Compositional Analysis and Potent Insecticidal Activity of Supercritical CO₂ Fluid Extracts of Alcea nudiflora L. Leaves

Abstract

To mitigate potentially severe food shortages due to the exponential growth of the global population, it is of paramount importance to improve the yield and quality of globally harvested food crops. As pest control contributes to both these aspects, the development of safe and effective pesticides is one of the main strategies pursued in this direction in the context of agricultural chemistry. During our investigation of natural pesticides, a supercritical CO 2 fluid extract of Alcea nudiflora L. was found to exert extremely potent insecticidal activity against aphids ( Macrosiphum euphorbiae ) and cowpea seed beetles ( Callosobruchus maculatus ) with LC 50 values of 0.03 mg/mL (24 h exposure, contact method). The facts that their insecticidal activity is in the most potent class among the essential oils known to date, and that the extract did not show any toxicity toward beneficial insects such as ladybugs ( Coccinella magnifica ) and European honeybees ( Apis mellifera Linnaeus), indicate that this extract could be a good, natural, and safe new pesticide candidate. A compositional analysis of this extract was carried out using GC/MS.

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“…Соединения есть во многих живых организмах, в первую очередь, их концентрация велика в растениях [22; 17]. Для полипренолов растения Alcea nudiflora L. выявлена инсектицидная активность в отношении насекомых Macrosiphum euphorbiae и Callosobruchus maculatus F. [21].…”