Effects of nanostructured essential oils against subterranean termites (Coptotermes gestroi)

Abstract

Currently, the control of termites is mainly carried out with the use of chemical pesticides, which although effective, pose risks to the environment and to human beings. An alternative to using such chemical pesticides is natural products such as essential oils in insecticidal action. Despite the fact of being effective, essential oils are unstable, poorly soluble in water, and degrade from the action of light, oxygen even at moderate temperatures. Thus, the nanostructuring of essential oils could circumvent such problems and ensure its effectiveness. The following study aimed to assess for the first time the effects of nanostructured systems of essential oils of Cymbopogon flexuosus, Eucalyptus globulus and Melaleuca alternifolia in subterranean termites (Coptotermes gestroi). The results showed that the solid lipid nanoparticles of M. alternifolia have both repellent and insecticide action. The following study showed that nanostructuring of essential oils with insecticidal action is a promising tool in the fight against termites.

Termiticidal, biochemical, and morpho-histological effects of botanical based nanoemulsion against a subterranean termite, Odontotermes Formosanus Shiraki

“…Ibrahium et al (2022), recorded that nanoemulsions of M. alternifolia and Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck have mean droplet sizes of approximately 188.4 d.nm and 50.66 d.nm with PDI values of 0.527 and 0.171, respectively, and a Z-average of -2.02 mV and -2.30 mV, respectively. Clerici et al (2018), detected DLS for E. globulus nanoemulsion was 79.80 ± 0.37 nm with a PDI value of 0.21 ± 0.007. The testing yielded negative results for the zeta potential.…”

Essential oils as vespid wasp repellents: Implications for their use as a management strategy

“…However, this trait makes them costly due to low stability and rapid volatilizations. Thus, there is a marked interest in the scientific community to develop terpenoid and essential oil formulations that result in slow, controlled release of these volatile compounds (El Asbahani et al, ; Bakry et al, ; Clerici et al, ).…”

Innovative Approach to Nano Thiazole-Zn with Promising Physicochemical and Bioactive Properties by Nanoreactor Construction

“…Nanotechnologies can provide new approaches for preparing safe and effective nanopesticides . Normally, nanomaterials such as polymers, − solid lipid nanoparticles, inorganic porous nanomaterials, and layered double hydroxides, , are often used as a carrier or matrix to the synthesis of nanoscale ingredients. However, the complexity and high cost of this method have plagued their popularization.…”