Cinnamon Oil Encapsulated with Silica Nanoparticles: Chemical Characterization and Evaluation of Insecticidal Activity Against the Rice Moth, Corcyra cephalonica

Abstract

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume) essential oil has vast potential as an antimicrobial but is limited by its volatility and rapid degradation. To decrease its volatility and prolong the efficacy of the biocide, cinnamon essential oil was encapsulated into mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs). The characterization of MSNs and cinnamon oil encapsulated with silica nanoparticles (CESNs) was estimated. Additionally, their insecticidal activity against the rice moth Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) larvae was evaluated. The MSN surface area decreased from 893.6 to 720 m2 g−1 and the pore volume also decreased from 0.824 to 0.7275 cc/g after loading with cinnamon oil. X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and N2 sorption by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) confirmed the successful formation and evolution of the synthesized MSNs and CESN structures. The surface characteristics of MSNs and CESNs were analyzed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Compared with the sub-lethal activity values, the order of toxicity after 6 days of exposure was MSNs ˃ CESN ˃ cinnamon oil ˃ silica gel ˃ peppermint oil. The efficacy of CESNs gradually increases its toxicity more than MSN after the 9th day of exposure.

Evaluation of the Essential Oils Used in the Production of Biopesticides: Assessing Their Toxicity toward Both Arthropod Target Species and Beneficial Pollinators

“…This method has both advantages and disadvantages; it favors the persistence of the essential oils in the environment and the extension of their action time. But most of the toxicological tests carried out by researchers, especially in laboratory conditions but also in field conditions, had as their object the effect of oils administered, and as such (in different concentrations and by various methods), there are few studies comparing the effect of raw oil vs. encapsulated oil [4,60,146]. These studies, most of the time, revealed a considerable increase in the toxicity of the essential oils compared to the non-target, beneficial species, along with an increase in the toxic effect compared to the harmful insect species [60].…”

Combating fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) with moringa-synthesized silica nanoparticles and its combination with some insecticides

“…These ndings align with many other studies that have used SiNPs as insecticide carriers to boost their potency. It has been established that SiNP is a reliable and safe source of insecticides that may be employed at low and ecologically friendly dosages to control various other insect pests (Attia et al, 2023;Saw et al, 2023).…”