Essential Oils from Two Apiaceae Species as Potential Agents in Organic Crops Protection.

Nadjiya Merad,Ronaldo De Carvalho Augusto,Vanessa Andreu,Slimane Chaib,Nassim Djabou,Yacine Boumghar,Cédric Bertrand,André Pichette,David Duval

doi:10.3390/antibiotics10060636

Abstract

Chemical composition and herbicidal, antifungal, antibacterial and molluscicidal activities of essential oils from Choukzerk, Eryngium triquetrum, and Alexander, Smyrnium olusatrum, from western Algeria were characterized. Capillary GC-FID and GC/MS were used to investigate chemical composition of both essential oils, and the antifungal, antibacterial, molluscicidal and herbicidal activities were determined by % inhibition. Collective essential oil of E. triquetrum was dominated by falcarinol (74.8%) and octane (5.6%). The collective essential oil of S. olusatrum was dominated by furanoeremophilone (31.5%), furanodiene+curzurene (19.3%) and (E)-β-caryophyllene (11%). The E. triquetrum oil was tested and a pure falcarinol (99%) showed virtuous herbicidal and antibacterial activities against potato blackleg disease, Pectobacterium atrosepticum, and Gram-negative soil bacterium, Pseudomonas cichorii (85 and 100% inhibition, respectively), and high ecotoxic activity against brine shrimp, Artemia salina, and the freshwater snail, Biomphalaria glabrata, with an IC50 of 0.35 µg/mL and 0.61 µg/mL, respectively. Essential oil of S. olusatrum showed interesting antibacterial and ecotoxic activity and good herbicidal activity against watercress seeds, Lepidium sativum (74% inhibition of photosynthesis, 80% mortality on growth test on model watercress), while the furanoeremophilone isolated from the oil (99% pure) showed moderate herbicidal activity. Both oils showed excellent antifungal activity against Fusarium. Both oils and especially falcarinol demonstrated good potential as new biocontrol agents in organic crop protection.

Highlights

IntroductionIt is widely recognized that herbicides may pose a significant risk to human health and to the environment
This study showed that the essential oil of E. triquetrum had strong herbicidal, ecotoxic and antibacterial activity, and that this high activity was due to the presence of falcarinol, which is a compound associated with various biological activities
The present study describes the chemical composition and herbicidal, antifungal, antibacterial and molluscicidal activities of two Algerian essential oils, E. triquetrum oil, which is dominated by falcarinol and S. olusatrum oil, which is rich in furanosesquiterpenes

Summary

Introduction

It is widely recognized that herbicides may pose a significant risk to human health and to the environment. This risk has led to an increased interest in alternative strategies which have led to the development of biodegradable compounds [1,2]. Aromatic plants are increasingly used for pest control in bioagriculture. The essential oils and volatile constituents extracted from these plants are widely used as new replacement agents for biological control against microbial strains and pests, due to their specificity of action, their biodegradable nature and their commercial applications [3,4,5]

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Conclusion