Insecticidal Terpenes From the Essential Oils of Artemisia nakaii and Their Inhibitory Effects on Acetylcholinesterase

Abstract

Essential oils (EOs) are often the source of insecticidal substances of high efficiency and low toxicity. From gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer, column chromatography, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra analyses, twenty terpenes were identified from the EOs of Artemisia nakaii. These comprised mostly monoterpenes (49.01%) and sesquiterpenes (50.76%). The terpenes at the highest concentrations in the EOs of A. nakaii were feropodin (200.46 ± 1.42 μg/ml), (+)-camphor (154.93 ± 9.72 μg/ml), β-selinene (57.73 ± 2.48 μg/ml), and 1,8-cineole (17.99 ± 1.06 μg/ml), calculated using area normalization and external standards. The EOs were tested for biological activity and showed strong fumigant toxicity and significant antifeedant activity against the larvae of Spodoptera litura. Furthermore, the monoterpenes 1,8-cineole and (+)-camphor displayed significant fumigant activity against S. litura, with LC50 values of 7.00 ± 0.85 and 18.16 ± 2.31 μl/L, respectively. Antifeedant activity of the sesquiterpenes feropodin and β-selinene was obvious, with EC50 values of 12.23 ± 2.60 and 10.46 ± 0.27 μg/cm2, respectively. The EOs and β-selinene were also found to inhibit acetylcholinesterase, with IC50 values of 37.75 ± 3.59 and 6.88 ± 0.48 μg/ml, respectively. These results suggest that monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes from the EOs of A. nakaii could potentially be applied as a botanical pesticides in the control of S. litura.

Promising Insecticidal Efficiency of Essential Oils Isolated from Four Cultivated Eucalyptus Species in Iran against the Lesser Grain Borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.)

“…The fumigant toxicity and antifeedant effect of limonene, as one of the terpenes identified in E. microtheca essential oil, was documented against R. dominica adults [ 53 ]. In the study of Liu et al, the essential oil of Artemisia nakaii Pamp and its abundant terpenes camphor and 1,8-cineole showed pronounced fumigant activity against the third instar larvae of Spodoptera litura Fab [ 54 ]. They found that camphor and 1,8-cineole had better fumigant toxicity than the essential oil and concluded that these terpenes might be the substances responsible for essential oil toxicity.…”

Thymus hirtus Willd. ssp. algeriensis Boiss. and Reut: A Comprehensive Review on Phytochemistry, Bioactivities, and Health-Enhancing Effects

“…The LC 90 values were 157.00, 74.25, and 56.25 μL/L of air for Eo1, EO2, and Eo3, respectively. The insecticidal activity of Tunisian T. algeriensis oils is probably related to the following main constituents: α-pinene, 1,8-cineole, caryophyllene oxide, camphor, linalool, camphene, and p -eugenol, which were associated with toxicity in many investigations [ 300 , 310 , 311 ]. However, the insecticide activity is inherently variable between oils for several reasons, such as plant age, plant tissues or organs, interactions between structural components, etc.…”

Seasonal metabolic profiling of Valencia orange leaf essential oil using GC coupled with chemometrics, nano-formulation, and insecticidal evaluation: in vivo and in silico

“…Essential oils (EO) are eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic insecticides. 3 Citrus is an important genus of the Rutaceae family, comprising many odoriferous species, e.g. , oranges ( C. sinensis ), limes ( C. aurantifolia ), and tangerine ( C. reticulate ).…”

“…Essential oils (EO) are eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic insecticides. 3 Citrus is an important genus of the Rutaceae family, comprising many odoriferous species, e.g., oranges (C. sinensis), limes (C. aurantifolia), and tangerine (C. reticulate). 4,5 Citrus sinensis is commonly known as sweet orange; it possess many bioactive secondary metabolites such as avonoids, steroids, EOs, and coumarins.…”