon
(Manna trehala). Manna methanolic extract had a stimulant effect, but the extract of shoot E.
tenuisectus and E. polygamous shoots had high antibacterial activity. The value of the two
plants for selection by Larinus, manna formation and antimicrobial effect was similar.