FIELD OF THE INVENTION:

The present invention relates to the field of agricultural technology.
Particularly, the present invention relates to a herbal pesticide composition for protecting plants from insect pests, simultaneously improving the plant health and yield; the composition is simple to handle, economical, effective against pests and safe for non-target organisms.
The present invention also relates to a process for the preparation of the herbal pesticide composition for protecting plants from insect pests, simultaneously improving the plant health and yield.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
The various important crops are cereals, oilseeds, pulses, vegetables and fruits. These crops suffer severe damages by various insects and pests. Farmers are forced to use large quantities of chemical pesticides to protect their crops. These chemicals are harmful to environment and human beings as those remain in the soil, water and atmosphere in the form of residues due to surface runoff leading to exposure to humans and animals. Insect pest threatneed to be addressed effectively as these cause serious economic damages to the crops.
Major vegetable crops cultivated in the country are okra, brinjal, chilli, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, kohlrabi, tomato, beans, lablab, onion, garlic, ginger, carrot, etc. Vegetable plants are known to suffer heavily due to infestation of sucking pests including but not limited to whitefly, aphids, leaf hoppers, thrips mites and true bugs, leafhoppers, and insects of orders Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Orthoptera including but not limited to moths, beetles, grasshoppers, Fruit and Shoot borers like Earias vitella, Helicoverpa armigera, Spodoptera litura, and Leucinoides orbonalis, diamond back moth, cutworms, head borers, leaf cutters etc. The sucking pests suck the cell sap and prohibit normal crop growth. Besides direct damage, these sucking pests also act as vectors for various diseases.
In spite of various control measures employed against various insects and pests, farmers of both developed and underdeveloped countries are mainly relying on the chemical pesticides

to protect their crops. The irrational and injudicious use of synthetic pesticides for the past several decades has led to outbreaks and resurgence of many insects due to resistance development. Further, the chemical pesticides are very expensive and thus, it substantially reduces the profits earned by the farmer. It also requires skilled labor to use in the field. The irrational use of chemical pesticides has caused serious health hazards and environmental problems in various countries, including India. Vegetables/fruits picked at short intervals are more prone to have toxic residues. Gupta A.K., et al. (1997) "Farmers Innovations for Sustainable Resource Management and Conservation of Biological Diversity." published in the proceedings of the International Symposium on Food Security & Innovations: Successes and Lessons Learned at University of Hohenheim (Eds.Franz Heidhues/Andrea Fadani), Frankfurt, Berlin Peter Lang, pp.97-112, 1997 has reported that excessive use of chemical pesticide creates many serious threats such as elimination of beneficial predators and insects, depletion in soil microbial diversity, resistance among the pests and diseases, deposition of toxic residues, etc. Similarly, Korsak R.J and Sato M.M. (1977) "Effects of chronic organophosphate pesticide exposure on the central nervous system." Clinical Toxicology. 11:83-95 reported that the chemical pesticide results in the destruction of various beneficial microbes, flora & fauna and also causes serious diseases in humans.
Therefore, there is a great need to develop a herbal pesticide as they lack of hazardous or toxic effects on human beings as well as on environment, economical, simple to handle as well as use and easy availability of many herbal drugs. India has a tremendous potential to offer in the field of herbs owing to its immense diversity of flora which is bestowed with enormous number of herbs/plants.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
Accordingly, the primary object of the invention is to provide a herbal pesticide composition for protecting crops including cereals, oil seeds, legumes, horticultural crops including fruits and vegetables from insect pests, simultaneously improving the plant health and yield.
Another object of the invention is to provide the herbal pesticide composition comprising an active ingredient selected from Aesculus indica and Hedychium spicatus along with suitable additive and carrier which is simple to handle and use, economical and effective against pests.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide the herbal pesticide composition comprising Aesculus indica and Hedychium spicatus along with suitable additive and carrier which controls the insect pests, particularly sucking insect pests and borer, lepidopteran, coleopteran and orthopteran insect pests in particular infesting vegetable crops, simultaneously improving the plant health and yield.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide the herbal pesticide composition which is pollution free and thus eco-friendly.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide the herbal pesticide composition which is safe to non-target organisms and beneficial insects.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a process for the preparation of the herbal pesticide composition for protecting the crops from insect pests, simultaneously improving the plant health and yield.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
It is surprising to find that herbal pesticide composition protects crops from insect pests simultaneously improves plant health and yield when it comprises fruits and seeds of Aesculus indica; rhizomes of//, spicatum, at least one additive and at least one carrier.
According to one of the embodiments of the invention, there is provided herbal pesticide composition as crop protectant from insect pests simultaneously improving plant health and yield; said composition comprising fruits and seeds of Aesculus indica; rhizomes of H. spicatum, at least one additive and at least one carrier.
Typically, the composition comprising 1 to 25 % powder, extract or essential oils of fruits and seeds of Aesculus indica; 0.1 to 5 % powder, extract or essential oils of rhizomes of H. spicatum, 0.5 to 10 % of additive and 75 to 90 % of carrier.
Typically, the composition comprising 5 to 15 % powder, extract or essential oils of fruits including seeds of Aesculus indica; 0.1 to 1 % powder, extract or essential oils of rhizomes of H. spicatum, 1 to 3 % of additive and 81 to 93.9 % of carrier.

Typically, the carrier used in the composition is selected from liquid carrier including but not limited to water, polar solvents, non polar solvents, crop oils and mixtures thereof; and / or solid carriers including but not limited to inert dusts, diatomaceous earth, active charcoal, corn gluten meal, soybean meal, vermiculite, bentonite, kaolinite, wheat germ, almond hulls, cottonseed meal, Fuller's earth, orange pulp, rice hulls, sawdust or lime and mixtures thereof. Typically, the additive used in the composition is selected from emulsifiers, stabilizers, surfactant, stickers, carriers, crop oils, mineral oils and / or preservatives. Typically, the composition is applied by feeding technique selected from foliar, broadcasting, drenching or irrigation.
Typically, the composition is used to protect crops including but not limited to cereals, millets, legumes, oilseed, fruit and vegetable crops.
Typically, the insect pests infesting cereals, oil seeds, legumes, and vegetable crops include but not limited to sucking insect pests including but not limited to whiteflies, aphids, thrips, mites, leafhoppers and true bugs; and insect pests having chewing biting type mouthparts of insect orders Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Orthoptera including but not limited to moths, beetles, grasshoppers, diamond back moth, Fruit and Shoot borers such as Earias vitella, Helicoverpa armigera, Spodoptera litura and Leucinoides orbonalis, cutworms, head borers or leaf cutters. Typically, the composition is further diluted in the ratio of 5 to 25 % in any suitable agricultural carrier.
According to one of the embodiments of the invention, there is provided a process for a preparation of the herbal pesticide composition of the invention, wherein the said process comprises:
i. collecting fruits and seeds of Aesculus indica followed by washing them with water, cutting the washed fruits and seeds into small pieces followed by shade drying them for at least one week; ii. pulverizing the dried fruits and seeds of Aesculus indica obtained in step (i)
followed by sieving to obtain fine powder; iii. soaking the powder obtained in step (ii) in at least one carrier for at least 2 days with intermittent shaking followed by filtering the mixture to obtain an extract of the fruits and seeds of Aesculus indica; iv. collecting rhizomes of H. spicatum followed by washing them with water, cutting the washed rhizomes into small pieces followed by shade drying them for at least one week;

v. pulverizing the dried rhizomes of H. spicatum obtained in step (iv) followed by
sieving to obtain fine powder and vi. adding the powder of rhizomes of//, spicatum obtained in the step (v), at least one additive and the carrier in predefined amount to the extract of the fruits and seeds of Aesculus indica to obtain a reaction mixture; vii. fermenting the reaction mixture for at least 7 days with intermittent shaking; and viii. filtering the mixture to obtain the herbal pesticide composition.
Typically, the extract of the fruits and seeds of Aesculus indica in the step (vi) comprises 1 to
25 % of Aesculus indica.
Typically, the powder of rhizomes of//, spicatum added in the step (vi) is at least in the range
of 0.1 to 5%.
Typically, the additive added in the step (vi) is at least in the range of 0.5 to 10 %.
Typically, the carrier in the steps (iii) and (vi) is at least in the range of 75 to 90 %.
Typically, the carrier used in the composition is selected from liquid carrier including but not
limited to water, polar solvents, non-polar solvents, crop oils and mixtures thereof; and / or
solid carriers including but not limited to inert dusts, diatomaceous earth or lime and mixtures
thereof.
Typically, the carrier used in the composition is water.
Typically, the additive used in the composition is selected from emulsifiers, stabilizers,
surfactant, stickers, carriers, crop oils, mineral oils and / or preservatives.
Typically, the claimed process further comprises diluting the herbal composition obtained in
the step (viii) in a ratio of 5 to 25 % in any suitable agricultural carrier.
Typically, the suitable agricultural carrier is water.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:
The terms "a," "an," "the" and similar referents used in the context of describing the invention following claims are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise

indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided herein is intended merely to better illustrate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.
Certain embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Of course, variations on these described embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the description. The inventor expects skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the below-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
Specific embodiments disclosed herein can be further limited in the claims using consisting of or and consisting essentially of language. When used in the claims, whether as filed or added per amendment, the transition term "consisting of excludes any element, step, or ingredient not specified in the claims. The transition term "consisting essentially of limits the scope of a claim to the specified materials or steps and those that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s). Embodiments of the invention so claimed are inherently or expressly described and enabled herein.
"%" disclosed herein are either wt./vol. or vol./vol. or vol./wt. or wt./wt. depending upon the physical state in which the compositions of the invention is prepared and starting with raw materials like powder, extract, carrier and additive used in the invention.
Aesculus indica: It is member of Sapindaceae family. It is commonly known as an Indian horse chestnut or Himalayan horse chestnut. It is commonly found in the north-west Himalaya, Afghanistan and Pakistan to western Nepal. It is an attractive tree growing 9-12 m (30-40 ft) with a spread of about 11-15 m (35-50 ft) with peeling, grey-green bark. The leaves have 5-9 thin, finger-like leaflets on each leaf-stalk. The central leaflets are longer

than the outer ones, and grow up to 30 cm long. Young leaves are reddish-bronze, turning glossy dark green, and finally golden in autumn. The flowers appear in July and are carried in upright spikes, up to 30 cm high or more. Individual flowers have four petals, the upper pair being mainly white, with a yellow blotch at the base turning red, while the lower two petals are tinged with pink. The fruits are smooth and spineless, and contain a shiny seed ('conker') which is wrinkled, and is darker and smaller than that of A. hippocastanum.
In India, it is carved and used to make pots, boxes, spoons, and the like. Aesculin (or esculin), the toxin found in the seeds is used in microbiology to aid in the identification of some species of bacteria (such as Listeria and Enterococcus species). It is a natural pH indicator that, when extracted, changes from colourless to a fluorescent blue (viewed under UV light) when in an acidic pH range.
In Nepal, the seed oil is used in traditional medicine for treating skin diseases, and the seed cake is made into a paste for relieving severe headaches. The seeds have been investigated scientifically and have been shown to have anti-inflammatory activity. The fruits have been used in ethnoveterinary medicine for treating horses.
All species in the genus Aesculus contain a saponin-class toxin called aesculin. The young leaves and flowers are usually considered the most toxic parts, but the bark and seeds (nuts) also contain aesculin. This is poisonous to many animals, including humans, because it destroys red blood cells. However, some animals appear to be unaffected - for example deer and squirrels eat the seeds. In India and Nepal, the seeds of Aesculus indica are eaten by cattle, and the leaves and twigs are lopped and given as fodder. The seeds are also eaten by humans in India and Nepal during times of food scarcity. The seeds are steeped in water first to remove the toxin and then ground into a flour and roasted.
It has remarkable medicinal properties. The whole plant is beneficial for the treatment of diabetes. Its fruit is used in colic disorder. It is highly effective in complaints associated with veins for instance phlebitis, haemorrhoids, varicose veins and in ulcers to prevent thrombosis. Moreover, it also helps in fighting against some types of migraine and effusions of blood. Further, it helps in limb complaints and frost bite. Its seed are also used as astringent and are nutritious. The oil obtained from its seeds is used as cure for many skin diseases and also gives relief in rheumatism. However, there is no existing art that demonstrates Aesculus

indica for protecting plants from terrestrial, subterranean and soil pests and simultaneously for improving the plant health and yield.
Hedychium spicatum (H. spicatum) is a perennial rhizomatous herb belonging to the family of Zingiberaceae. It grows throughout the subtropical Himalaya in the Indian state of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand within an altitudinal range of 1000-3000 m. It is a rhizomatous, fragrant leafy herb with robust stem and is up to 1.5 m tall. Rhizomes have strong aromatic odour and bitter camphoraceous taste. They are white, starchy and fragrant within. Bark is rough, reddish-brown with few deep-seated fibrous rootlets. Leaves are up to 30 cm long, lanceolate, with green, obtuse bracts and leaf sheath clasping the stem. Flowers are fragrant, white with orange-red base, present in a dense, terminal, 15-25 cm long spike. Seeds are black with a red aril.
H. spicatum rhizome is mentioned as Shati in Ayurvedic classics and has been used in various dosage forms to treat cough, wound ulcer, fever, respiratory problems and hiccough. Rhizome is reported to contain sitosterol and its glucosides, furanoid diterpene-hedychenone and 7-hydroxyhedychenone and essential oil contains cineole, terpinene, limonene, phellandrene, p-cymene, linalool and terpeneol. In local language, the rhizomes are commonly known as kapurkachari or ban Haldi. Rhizomes are also used as perfume in tobacco and as insect repellent. The rhizome extract has been reported to contain essential oil, starch, resins, organic acids, glycosides, albumen and saccharides, which has been advocated for blood purification and treatments of bronchitis, indigestion, eye disease and inflammations. The plant rhizomes possess hypoglycaemic, vasodialator, spasmolytic, hypotensive, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Powdered rhizome ofH. spicatum has been used clinically for the treatment of asthma and tropical pulmonary eosinophilia and as anti-inflammatory and analgesic.
However, there is no existing art that demonstrates H. spicatum for protecting plants from insect pests and simultaneously for improving the plant health and yield.
Mosquitoes feed on the blood of humans and animals and transmit a number of diseases such as malaria, filariasis, dengue, Japanese encephalitis etc. However, mosquitoes differ from the insect pests in terms of the mode of action, hosts and disease caused. The insect pests feed on plant tissues/sap etc and damage the plants causing reduced yield and crop losses. The

biology and mode of damage of the mosquitoes and insect pests or sucking pests as well as borer pests will be different and not comparable.
The present invention aims to explore Aesculus indica and H. spicatum, particularly fruits and seeds of Aesculus indica and rhizomes of H. spicatum, as herbal pesticide effective against insect pest including sucking pests and borer pests at the same time to improve plant health and yield.
The fruits and seeds of Aesculus indica and rhizomes of H. spicatum are collected from Village namely Sihan, PO. Bajahara, Taluka.- Sainj, Dist. - Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, India.
The herbal pesticide composition of the invention protects the crops including but not limited to cereals, oilseeds, legumes, horticultural crops including fruits and vegetable namely okra; brinjal; chilli; cole crops including cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, kale and kohlrabi; tomato; beans; lablab; onion; garlic; ginger; carrot; etc by acting against pests. The present invention targets insect pests, infesting various crops, vegetables and fruits .
The pests include particularly:
1. Sucking insect pests including but not limited to whiteflies, aphids, thrips, mites, leafhoppers and true bugs; and
2. Insect pests having chewing biting type mouthparts of insect orders Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Orthoptera including but not limited to moths, beetles, grasshoppers, diamond back moth, Fruit and Shoot borers such as Earias vitella, Helicoverpa armigera, Spodoptera litura and Leucinoides orbonalis, cutworms, head borers, leaf cutters etc.
All crops infested by one or more sucking or borer pests including but not limited to cereals, oilseeds, legumes, horticultural crops including fruits and vegetables are treated by the herbal pesticide composition of the invention. The vegetables like okra; brinjal; chilli; cole crops including cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, kale and kohlrabi; tomato; beans; lablab; onion; garlic; ginger; carrot; etc. are infested easily by sucking pest as well as borer pests and cause severe damage. The herbal pesticide composition of the invention is specifically useful to protect such crops from the sucking pests and borer pests, simultaneously improving plant health and yield.

According to the one of the embodiments of the invention there is provided herbal pesticide composition as crop protectant from insect pests, simultaneously improving plant health and yield; said composition comprising fruits and seeds of Aesculus indica; rhizomes of //. spicatum, at least one additive and at least one carrier.
The fruits and seeds oi Aesculus indica and rhizomes of//, spicatum are collected either fresh or dried form, washed and shade dried to prepare the composition of the invention.
The fruits and seeds oi Aesculus indica and rhizomes of//, spicatum are used in the form of extract prepared by either decoction, maceration or solvent extraction; or essential oils. The medium used in the decoction, maceration or solvent extraction is selected from solvents such as but not limited to water, methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, hexane, heptane, petroleum ether, cyclohexane, diethyl ether, dusopropyl ether, ethyl acetate, methyl acetate, ethyl formate, methyl formate, isobutyl acetate, n-butyl acetate, methylene chloride, ethylene chloride, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, acetone, ethyl methyl ketone, diisobutyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, 1,4- dioxane, toluene, ammonia solution, glacial acetic acid, hexane, heptane, petroleum ether, diethyl ether, dusopropyl ether, ethyl acetate, methyl acetate, ethyl formate, methyl formate, isobutyl acetate, n-butyl acetate, methylene chloride, ethylene chloride, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, acetone, ethyl methyl ketone, diisobutyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, aqueous ammonia solution, aqueous ammonium hydroxide solution, aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, aqueous calcium hydroxide solution, aqueous calcium carbonate solution, aqueous potassium hydroxide solution, aqueous potassium carbonate solution, other solvents known by those of skilled in the art or combinations thereof.
According to another embodiments of the invention there is provided a herbal pesticide composition as crop protectant from insect pests, simultaneously improving plant health and yield; said composition comprising 1 to 25 % powder, extract or essential oils of fruits and seeds oi Aesculus indica; 0.1 to 5 % powder, extract or essential oils of rhizomes of//. spicatum, 0.5 to 10 % of additive and 75 to 90 %. of carrier.
The powder, extract or essential oils of fruits and seeds of Aesculus indica used in the composition of the invention is in the range of 5 to 15 % of the composition. The powder, extract or essential oils of fruits and seeds of Aesculus indica used in the composition of the invention is 10 % of the composition.

The powder, extract or essential oils of rhizomes of H. spicatum used in the composition of the invention is in the range of 0.1 to 1 % of the composition.
The powder, extract or essential oils of rhizomes of//, spicatum used in the composition of the invention is 0.5 % of the composition.
The additive used in the composition of the invention is in the range of 1 to 3 % of the
composition.
The additive used in the composition of the invention is 2 % of the composition.
The additive used in the composition of the invention need to be compatible with
composition and plant tissues. The additive is selected from emulsifiers, stabilizers,
surfactants, adhesives, stickers, crop oils, mineral oils, preservatives, etc.
Typically, the adhesive used in the composition of the invention is to improve the adherence
of the insecticide. The adhesive is selected from but not limited to carboxymethylcellulose,
natural and synthetic polymers such as gum arabic, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl cellulose,
polyvinyl acetate or any combinations thereof.
Typically, the emulsifier used in the composition of the invention is selected from guar, guar
polysaccharide, larch arabinogalactan, hydrolysed guar, methyl cellulose, oat bran, pectin,
inulun, reetha, fructooligosaccharides, xanthum gum, alginate, acacia, gum arabic, tannic acid
etc.
Typically, the crop oil and or mineral oil used in the composition of the invention may
include but is not limited to soy oil, canola oil, citronella oil, anise oil, bergamot oil,
sunflower oil, safflower oil, peanut oil, cottonseed oil, palm oil, coconut oil, rice bran oil,
rapeseed oil, olive oil, corn oil, almond oil, cashew oil, hazelnut oil, eucalyptus oil,
lemongrass oil, lavandin oil, mint oil, mustard oil, orange oil, castor oil, cedarwood oil,
macadamia oil, mongongo oil, pracaxi oil, pecan oil, pine nut oil, pistachio oil, plukenetia
volubilis oil, bottle gourd oil, buffalo gourd oil, butternut seed oil, pumpkin seed oil,
watermelon seed oil, blackcurrant seed oil, borage oil, evening primrose oil, amaranth oil,
apricot oil, apple seed oil, argan oil, artichoke oil, avocado oil, babassu oil, ben oil, borneo
tallow nut oil, cape chestnut oil, cassia oil, cocklebur oil, cohune oil, coriander seed oil, dika
oil, flax oil, hemp oil, kapok seed oil, kenaf seed oil, lallemantia oil, mustard oil, marula oil,
nutmeg oil, okra seed oil, papaya seed oil, perilla seed oil, pequi oil, pine nut oil, poppyseed
oil, peach kernel oil, pistachio kernel oil cherry stone oil, salmon oil, sandalwood oil,
spearmint oil, sweet birch oil, prune kernel oil, quinoa oil, ramtil oil, royle oil, taramira oil,
tea seed oil, thistle oil, tigernut oil, tomato seed oil, wheat germ oil, copra oil, radish oil,

jatropha oil, jojoba oil, petroleum nut oil, algae oil, bladderpod oil, javanica oil, burdock oil, candlenut oil, carrot seed oil, crambe oil, mango oil, cuphea oil, neem oil, rose hip seed oil, rubber seed oil, tall oil, deodorized kerosene, white oil, paraffin oil, liquid paraffin and their variants or derivatives or by-products or types or modifications, or any combination thereof.
The carrier used in the composition of the invention is in the range of 81 to 93.9 % of the composition.
The carrier used in the composition of the invention is 87.5 % of the composition. Typically, the carrier used in the composition of the invention is selected from a liquid carrier including but not limited to water, polar solvents, non polar solvents, crop oils and mixtures thereof; and / or a solid carrier including but not limited to inert dusts, diatomaceous earth, active charcoal, corn gluten meal, soybean meal, vermiculite, bentonite, kaolinite, wheat germ, almond hulls, cottonseed meal, fuller's earth, orange pulp, rice hulls, sawdust, gum arabic or lime and mixtures thereof.
Typically, the composition of the invention is either in the form of a suspension such as but not limited to an emulsifiable concentrate (EC), microemulsion (ME), soluble liquid (SL), Emulsion oil-in-water (EW) suspension concentration (SC), wettable granule (WG), or wettable powder (WP), Microencapsulated Suspension, or any combination thereof.
The herbal pesticide composition of the invention is diluted in the ratio of 5 to 25 % of the composition in any suitable agricultural carrier for the application to the crops. The carrier used for the dilution may be same as the carrier used to prepare the herbal pesticide composition of the invention.
The "suitable agricultural carrier" used herein means an inert, organic or inorganic material, with which the herbal pesticide composition is diluted to facilitate its application to the soil, seed, plant or other object to be treated or its storage, transport and/or handling. Typically, the carrier used in the composition of the invention is selected from a liquid carrier including but not limited to water; polar solvents; non polar solvents; crop oils; plant essential oils such as but not limited to cinnamon oil, clove oil, thyme oil, wintergreen oil, soy methyl ester oil, citronella oil, pine oil, citrus oil; and the likes and mixtures thereof; and / or a solid carrier including but not limited to inert dusts; diatomaceous earth; active charcoal; corn gluten meal; soybean meal; vermiculite; bentonite; kaolinite; wheat germ;

almond hulls; cottonseed meal; fuller's earth; orange pulp; rice hulls; sawdust or lime and
mixtures thereof.
Typically, the suitable agricultural carrier used for dilution is water.
The herbal pesticide composition of the invention is applied by feeding technique selected from foliar, broadcasting, drenching or irrigation.
Surprisingly, the herbal pesticide composition effectively kills the sucking pest selected from leafhopper, whiteflies and mites as well as the borer pests but did not cause any harm to beneficial insects like coccinellids and spiders. Thus, composition of the present invention protects the crops from pests without harming the beneficial and non- target organisms and at the same time improves plant health and yield. The herbal composition of the invention is safe for humans and environment and helps in reducing the load of chemical pesticides thereby it is eco-friendly.
In another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a process for the preparation of the herbal pesticide composition by cold maceration, wherein the said process comprises the following steps:
i. The fruits and seeds of Aesculus indica are collected. They are used either alone or in
combination to prepare the present composition of the invention. They are washed
thoroughly with water and cut into small pieces. These pieces are shade dried for at
least one week;
ii. The dried pieces of the fruits and seeds of Aesculus indica obtained in step (i) are
pulverized followed by sieving to obtain fine powder; iii. The powder obtained in step (ii) is soaked in at least one carrier with intermittent shaking for at least 2 days. The mixture is filtered to obtain the filtrate as an extract of Aesculus indica; iv. The rhizomes of H. spicatum are collected. They are washed thoroughly with water
and cut into small pieces. These pieces are shade dried for at least one week; v. The dried pieces of the rhizomes of H. spicatum obtained in step (iv) are pulverized
followed by sieving to obtain fine powder; vi. To the extract of Aesculus indica obtained in the step (iii), powder of rhizomes of//. spicatum obtained in step (v), at least one additive and at least one carrier are added in predefined amount to obtain a reaction mixture;

vii. The mixture obtained in the step (vi) is fermented with intermittent shaking for at least
7 days; and viii. The mixture is finally filtered to obtain the herbal pesticide composition.
In the step (iii), the extract comprises 1 to 25 % oi Aesculus indica.
Typically, in the step (iii), the extract comprises 5 to 15 % oi Aesculus indica.
Typically, in the step (iii), the extract comprises 10 % oi Aesculus indica.
Typically in the step (iii), 1 Kg of powder of seed & fruit of Aesculus indica is soaked in
10 liters of water with intermittent shaking for 2 to 3 days. The mixture is filtered using
muslin cloth to obtain stock solution comprising 10 % wt./vol. Aesculus indica.
In step (vi), the mixture comprises 1 to 25 % oi Aesculus indica, 0.1 to 5 % of H. spicatum,
0.5 to 10 % of additive and 75 to 90 % of the carrier.
Typically, in the step (vi), the mixture comprises 5 to 15 % oi Aesculus indica, 0.1 to 1 % of
H. spicatum, 1 to 3 % of additive and 81 to 93.9 % of the carrier.
Typically, in the step (vi), the mixture comprises 10 % oi Aesculus indica, 0.5 % of H.
spicatum, 2 % of additive and 87.5 % of the carrier.
Typically, in step (vi), 50 gm finely ground rhizome powder of H.spicatum is added to the stock solution oi Aesculus indica with continuous stirring. To this, 100 gm of Reetha powder, 100 gm of Gum Arabica powder and water (quantity sufficient to make 100 %) is added with continuous stirring.
The mixture obtained in step (vi) is kept with intermittent shaking for at least 7 days to allow the reaction mixture to ferment.
It is also possible to prepare the extract of fruits and seeds oi Aesculus indica and rhizome of H.spicatum by solvent extraction, decoction as well as oil extraction.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the process for the preparation of the herbal pesticide composition of the invention further comprises diluting the herbal composition of the invention in the ratio of 5 to 25 % in any suitable agricultural carrier for the application to the crops. The suitable agricultural carrier used for the dilution may be same as the carrier used to prepare the herbal pesticide composition of the invention.

The agriculturally suitable carrier used is same as that of the carrier used the steps (ii) and (vi).
Typically, the agriculturally suitable carrier used in the invention is water.
Typically, 50 ml, 100 ml and 200 ml of the herbal pesticide composition of the invention obtained in the step (viii) is mixed with agriculturally suitable carrier to make 5 %, 10 % and 20 % dilution and sprayed on affected crops using suitable agricultural spray equipment.
The herbal pesticide composition is evaluated for its bio-efficacy against the sucking pests viz. leafhopper, whitefly and red spider mite and fruit and shoot borer of okra and brinjal under field conditions. Field trial is laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications and sixteen treatments including untreated control. We have prepared the herbal pesticide composition having 10 % wt./vol. of Aesculus indica, 0.5 % wt./vol. H. spicatus, 1 % wt./vol. Reetha powder (additive) and 1 % wt./vol. of Gum Arabica (additive) and 87.5 % vol./vol. of water (carrier). The herbal composition is diluted to 5 % , 10 % and 20% vol./vol. with water. This diluted herbal composition of the invention is sprayed twice in the field when the economic threshold levels of pests were attained and tested.
Effect on sucking pests and fruit and shoot borer in Brinjal: The infestation is reduced substantially and the yield of brinjal is increased due to use of herbal pesticide composition of the invention. It is found that
1. % reduction over negative control in Leafhopper population in brinjal is at least 25.62 % to 37.1 % after 1st spray and 49.12 % to 56.58 % after 2nd spray;
2. % reduction over negative control in whiteflies population is at least 11.95 % to 24.16 % after 1st spray and 21.32 % to 42.73 % after 2nd spray;
3. % reduction over negative control in brinjal mites population is at least 31.3 % to 34.98 % after 1st spray and 58.69 % to 59.88 % after 2nd spray;
4. % reduction over negative control in fruit and shoot borer is at least 38.28 % to 41.88 % over 1st after and 49.71 % to 51.12% after 2nd spray;
5. % increase in production of brinjal as compared to control is at least 26.06 % to 26.96 %; and

6. Herbal pesticide composition of the invention did not cause any harm to beneficial insects like coccinellids and spiders and did not produce any phytotoxicity.
Effect on sucking pests and fruit and shoot borer in Okra: The infestation is reduced substantially and the yield of okra is increased due to use of herbal pesticide composition of the invention. It is found that
1. % reduction over negative control in Leafhopper viz. Amrasca biguttula biguttula population in okra upon spraying twice is at least 40.00 % to 44.07 % after 1st spray and 47.93 to 50.35 % after 2nd spray;
2. % reduction over negative control in Mites population viz. Tetranynchus urticae is at least 23.31% to 26.64% after 1st spray and 43.03 % to 47.79 % after 2nd spray;
3. % reduction over negative control in whiteflies viz. Bemisia tabaci is at least 26.12% to 35.48% after 1st spray and 28.04 to 31.57 % after 2nd spray;
4. % reduction over negative control in Fruit borer viz. Earias vitella infestation is at least 18.27% to 19.25% after 1st spray and 45.54 to 46.08 % after 2nd spray;
5. % increase in production of okra as compared to control is at least 56.19%) to 57.32%>; and
6. Herbal pesticide composition of the invention did not cause any harm to beneficial insects like coccinellids and spiders and did not produce any phytotoxicity.
Thus, the herbal pesticide composition of the invention protects crops like cereals, oil seeds, legumes, horticultural crops including fruits and vegetables from terrestrial, subterranean and soil pests, simultaneously increasing the yield. The herbal pesticide composition of the invention is not harmful to any beneficial insects like coccinellids and spiders and did not produce any phytotoxicity and thus is safe to environment and is eco-friendly. This composition is simple to handle and use as well as economical as compared to that of chemical pesticides. It is pollution free and thus eco-friendly.
The above invention can be illustrated with the below mentioned example but not by way of limitations. In other word, exemplary illustrations of the operation of the present invention, the practice of its formulation and the rendering of the disclosed process are described in the following example. In addition to the preferred modes of operation, a practitioner of sufficient skill in the art will appreciate that the meets and bounds of the present invention are not

limited by the specific instances described herein, rather are defined by the equivalents provided by the claims of the present invention.
Example:
Herbal pesticide compositions of the invention.
The fruits and seeds of Aesculus indica were collected from the village namely Sihan, PO. Bajahara, Taluka.- Sainj, Dist.: Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, India. The fruits and seeds were washed with water and cut into small pieces. These pieces were shade dried for 2 weeks. The dried pieces of the fruits and seeds of Aesculus indica were pulverized and sieved to obtain fine powder.
1 Kg of the powder oi Aesculus indica was soaked in 10 liters of water with intermittent shaking for 2 days. The mixture was filtered using muslin cloth to obtain the extract of Aesculus indica.
The rhizomes of//, spicatum were collected from the village namely Sihan, PO. Bajahara, Taluka.- Sainj, Dist.: Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, India. They were washed thoroughly with water and cut into small pieces. These pieces were shade dried for 2 weeks. The dried pieces of the rhizomes of//, spicatum were pulverized and sieved to obtain fine powder. To the extract oi Aesculus indica, 50 gm of powder of rhizomes of//, spicatum, 100 gm of reetha powder, 100 gm of gum arabica and water (quantity sufficient to make 100 %) were added. The mixture was fermented for 7 days with intermittent shaking. The mixture was filtered using muslin cloth to obtain the herbal pesticide composition.
The herbal pesticide composition was prepared according to the formulation as disclosed in table 1.
Table 1: Formulation of herbal pesticide composition

Component Parts used Quantity Percent
Aesculus indica Fruit & seed extracts IKg 10%wt./vol.
Hedychium spicatus Rhizome extracts 50g 0.5 % wt./vol.
Additives
Emulsifier: Reetha 100g 1 % wt./vol.
Sticker: Gum Arabica 100g 1 % wt./vol.
Carrier: Water 10L 87.5%vol./vol.

100 ml, 50 ml and 200 ml of herbal pesticide composition was mixed with 1 liter of water to prepare the diluted herbal pesticide compositions i.e. composition X, composition half X and composition 2X respectively. These three compositions were used to evaluate the bioefficacy of the herbal pesticide composition of the invention against the sucking pests and fruit and shoot borer of okra and brinjal under field conditions.
Bioefficacy study of the herbal pesticide composition of the invention against the insect pests of Okra
Field trial was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications and sixteen treatments including untreated control. The three herbal pesticide compositions of the invention i.e. composition X = 100 ml/L (10 %); composition half X = 50 ml/L (5 %) and composition 2X = 200 ml/L (20 %) were used. These three herbal compositions were sprayed twice in the field when the economic threshold levels of pests were attained and tested.
Assessment / observations of major insect pests in Okra under field conditions:
For sucking pests:
The observations on count of sucking pest viz. leafhopper, whiteflies and red spider mite were recorded on ten randomly selected plants per treatment. On each plant, ten leaves (five from top and five from middle portion of the plant) were taken for counting number of nymph and adult population. Observations were recorded on a day before spray and on 3rd, 7th, 10th and 14th day after spray. The data on surviving population was reported per plant basis (Mean of population/10 leaves). Fruit and shoot borer:
Ten plants per plot were selected and marked for observation. The number of healthy and infested fruits from at least five pickings were recorded. The number of damaged fruit/shoots was recorded on ten randomly selected plants per plots. Observations were recorded on a day before spray and on 3rd, 7th, 10th and 14th day after spray.
Calculation and results:
Percent reduction over control (PROC) in insect population was calculated as follows:
n in T after treatment PROC =|1 X100
i in Co after treatment/
V ni
Where, n = Insect population; T= treated and Co= Control

Effect on Leaf hoppers in okra:

Dose description Dose ml/L Percent Reduction Over Control in leaf hoppers infestation

1st spray 2nd spray
Composition X 100 44.07 50.02
Composition half X 50 41.13 50.35
Composition 2X 200 40 47.93
As compared with the control, the herbal pesticide composition of the invention reduced Leaf hoppers (Amrasca biguttula biguttula) infestation in okra.
Effect on whiteflies in okra:

Dose description Dose ml/L Percent Reduction Over Control in whiteflies infestation

1st spray 2nd spray
Composition X 100 29.07 31.57
Composition half X 50 35.48 28.04
Composition 2X 200 26.12 29.56
As compared with the control, the herbal pesticide composition of the invention reduced whiteflies viz. Bemisia tabaci infestation in okra.
Effect on mites (Tetranynchus urticae) in okra:

Dose description Dose ml/L Percent Reduction Over Control in mites infestation

1st spray 2nd spray
Composition X 100 23.31 47.79
Composition half X 50 26.64 44.03
Composition 2X 200 24.59 43.03
As compared with the control, the herbal pesticide composition of the invention reduced mites {Tetranynchus urticae) infestation in okra.

Effect on Fruit borer- Earias vitella infestation in Okra

Dose description Dose ml/L Percent Reduction Over Control in mites infestation

1st spray 2nd spray
Composition X 100 19.25 45.54
Composition half X 50 18.89 45.78
Composition 2X 200 18.27 46.08
As compared with the control, the herbal pesticide composition of the invention reduced Fruit borer- Earias vitella infestation in okra.
Effect on yield in okra:

Herbal pesticide compositions % increase in Yield as compared to control
Composition X 56.19
Composition half X 57.32
Composition 2X 56.64
As compared with the control, the herbal pesticide composition of the invention increased the production of okra.
Effect on beneficial insects in okra:
The herbal pesticide composition of the invention did not cause any harm to beneficial insects like coccinellids and spiders and did not produce any phytotoxicity.
Bioefficacy study of the herbal pesticide composition of the invention against the insect pests of Brinjal
Field trial was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications and sixteen treatments including untreated control. The three herbal pesticide compositions of the invention i.e. composition X = 100 ml/L (10 %); composition half X = 50 ml/L (5 %) and composition 2X = 200 ml/L (20 %) were used. These three herbal compositions were sprayed twice in the field when the economic threshold levels of pests were attained and tested

Assessment / observations of major insect pests in Brinjal under field conditions:
For sucking pests:
The observations on count of sucking pest viz. leafhopper, whitefly and brinjal mite were recorded on ten randomly selected plants per treatment. On each plant, ten leaves (five from top and five from middle portion of the plant) were taken for counting numbers of nymph and adult population. Observations were recorded on a day before spray and on 3rd, 7th, 10th and 14th day after spray. The data on surviving population was reported per plant basis (Mean of population/10 leaves). Fruit and shoot borer:
Ten plants per plot were selected and marked for observation. The number of healthy and infested fruits from at least five pickings were noted. The number of damaged fruit/shoots were recorded on ten randomly selected plants per plots. Observations were recorded on a day before spray and on 3rd, 7th, 10th and 14th day after spray.
Effect on fruit and shoot borer infestation in brinjal:

Herbal pesticide compositions % Reduction over Control in Fruit and Shoot Borer infestation

1st spray 2nd spray
Composition X 38.28 51.12
Composition half X 41.88 50.5
Composition 2X dose 40.82 49.71
As compared with the control, the herbal pesticide composition of the invention reduced Fruit and Shoot Borer infestation in brinjal.
Effect on Leaf hoppers in brinjal:

Herbal pesticide compositions % Reduction over Control in Leafhopper population

1st spray 2nd spray
Composition X 34.38 56.58
Composition half X 37.1 55.36
Composition 2X dose 25.62 49.12

As compared with the control, the herbal pesticide composition of the invention reduced Leaf hoppers infestation in brinjal.
Effect on whiteflies in brinjal:

Herbal pesticide compositions % Reduction over Control in Whiteflies population

1st spray 2nd spray
Composition X 19.82 21.32
Composition half X 11.95 27.91
Composition 2X dose 24.16 42.73
As compared with the control, the herbal pesticide composition of the invention reduced whiteflies infestation in brinjal.Effect on Brinjal mites:

Herbal pesticide compositions % Reduction over Control in Brinjal Mites population

1st spray 2nd spray
Composition X 31.3 58.69
Composition half X 32.89 59.88
Composition 2X dose 34.98 58.69
As compared with the control, the herbal pesticide composition of the invention reduced Brinjal mites infestation in brinjal.
Effect on Yield in brinjal

Herbal pesticide compositions % Increase in Yield as compared to control
Composition X 26.06
Composition half X 26.68
Composition 2X dose 26.96

As compared with the control, the herbal pesticide composition of the invention increased the production of brinjal.
Effect on beneficial insects in brinjal:
The botanical composition did not cause any harm to beneficial insects like coccinellids and spiders nor was found to be causing any phytotoxicity to plants and were safe to environment
Thus, the herbal pesticide composition of the invention protects crops like cereals, oil seeds, legumes, horticultural crops including fruits and vegetables from terrestrial, subterranean and soil pests, simultaneously increasing the yield. The herbal pesticide composition of the invention is not harmful to any beneficial insects like coccinellids and spiders and did not produce any phytotoxicity and thus safe to environment and eco-friendly. This composition is simple to handle and use as well as economical as compared to that of chemical pesticides. It is pollution free and thus eco-friendly.

I claims:

1. Herbal pesticide composition as crop protectant from insect pests simultaneously improving plant health and yield; said composition comprising fruits and seeds of Aesculus indica; rhizomes of//, spicatum, at least one additive and at least one carrier.
2. Herbal pesticide composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the composition comprising 1 to 25 % powder, extract or essential oils of fruits and seeds of Aesculus indica; 0.1 to 5 % powder, extract or essential oils of rhizomes of H. spicatum, 0.5 to 10 % of additive and 75 to 90 % of carrier.
3. Herbal pesticide composition as claimed in claim 2, wherein the composition comprising 5 to 15 % powder, extract or essential oils of fruits including seeds of Aesculus indica; 0.1 to 1 % powder, extract or essential oils of rhizomes of//, spicatum, 1 to 3 % of additive and 81 to 93.9 % of carrier.
4. Herbal pesticide composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier used in the composition is selected from liquid carrier including but not limited to water, polar solvents, non polar solvents, crop oils and mixtures thereof; and / or solid carriers including but not limited to inert dusts, diatomaceous earth, active charcoal, corn gluten meal, soybean meal, vermiculite, bentonite, kaolinite, wheat germ, almond hulls, cottonseed meal, Fuller's earth, orange pulp, rice hulls, sawdust or lime and mixtures thereof.
5. Herbal pesticide composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the additive used in the composition is selected from emulsifiers, stabilizers, surfactant, stickers, carriers, crop oils, mineral oils and / or preservatives.
6. Herbal pesticide composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the composition is applied by feeding technique selected from foliar, broadcasting, drenching or irrigation.
7. Herbal pesticide composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the composition is used to protect crops including but not limited to cereals, millets, legumes, oilseed, fruit and vegetable crops.

8. Herbal pesticide composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insect pests infesting cereals, oil seeds, legumes, and vegetable crops include but not limited to sucking insect pests including but not limited to whiteflies, aphids, thrips, mites, leafhoppers and true bugs; and insect pests having chewing biting type mouthparts of insect orders Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Orthoptera including but not limited to moths, beetles, grasshoppers, diamond back moth, Fruit and Shoot borers such as Eariasvitella, Helicoverpa armigera, Spodoptera litura and Leucinoides orbonalis, cutworms, head borers or leaf cutters.
9. Herbal pesticide composition as claimed in claims 1 to 8 wherein the composition is further diluted in the ratio of 5 to 25 % in any suitable agricultural carrier.
10. A process for a preparation of the herbal pesticide composition as claimed in claims lto9,
wherein the said process comprises: ix. collecting fruits and seeds of Aesculus indica followed by washing them with
water, cutting the washed fruits and seeds into small pieces followed by shade
drying them for at least one week; x. pulverizing the dried fruits and seeds of Aesculus indica obtained in step (i)
followed by sieving to obtain fine powder; xi. soaking the powder obtained in step (ii) in at least one carrier for at least 2 days
with intermittent shaking followed by filtering the mixture to obtain an extract of
the fruits and seeds of Aesculus indica; xii. collecting rhizomes of//, spicatum followed by washing them with water, cutting
the washed rhizomes into small pieces followed by shade drying them for at least
one week; xiii. pulverizing the dried rhizomes of H. spicatum obtained in step (iv) followed by
sieving to obtain fine powder and xiv. adding the powder of rhizomes of//, spicatum obtained in the step (v), at least one
additive and the carrier in predefined amount to the extract of the fruits and seeds of
Aesculus indica to obtain a reaction mixture; xv. fermenting the reaction mixture for at least 7 days with intermittent shaking; and xvi. filtering the mixture to obtain the herbal pesticide composition.

11. The process as claimed in claim 10, wherein the extract of the fruits and seeds of Aesculus indica in the step (vi) comprises 1 to 25 % of Aesculus indica.
12. The process as claimed in claim 10, wherein the powder of rhizomes of//, spicatum added in the step (vi) is at least in the range of 0.1 to 5 %.
13. The process as claimed in claim 10, wherein the additive added in the step (vi) is at least in the range of 0.5 to 10 %.
14. The process as claimed in claim 10, wherein the carrier in the steps (iii) and (vi) is at least in the range of 75 to 90 %.
15. The process as claimed in claims 10 and 14, wherein the carrier used in the composition is selected from liquid carrier including but not limited to water, polar solvents, non polar solvents, crop oils and mixtures thereof; and / or solid carriers including but not limited to inert dusts, diatomaceous earth or lime and mixtures thereof.
16. The process as claimed in claim 15, wherein the carrier used in the composition is water.
17. The process as claimed in claims 10 and 13, wherein the additive used in the composition is selected from emulsifiers, stabilizers, surfactant, stickers, carriers, crop oils, mineral oils and / or preservatives.
18. The process as claimed in claim 10 further comprises diluting the herbal composition obtained in the step (viii) in a ratio of 5 to 25 % in any suitable agricultural carrier.
19. The process as claimed in claim 18, wherein the suitable agricultural carrier is water.