Abstract
BackgroundSeveral species from Saussurea have been used in the traditional medicine, such as S. lappa, S. involucrate, and S. obvallata. There is no report on medicinal use of S. nivea. The aim of this research was to determine chemical composition and insecticidal activity of the essential oil of S. nivea Turcz (Asteraceae) aerial parts against maize weevils (Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky) for the first time.ResultsEssential oil of S. nivea flowering aerial parts was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of 43 components of the essential oil of S. nivea were identified. The principal compounds in the essential oil were (+)-limonene (15.46%), caryophyllene oxide (7.62%), linalool (7.20%), α-pinene (6.43%), β-pinene (5.66%) and spathulenol (5.02%) followed by β-eudesmoll (4.64%) and eudesma-4,11-dien-2-ol (3.76%). The essential oil of S. nivea exhibited strong contact toxicity against S. zeamais with an LD50 value of 10.56 μg/adult. The essential oil also possessed fumigant toxicity against S. zeamais with an LC50 value of 8.89 mg/L.ConclusionThe study indicates that the essential oil of S. nivea flowering aerial parts has a potential for development into a natural insecticide/fumigant for control of insects in stored grains.
Highlights
Several species from Saussurea have been used in the traditional medicine, such as S. lappa, S. involucrate, and S. obvallata
Many species of Saussurea were used in traditional medicine such as S. lappa, S. involucrate, and S. obvallata
A literature survey has shown that there is no report on the volatile constituents and insecticidal activity of S. nivea; we decided to investigate the chemical constituents and insecticidal activities of the essential oil of S. nivea aerial parts against grain storage insect for the first time
Summary
Several species from Saussurea have been used in the traditional medicine, such as S. lappa, S. involucrate, and S. obvallata. The aim of this research was to determine chemical composition and insecticidal activity of the essential oil of S. nivea Turcz (Asteraceae) aerial parts against maize weevils (Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky) for the first time. Control of stored product insects relies heavily on the use of synthetic insecticides and fumigants, which has led to problems such as disturbance of the environment, increasing application costs, pest resurgence, pest resistance to pesticides and lethal effects on non-target organisms in addition to direct toxicity to the users [3]. Nivea; and Saussurea crispa) [15] flowering aerial parts was found to possess strong insecticidal toxicity against the grain storage insect, S. zeamais. A literature survey has shown that there is no report on the volatile constituents and insecticidal activity of S. nivea; we decided to investigate the chemical constituents and insecticidal activities of the essential oil of S. nivea aerial parts against grain storage insect for the first time
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