Abstract
This study investigated the fumigant toxicity of oriental sweetgum (Liquidambar orientalis) and valerian (Valeriana wallichii) essential oils and their components against the Japanese termite (Reticulitermes speratus). The fumigant toxicity of oriental sweetgum and valerian oil differed significantly according to exposure time. Oriental sweetgum showed toxicity at short exposure times (2 days), and the toxicity of valerian oil was high 7 days after treatment. The main constituents of oriental sweetgum and valerian oils were tested individually for their fumigant toxicity against Japanese termites. Among the test compounds, benzyl alcohol, acetophenone, 1-phenyl-1-ethanol, hydrocinnamyl alcohol, trans-cinnamyl aldehyde, trans-cinnamyl alcohol, cis-asarone, styrene, and cis-ocimene showed toxicity against Japanese termites 7 days after treatment. Hydrocinnamyl alcohol and trans-cinnamyl alcohol were found to be the major contributors to the fumigant antitermitic toxicity of oriental sweetgum oil. The acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition activity of two oils and their constituents was tested to determine their mode of action. Only cis-ocimene showed strong AChE inhibition activity with an IC50 value of 0.131 mg/mL. Further studies are warranted to determine the potential of these essential oils and their constituents as fumigants for termite control.
Highlights
Termites cause more than $3 billion in damage to wooden structures annually throughout the U.S [1].Because termite damage is hard to detect, wooden structures are already seriously damaged from the inside when surface changes emerge
The Japanese termite (Reticulitermes speratus Kolbe) is the one termite species described in Korea, which recently has caused serious damage to wooden structures such as temples and palaces [3,4,5,6]
We investigated the fumigant toxicity of essential oils from oriental sweetgum (Liquidambar orientalis) and valerian (Valeriana wallichii)
Summary
Termites cause more than $3 billion in damage to wooden structures annually throughout the U.S [1]. The Japanese termite (Reticulitermes speratus Kolbe) is the one termite species described in Korea, which recently has caused serious damage to wooden structures such as temples and palaces [3,4,5,6]. The main control methods for the Japanese termite in Korea are application of synthetic pesticides or wood preservatives, which are effective, but cause side effects such as environmental pollution, human health problems, toxicity to natural enemies, and development of resistance. Many plant extracts or essential oils have insecticidal or repellent effects against termites, as Verma et al have summarized [2]. Plant essential oils often show fumigant toxicity or repellent effects against termites. We determined the fumigant toxicity of essential oil components and their acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity to determine if their mode of action could be attributed the inhibition of this enzyme
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
