The modes of action of Mentha arvensis essential oil on the granary weevil Sitophilus granarius revealed by a label-free quantitative proteomic analysis

Abstract

Although synthetic pesticides are still used to control insect pests, greater efforts have been made to develop healthier and more environmentally friendly pesticides. Because of their insecticidal properties, botanical essential oils (EOs) are considered as promising alternatives to the use of synthetic insecticides. However, little is known about mechanisms underlying the insecticidal activity of most these natural compounds. In the present study, we evaluated the contact toxicity and the modes of action of the EO from Mentha arvensis against the granary weevil, Sitophilus granarius L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a cosmopolitan insect pest that causes extensive damage to stored cereals. M. arvensis EO caused high contact toxicity in S. granarius adults, resulting in a rapid paralysis and rapid alteration of walking behavior. Our label-free quantitative proteomics approach revealed that M. arvensis EO induced dramatic physiological changes in exposed insects. The majority of the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were upregulated and are related to the development and functioning of the muscular and nervous systems, cellular respiration, protein synthesis, and detoxification. These results suggest that M. arvensis essential oil is capable of affecting a variety of biological processes, and shed light on the repair mechanisms put in place in surviving insects to counter the damage inflicted. This work opens new perspectives on the proposed mechanisms of insecticidal activity of a promising EO for controlling pests of stored cereals and may represent a first step in the development of novel bio-rational insecticides.

Lavandula dentata L.: Phytochemical Analysis, Antioxidant, Antifungal and Insecticidal Activities of Its Essential Oil

“…In addition, a study conducted on the action of M. arvensis EO tested by contact against adults S. granarius , reported rapid paralysis and altered walking [ 31 , 38 ]. During the same study, essences of M. arvensis also induced spectacular physiological changes in treated insects, marked by up-regulation of the majority of differentially expressed proteins (DEP), which are involved in development and function of the nervous and muscular systems, protein synthesis, cellular respiration, and detoxification [ 39 ]. These findings suggest that EOs can affect a wide range of biological processes, and highlight the repair mechanisms used by surviving insects to restore the harm caused.…”

Chemical Composition and Antifungal, Insecticidal and Repellent Activity of Essential Oils From Origanum compactum Benth. Used in the Mediterranean Diet

“…Regarding the mode of action of EO on insect pests, a recently published study reported that EO applied by contact on Sitophilus granarius insects, pests of cereal seeds, can affect a variety of biological processes in the insects ( Renoz et al, 2021 ). According to these authors, Mentha arvensis oils induced significant physiological changes in exposed insects, particularly on vital functions related to the muscular and neurological systems, cellular respiration, protein synthesis, and detoxification.…”

Antioxidant potential, lipid profile and sensory attributes of a functional yogurt formulated with hydroethanolic extract of Mentha Piperita L.

“…These authors also demonstrated the presence of rutin at 2.18 mg/g of dry extract, whereas in our extract it was evaluated at only 0.638 mg/g of extract. It should be noted that the literature has reported a wide qualitative and quantitative diversity of results regarding the phytochemical composition of Mentha piperita L., due to several factors related to the environment and/or the plant itself (physiological state, genetic variation, and stage of harvest) (Renoz et al, 2022), extraction, drying, and analysis methods, the harvest season (Mahendran & Rahman, 2020), as well as the diversity of the polar characteristics. Table 2 Figure 1 3.…”