The following Pesticide Hazard Tricolour (PHT) alerts are based on the data in the tables below. An absence of an alert does not imply the substance has no implications for human health, biodiversity or the environment but just that we do not have the data to form a judgement. The alerts for Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) are based on applying the FAO/WHO (Type 1) and the PAN (Type II) criteria to PPDB data. Further details on the HHP indicators are given in the tables below. Neither the PHT nor the HHP hazard alerts take account of usage patterns or exposure, thus they do not represent risk.
PHT: Environmental fate
PHT: Ecotoxicity
PHT: Human health
Highly Hazardous Pesticide
Human health Low alert
Warning: Significant data are missing
GENERAL INFORMATION
Description
An extract from the leaves, stems and roots of the Yucca schidigera plant comprised of natural plant steroidal saponins which has some biostimulant, fungicidal and bactericidal activity
Despite the commercial use of yucca extract as a plant biostimulant limited data appears to be available regarding the efficacy of it as a biostimulant. However, it has been shown to promote germination and early vigour under drought/osmotic and salt stress induced either by sodium chloride or lithium chloride.
Mode of action as a biostimulant is unclear. However, the extract promotes mobility of nutrients and water across plant and soil surfaces providing multiple plant benefits. For animal health, it is considered a nutraceutical, with functions that include: digestive enhancer, anti-inflammatory agent and odor control additive.
Substance source
An extract from the leaves, stems and roots of the Mexican Yucca schidigera plant
Mixture composition
Yucca extract is a complex mixture, with composition varying by source (stem vs. bark), extraction method and standardisation level. Commercial products are often spray-dried powders or liquids, sometimes on carriers like maltodextrin. The key bioactive constituents are steroidal saponins (the dominant and most characteristic compounds) and polyphenols. Major components include sarsasapogenin, smilagenin, markogenin, samogenin, gitogenin and neogitogenin. In commercial standardisation total saponins are usually 10–30% but some products specify 20–25% or higher. Polyphenolics Phenolics may also be present including resveratrol and unique yuccaols A–E (stilbene-like polyphenols). Other constituents include polysaccharides, glycocomponents, carbohydrates, proteins and resins.
Pre-20th century traditional indigenous use; Mid 20th century, commercial extraction begins; 2020, widespread global use
Example manufacturers & suppliers of products using this active now or historically
Jadis Additiva Agri b.v
Example products using this active
Formulation and application details
Available as a soluble concentrate and often used as a feed additive
Commercial production
Produced by cold pressing of the stems from the Yucca schidigera plant
Impact on climate of production and use
Data for specific plant extracts is scarce. However, from publicly available data the carbon footprint of plant oils has been estimated at between 1.0 and 4.0 kg CO₂e per kg of product. This depends on the plant extract content, agricultural practices and processing methods used.
ENVIRONMENTAL FATE
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Solubility - In water at 20 °C at pH 7 (mg l⁻¹)
-
-
-
Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)
-
-
-
Melting point (°C)
-
-
-
Boiling point (°C)
-
-
-
Degradation point (°C)
-
-
-
Flashpoint (°C)
-
-
-
Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C
P
-
-
-
Log P
-
-
-
Fat solubility of residues
Solubility
-
-
-
Data type
-
-
-
Density (g ml⁻¹)
-
-
-
Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C
-
-
-
-
Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)
-
-
-
Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)
-
-
-
Volatilisation as max % of applied dose lost
From plant surface
-
-
-
From soil surface
-
-
-
Maximum UV-vis absorption L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹
-
-
-
Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)
-
-
-
Degradation
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
General biodegradability
-
Soil degradation (days)
DT₅₀ (typical)
-
-
-
DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)
-
-
-
DT₅₀ (field)
-
-
-
DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)
-
-
-
DT₉₀ (field)
-
-
-
DT₅₀ modelling endpoint
-
-
-
Note
-
Soil mineralisation
Aerobic (at 20 °C)
-
-
-
Anaerobic (at 20 °C)
-
-
Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) on plant matrix
Value
-
-
-
Note
-
Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) on and in plant matrix
Value
-
-
-
Note
-
Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7
Value
-
-
-
Note
-
Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7
Value
-
-
-
Note
-
Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)
-
-
-
Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)
-
-
-
Sediment phase only DT₅₀ (days)
-
-
-
Air degradation
As this parameter is not normally measured directly, a surrogate measure is used: ‘Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀’. Where data is available, this can be found in the Fate Indices section below.
Decay in stored produce DT₅₀
-
Soil adsorption and mobility
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Linear
Kd (mL g⁻¹)
-
-
-
Koc (mL g⁻¹)
-
Notes and range
-
Freundlich
Kf (mL g⁻¹)
-
-
-
Kfoc (mL g⁻¹)
-
1/n
-
Notes and range
-
pH sensitivity
-
Known metabolites
None
ECOTOXICOLOGY
Terrestrial ecotoxicology
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)
> 2000
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Rat
Low
Mammals - Short Term Oral NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)
-
-
-
Mammals - Long Term (Chronic) Oral NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)
Lewis, K.A., Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D. and Green, A. (2016) An international database for pesticide risk assessments and management. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 22(4), 1050-1064. DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2015.1133242
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Human health
Warning:
