Chemical Diversity and Anti-Insect Activity Evaluation of Essential Oils Extracted from Five Artemisia Species

Abstract

As a source of aromatic plants, the genus Artemisia has long been considered to have the potential to develop plant pesticides. In this study, components of essential oils from A. dalai-lamae, A. tangutica, A. sieversiana, A. tanacetifolia and A. ordosica were identified by GC-MS. A total of 56 constituents were analysed, and each species consisted of 9 to 24 constituents. Principle component analysis (PCA) revealed that A. dalai-lamae, A. tangutica and A. tanacetifolia are characterised by monoterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated monoterpenes. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) showed the most remarkable similarity between A. sieversiana and A. ordosica, but the similarity was still lower than 50%. Contact toxicity and repellency of essential oils were evaluated by bioassays; A. ordosica oil exhibited the most substantial contact toxicity (LD50 = 52.11 μg/cm2) against Liposcelis bostrychophila, while A. tangutica oil showed the most potent contact toxicity (LD50 = 17.42 μg/adult) against Tribolium castaneum. Except for A. dalai-lamae, the other four species showed the same level (p > 0.05) of repellent activity as the positive control against both pests at high concentrations. The results indicated that these five Artemisia species had high chemical diversity and great potential to be developed into more effective and environmentally friendly anti-insect agents.

Phytochemical Profiling, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and Cholinesterase Inhibitory Effects of Essential Oils Isolated from the Leaves of Artemisia scoparia and Artemisia absinthium

“…The oils overall showed a weak pharmacological effect (anti-inflammatory) in activating the human neutrophils; however, the relatively higher effect was showed by A. tridentata due to the presence of farnesene (smaller amounts) [ 43 ]. A recent study of various Artemisia species suggested the presence of sufficient amounts of oxygenated monoterpenoids that imparted potential insecticidal activities (LD 50 = 17–52 μg/mL), a possible therapeutic application for environmentally friendly pesticides [ 44 ].…”

Artemisia fragrans Willd. Essential Oil: Chemical Profile and Insecticidal Potential against the Confused Flour Beetle, Tribolium confusum du Val

“…The essential oils of Artemisia absinthium L. and Artemisia dracunculus L. displayed noticeably fumigant toxicity, with LC 50 values of 2.60 and 1.08 µL/L, respectively, against eggs of the potato tuber moth Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) [32]. Toxicity of essential oils isolated from four Artemisia species, including A. dalai-lamae Krasch., A. tangutica Pampanini, A. tanacetifolia L., and A. ordosica Krasch., where 24 LC 50 values of 25.7, 17.4, 41.9, and 21.7 µg/insect, respectively, against the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum Herbst were documented [33]. However, in the present study, the insecticidal effects of A. fragrans essential oil was evidenced for the first time, in which the essential oil with a 24 h LC 50 of 22.13 µL/L had noteworthy fumigant toxicity against the adults of T. confusum.…”

Rapid Detection of Potential Natural Food Preservatives and Identification of Artemisia Species via High-Sensitivity Photoionization Mass Spectrometry

“…Based on the comparison of the spectra from the library of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), combined with analysis of plant VOCs in published literature, volatile compounds of samples were identified. In a previous study, monoterpenes were identified in PVOCs of Artemisia species. − These components identified belong to different monoterpenoids structures: α- pinene, β- pinene, sabinene limonene, 4-terpineol, etc.…”