Chemical composition and insecticidal effects of brown algae (Fucus spiralis) essential oil against Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann (Diptera: Tephritidae) pupae and adults

Abstract

The aims of this study were the determination of phytochemical compounds of Fucus spiralis brown algae essential oil and the investigation of its bioinsecticidal effect against the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann (Diptera: Tephritidae). The chemical composition of Fucus spiralis essential oil, was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), revealed the presence of borneol (13.13%), hentriacontane (6.13%), bornyl salicylate (5.48%), docosane (6.93%), octacosane (5.62%), heptacosane (7.22%), and limonene (4.9%). The bioinsecticidal effect was tested against the C. capitata using contact effect on the pupae and toxicity on adults. The toxicity tests, using different concentrations of F. spiralis essential oil, were carried out on pupae and adults of C. capitata. For a concentration of 4 ppm, the percentage of emerging pupae was only 42%. The insecticidal activity of the essential oil against adult was higher, with an LD50 and an LD90 of 0.239 and 2.467 ppm respectively. Thus, the essential oil of F. spiralis seems to possess effective anti-insect activity. These findings suggest that F. spiralis essential oil may be used as a management of the fruit fly C. capitata . • The chemical composition of the essential oil was carried out from Fucus spiralis. • The LD50 suggests a strong insecticidal activity against Ceratitis capitata. • Borneol is identified for the first time in brown algae. • The essential oil of Fucus spiralis can be used as a safe and environmentally friendly insecticide.