Evaluation of amylase activity in fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster and the inhibitory effect of common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris extract

Abstract

Fruitfly (Drosophila melanogaster), a dipteran species has been known to consume or ruin vast quantities of carbohydrate rich plant products. To study the starch digesting activity of amylase and the inhibitory effect of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) at different temperatures this experiment was undertaken. Amylase activity from homogenates was measured by Colorimetric method of Caraway (1959). At 37 ˚C amylase activity was found to be 101.73 mg/dl and at 42 ˚C it was 136.38 mg/dl indicating that amylase in drosophila works better at higher temperature. The comparative inhibitory activity of Phaseolus vulgaris at 37 ˚C and 42 ˚C was 85.14 mg/dl and 105.65 mg/dl respectively showing a potential trend of effectiveness of the inhibitor at lower temperature. From the experiment it can be said that in tropical as well as in subtropical areas the consumption of starch rich plant products by drosophila will be high as it acts better at higher temperature.