Profile
The current research programmes focus on insect as food (Entomophagy) and medicine (Entomotheraphy). Traditionally, indigenous people employed insects in diverse aspects like edible purpose, therapeutic use, economic input and many other activities. insects pest causes severe economic losses in agriculture, to overcome these chemical pesticides are used. However, evolution has caused many insects to develop resistance to several synthetic insecticides. This problem along with the persisting concern regarding the health and environmental safety issues of the existing synthetic insecticides has urged the scientific fraternity to look for a new plant- based natural insecticide with inherent eco- friendly nature. Considering these important facts pest management programme was imitated with an aim to unexplored insecticidal plants from North Eastern region of India base on ITK
Current Focus Areas
Nutritional and chemical biodiversity of edible insects
Exploring traditional & cultural uses of edible insects as medicines
Insect resources of known entomo-pharmaceutical drug that are currently in demand for treatment metabolic disorders
Identifying novel Phyto chemicals that could be used as natural pesticides for pest management.
Selected Publications
Bonysana, R., Singh, K. D., Devi, W. D., Koijam, A. S., Kapesa, K., Kalita, J., Mukherjee, P. K., & Rajashekar, Y* (2024). Ethno-entomotherapeutic and metabolite profiling of Coridius chinensis (Dallas), a traditional edible insect species of North-East India. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 6545. IF – 4.6.
Devi, M. R., Ummalyma, S. B., Brockmann, A., Raina, V., & Rajashekar, Y* (2023) Nutritional properties of giant water bug, Lethocerus indicus a traditional edible insect species of North-East India. Bioengineered, 14(1), 2252669. IF – 6.89.
Kabrambam, D. S., Arunkumar, S. K., Bharali, R., Rajashekar, Y* (2023) Insecticidal and biochemical effects of Dillenia indica L. leaves against three major stored grain insect pests Frontiers in Plant Science, 14, 1135946 IF:6.68
Devi, T. B., Raina, V., Rajashekar, Y* (2022) A novel biofumigant from Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray for control of stored grain insect pests. Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology 105116 IF:4.96
Kapesa, K., Deepantia, W., Bonysana, R. K., Rajashekar, Y* (2020) Anthropoentomophagy and ethnoentomology among ethnic Mao- Naga and Poumai-Naga tribes of Manipur, North-East India. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed 6(5), 507-514. IF:5.