Deguelia scandens

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Common products:
Root material of Deguelia scandens is processed into dried root chips, crude rotenone extracts, and purified rotenone crystals. These materials are the primary commercial forms used as the basis for insecticidal and piscicidal formulations.

Industrial and craft applications:
Rotenone extracted from the roots serves as a broad‑spectrum insecticide for fruit, vegetable, ornamental, and greenhouse crops. It is employed in integrated pest‑management programs where its rapid knock‑down effect on insects such as aphids, whiteflies, thrips and certain beetles is valued. Historically the same extract has been used as a fish poison (piscicide) in subsistence fisheries, where the compound immobilizes fish through mitochondrial disruption. Modern applications include dusts, wettable powders, and emulsifiable concentrates designed for spray or bait applications in organic and conventional agriculture.

Properties relevant to use:
Rotenone (C₂₃H₂₂O₆, molecular weight 394 g mol⁻¹) is a non‑water‑soluble, crystalline tetranortriterpenoid with a water solubility of ~0.05 g L⁻¹ but high solubility in organic solvents such as ethanol, acetone and dichloromethane. Its octanol‑water partition coefficient (log P ≈ 3.2) confers good penetration into insect cuticles. The compound inhibits mitochondrial complex I, causing oxidative stress and rapid paralysis in target insects and fish. Rotenone is photolabile, degrading under UV exposure, which influences formulation stability and packaging requirements. Root material typically contains 0.2–0.6 % rotenone by dry weight.

Standards and regulation:
Rotenone is registered as a restricted‑use pesticide in the United States (EPA registration) and is listed under the European Union Plant Protection Products Regulation (Reg. (EU) 528/2012). The EU sets maximum residue limits (MRLs) for rotenone on food crops, and US regulations impose label requirements for aquatic toxicity (GHS classification H400: very toxic to aquatic life). Analytical methods for rotenone residues are validated according to ISO 17025 and GLP guidelines, ensuring compliance with national food‑safety monitoring programs.

Sustainability and sourcing:
Commercial supplies have historically depended on wild harvest of roots from tropical forests in Southeast Asia. Overharvest has raised concerns about depletion of natural populations and loss of habitat. Sustainable practices include controlled cultivation in agroforestry systems, standardized harvesting cycles, and certification schemes such as FairWild that verify responsible collection. Research into domestication and propagation of Deguelia scandens aims to reduce pressure on wild stocks while maintaining a steady supply of rotenone for agricultural use.

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