Abstract
The continuous use of pesticides can cause many serious problems in the environmental system. So, it is very necessary to go back to nature again and look for safe alternatives to chemical pesticides. During this research, we evaluated the toxicity of two types of natural substances
(wood vinegar and seaweed extract) against three types of zoological pests, two-spotted spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) and two land snails (Monacha cartusiana and Eobania vermiculata). Results indicated that wood vinegar and seaweed extract had negative effects on
eggs, immature stages and adults of T. urticae. Their mortalities were significantly increased with increasing of the applied dose of wood vinegar and seaweed extract. The highest mortalities of eggs, immature stages and adults of T. urticae were 82.9, 71.8 and 98.4% and were
75.3, 62.9 and 83.9% after 72 h from the application of wood vinegar and seaweed extract, respectively. Data showed also a positive relationship between the mortality percentages of snails and the concentration. The highest mortality rates for M. cartusiana and E. vermiculata
(73.91 and 60.87%) and (91.67 and 83.33%) were recorded due to the use of wood vinegar and seaweed extract at the concentration of 25% individually. The values of LC50 and LC90 were calculated and the results confirmed that the seaweed extract was more toxic for the tested
land snails than wood vinegar. The higher values of LC50 of wood vinegar and seaweed extract (21.67% and 11.87%) were selected for the biosafety tests in mammals by using Rattus norvegicus albinus males. It was clear that both wood vinegar and seaweed extract had no harmful
effects on mammals according to the non-significant differences in liver and kidney functions (ALP, AST, ALT, Creatinine and urea in the blood samples) between treated and untreated rats.