Abstract
Carvacrol and linalool are natural compounds extracted from plants and are known for their insecticidal and repellent activities, respectively. However, their low aqueous solubility, high photosensitivity, and high volatility restrict their application in the control of agricultural pests. The encapsulation of volatile compounds can be an effective way of overcoming such problems. Inclusion complexes between beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and carvacrol (CVC) or linalool (LNL) were investigated. Inclusion complexes were prepared by the kneading method. Both complexes presented 1:1 host:guest stoichiometry and the highest affinity constants were observed at 20 °C for both molecules. The nanoparticles containing carvacrol and linalool had mean diameters of 175.2 and 245.8 nm, respectively and high encapsulation efficiencies (<90%) were achieved for both compounds. Biological assays with mites (Tetranychus urticae) showed that the nanoparticles possessed repellency, acaricidal, and oviposition activities against this organism. Nanoencapsulated carvacrol and linalool were significantly more effective in terms of acaricidal and oviposition activities, while the unencapsulated compounds showed better repellency activity. The nanoformulations prepared in this study are good candidates for the sustainable and effective use of botanical compounds in agriculture, contributing to the reduction of environmental contamination, as well as promoting the effective control of pests in agriculture.
Highlights
Carvacrol and linalool are natural compounds extracted from plants and are known for their insecticidal and repellent activities, respectively
Beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes were produced with carvacrol and linalool as guest molecules
Nanoparticulate systems based on natural polysaccharides were prepared using the ionic gelation method and were used as carriers for carvacrol and linalool
Summary
Carvacrol and linalool are natural compounds extracted from plants and are known for their insecticidal and repellent activities, respectively. The increasing popularity of organic agriculture, together with the need to overcome problems associated with the emergence of resistant pests, has led to interest in natural pesticides, especially botanical insecticides and repellents, due to their easier degradation and lower toxicity in the environment. Most of these substances are site-specific and present low toxicity towards mammals and nontarget species[6,7,8,9]. Important limitations on the use of these compounds in agriculture are: (i) their low aqueous solubility, resulting in reduced contact with pathogens[16,17], and (ii) their susceptibility to degradation due to exposure to ultraviolet radiation, high temperatures, and oxidation by atmospheric oxygen[18]
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