Chemical Composition and Insecticidal Activity of the Essential Oil of Illicium pachyphyllum Fruits against Two Grain Storage Insects

Abstract

The aim of this research was to determine chemical composition and insecticidal activity of the essential oil of Illicium pachyphyllum fruits against two grain storage insects, Sitophilus zeamais and Tribolium castaneum, and to isolate any insecticidal constituents from the essential oil. The essential oil of I. pachyphyllum fruits was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-MS. A total of 36 components of the essential oil were identified, with the principal compounds in the essential oil being trans-ρ-mentha-1(7),8-dien-2-ol (24.56%), d-limonene (9.79%), caryophyllene oxide (9.32%), and cis-carveol (5.26%) followed by β-caryophyllene (4.63%) and bornyl acetate. Based on bioactivity-guided fractionation, the three active constituents were isolated and identified as trans-ρ-mentha-1(7),8-dien-2-ol, d-limonene and caryophyllene oxide. The essential oil of I. pachyphyllum fruits exhibited contact toxicity against S. zeamais and T. castaneum adults, with LD50 values of 17.33 μg/adult and 28.94 μg/adult, respectively. trans-p-Mentha-1(7),8-dien-2-ol (LD50 = 8.66 μg/adult and 13.66 μg/adult, respectively) exhibited stronger acute toxicity against S. zeamais and T. castaneum adults than either caryophyllene oxide (LD50 = 34.09 μg/adult and 45.56 μg/adult) and d-limonene (LD50 = 29.86 μg/adult and 20.14 μg/adult). The essential oil of I. pachyphyllum possessed fumigant toxicity against S. zeamais and T. castaneum adults with LC50 values of 11.49 mg/L and 15.08 mg/L, respectively. trans-p-Mentha-1(7),8-dien-2-ol exhibited stronger fumigant toxicity against S. zeamais and T. castaneum adults, respectively, with LC50 values of 6.01 mg/L and 8.14 mg/L, than caryophyllene oxide (LC50 = 17.02 mg/L and 15.98 mg/L) and d-limonene (LC50 = 33.71 mg/L and 21.24 mg/L). The results indicate that the essential oil of I. pachyphyllum fruits and its constituent compounds have potential for development into natural insecticides or fumigants for the control of insects in stored grains.

Chemical composition and insecticidal properties of the essential oil of <i>Bidens frondosa</i> L (Asteraceae) against booklice (<i>Liposcelis bostrychophila</i>)

“…Borneol was also found to exhibit insecticidal activities against several insects and mites [19]. Moreover, it has been shown that caryophyllene oxide exhibited fumigant and contact toxicity as well as repellent activity against several insects and mites [20]. It also displayed larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti with a LC 50 value of 125 ppm [21].…”

Volatile Component Analysis of Michelia alba Leaves and Their Effect on Fumigation Activity and Worker Behavior of Solenopsis invicta

“…Few studies have reported on the insecticidal activity of caryophyllene. Caryophyllene oxide exhibits insecticidal and antifeed ant activity (Bettarini et al, 1993;Liu et al, 2012) and could function as a nerve poison for pests via sodium channel modulators (Balar & Nakum, 2010). In addition, β-elemene is a kind of structural isomer of elemenes that are used as pheromones by particular insects because of the floral aromas of particular plants.…”

Chemical Composition and Insecticidal Activity of Essential Oil of <i>Artemisia frigida</i> Willd (Compositae) against Two Grain Storage Insects

“…The differences in oil composition was slight as 2 to 3 components However, compared with the fumigant activity of the other essential oils reported in the literature and which were tested using a similar bioassay, the essential oil obtained in the present study exhibited the same or stronger fumigant toxicity against maize weevils, e.g., the essential oils of A. vestita [11], A. eriopoda [13], A. lavandulaefolia and A. sieversiana [15], A. capillaris and A. mongolica [23], A. giraldii and A. subdigitata [12], and A. igniaria [24]. The essential oil of A. frigida aerial parts also possessed the same level of fumigant toxicity to the booklice as that of essential oils of Foeniculum vulgare [16], Illicium pachyphyllum fruits [25], and Curcuma wenyujin rhizomes [26].…”