Question

Pyrethrin is extracted from
(a) Azadirachta indica
(b) Helianthus annuus
(c) P. indica
(d) Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium

Answer 1

Hint: It is a type of powder obtained from the flower of the particular plants. They consist of toxic chemicals that together act as the pesticide and kill insects but are found to be less toxic towards humans. They are organic in nature.

Complete answer
The pyrethrin is extracted from the dried flowers of the Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium. They are the organic compounds that are separated from the flowers of the plants. It is made up of six toxic chemicals that together constitute an insecticidal property. Thye act as pesticides and target the nervous system of the insects. They are used in the making of insect repellants like insecticidal sprays, coils, etc. They are effective in killing and controlling the mosquitoes, moths, ants, flies, etc.

Additional information
-Azadirachta indica is the neem plant that belongs to the family Malvaceae found mostly in the African countries. It is used as an antiseptic and is used for the curing of severe diseases that includes intestinal worms, ulcers, loss of appetite, heart diseases, fever, gums, etc.
-Helianthus annuus is commonly known as the sunflower that belongs to the family Malvaceae. It consists of two types of florets including the ray floret and the disc florets. Its name is derived from the shape of the head of the flowers that are similar to the sun.
-P. indica or Piriformospora indica is a fungus that has a wide range of hosts.

So, the correct answer is ‘Azadirachta indica’.

Note:
For the past thousand years pyrethrin has been used as an insecticide. They are simply obtained from the dried flowers while the other substance called pyrethrum is obtained totally from the flowers. The third compound is the synthetic compound called the pyrethroids that shows a similar effect as the pyrethrin.