Biocidal Activity of a Nanoemulsion Containing Essential Oil from Protium heptaphyllum Resin against Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae).

Cleidjane Gomes Faustino,Anderson Luiz Pena Da Costa,Sheylla Susan Moreira Da Silva De Almeida,Ana Luzia Ferreira Farias,Allan Kardec Ribeiro Galardo,Lizandra Lima Santos,Patrick De Castro Cantuária,Rosany Lopes Martins,Marcos Antônio Alves De Medeiros,Jader Santos Cruz,Lethicia Barreto Brandão,Alex Bruno Lobato Rodrigues,Fernando Antônio De Medeiros

doi:10.3390/molecules26216439

Abstract

This work aimed to prepare a nanoemulsion containing the essential oil of the Protium heptaphyllum resin and evaluate its biocidal activities against the different stages of development of the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Ovicide, pupicide, adulticide and repellency assays were performed. The main constituents were p-cymene (27.70%) and α-pinene (22.31%). The developed nanoemulsion showed kinetic stability and monomodal distribution at a hydrophilic–lipophilic balance of 14 with a droplet size of 115.56 ± 1.68 nn and a zeta potential of −29.63 ± 3.46 mV. The nanoemulsion showed insecticidal action with LC50 0.404 µg·mL−1 for the ovicidal effect. In the pupicidal test, at the concentration of 160 µg·mL−1, 100% mortality was reached after 24 h. For adulticidal activity, a diagnostic concentration of 200 µg·mL−1 (120 min) was determined. In the repellency test, a concentration of 200 µg·mL−1 during the 180 min of the test showed a protection index of 77.67%. In conclusion, the nanobiotechnological product derived from the essential oil of P. heptaphyllum resin can be considered as a promising colloid that can be used to control infectious disease vectors through a wide range of possible modes of applications, probably as this bioactive delivery system may allow the optimal effect of the P. heptaphyllum terpenes in aqueous media and may also induce satisfactory delivery to air interfaces.

Highlights

Aedes aegypti, belonging to the Diptera order and the Culicidae family, is considered to be one of the vectors responsible for the transmission of arboviruses such as Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika, which have high mortality rates
The chemical composition of the essential oil of the P. heptaphyllum resin presented p-cymene (27.70%) and α-pinene (22.31%) as major constituents, but in this analysis, all minor and major constituents were identified [10], which corroborates with the data found in the literature concerning the specific chemical composition [13]
The results presented in this study and contextualized with those available in the scientific literature demonstrate the nanobiotechnological potential of P. heptaphyllum nanoemulsion in the control of the development of A. aegypti eggs

Summary

Introduction

Aedes aegypti, belonging to the Diptera order and the Culicidae family, is considered to be one of the vectors responsible for the transmission of arboviruses such as Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika, which have high mortality rates. The spread of A. aegypti is associated with the disorderly growth of cities and the lack of basic sanitation and housing, favoring mosquito breeding sites [1,2]. Controlling A. aegypti has been a major and important challenge, especially in emerging countries. Strategies for the chemical control of mosquitoes in the egg, larva and adult phases are promising through the presence of phytochemicals present in essential oils, which is an alternative mechanism of action to commercial insecticides [3]. Its essential oil has biocidal potential against A. aegypti at different stages of life [4]

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Conclusion