Chemical characterization and insecticidal potential of the essential oil of Ocimum gratissimum L. (Lamiaceae) against Nauphoeta cinerea (Blaberidae)

Abstract

Plants are considered a rich source of bioactive compounds and an alternative agent for insect control. Among them, representatives of the Lamiaceae family are the best known for this potential, as they produce volatile compounds with insecticidal activities, known as essential oils, as is the case with Ocimum gratissimum. In this way, the present work had as objective, to determine the chemical composition of the oil of the leaves of O. gratissimum and its potential insecticide against the cockroach Nauphoeta cinerea. For that, the essential oil was chemically characterized by means of a Gas Chromatograph coupled to a Mass Spectrometer (GC/MS). As for the insecticidal action, nymphs (20 days of age) were used and the fumigation methodology was used in concentrations ranging from 50 to 1000 μg of oil per mL of air. Mortality rates were observed every 12 hours for 1 day. The results showed that the essential oil has insecticidal properties, since it had a median lethal concentration (LC50) of 516 µg/mL. Such property may be related to the heterogeneous composition of the oil, which had 12 terpenic compounds, with 1.8 Cineole being the major compound (30.04%). Thus, the essential oil of O. gratissimum has an insecticidal activity and can be used to fight pests, as in the case of cockroaches.

Evaluation of antibiotic efficacy of Ocimum gratissimum L. essential oil against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa

“…Our results showed a higher eugenol content (74.2%) in EOGT when compared with the studies published by Ribeiro et al (2016) and Chimnoi et al (2018). This compound is essential for EOGT chemotype and is a basis for its antibacterial activity (Silva et al, 2015b;Melo et al, 2019;Rodrigues et al, 2020). Like eugenol, other compounds, such as terpineol-4, γ-muurolene, (Z, E)-αfarnesene, α-trans-bergamotene, 1,8-cineole, β-selinene, γ-terpinene, p-cymene, thymol, and myrcene, have also been identified in the essential oil of O. gratissimum (Matasyoh et al, 2007;Chimnoi et al, 2018;Rodrigues Belo et al 59 et al, 2020;Yayi et al, 1999).…”

Lamiaceae Essential Oils, Phytochemical Profile, Antioxidant, and Biological Activities

“…Essential oils are characterized by two or three major constituents. For instance, Mentha arvensis L. presented as major compounds menthol (86.1%), menthone (4.3%), and isomenthone (3.7%) [ 90 ]; O. gratissimum L. showed as major constituents 1,8-cineole (30.04%), eugenol (27.58%), and terpineol-4 (14.45%) [ 91 ]; Origanum vulgare L. presented 4-terpineol (18.4%), sabinene hydrate (15.6%), and thymol (13.6%) [ 92 ]; and in the species Plectranthus ornatus Codd, the major compounds identified were α -thujene (12.7−32.7%), α -pinene (5.5−23%), sabinene (7.51−17.8%), β -pinene (3.5−11.6%), 1-octen3-ol (0.6−11.1%), 3-carene (0.84−5.6%), (E)- β -ocimene (1.5−8.4%), α -terpinyl acetate (1.3−13.2%), β -caryophyllene (3.9−13.6%), and germacrene D (0.3−18.5%) [ 93 ].…”

Role of organic and inorganic fertilizers in enhancing biomass yield and eugenol content of ornamental basil (Ocimum gratissimum L.)

“…In traditional Indian medicine, the entire plant of O. gratissimum is widely used to treat influenza and headaches. The herbage and essential oil of this plant possess a range of medicinal properties, including antifungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, insecticidal, antimicrobial, and anaesthetic properties [ [5] , [6] , [7] ]. The essential oil is particularly rich in eugenol (70–75 %), which is the main constituent of clove oil, and also contains 10–15 % myrcene.…”