Abstract
Plant metabolites have been used for many years to control pests in animals and to protect crops. Here, we reviewed the available literature, looking for the species of Mexican flora for which extracts and metabolites have shown activity against pest insects and parasitic nematodes of agricultural importance, as well as against nematodes that parasitize domestic cattle. From 1996 to 2018, the search for novel and eco-friendly biopesticides has resulted in the identification of 114 species belonging to 36 botanical families of Mexican plants with reported biological effects on 20 insect species and seven nematode species. Most plant species with detected pesticide properties belong to the families Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Lamiaceae. Eighty-six metabolites have been identified as pesticidal active principles, and most have been terpenoids. Therefore, the continuation and intensification of this area of research is very important to contribute to the generation of new products that will provide alternatives to conventional pesticide agents. In addition, future studies will contribute to the recognition and dissemination of the importance of propagating plant species for their conservation and sustainable use.
Highlights
Pest control in the agricultural sector requires a greater number of alternative products that meet food safety, sustainability, and environmental care requirements
The essential oils (EOs) of 14 plant species with activities against the stored grain pest S. zeamais were compiled. These EOs were primarily derived from members of the Asteraceae family (Aster subulatus, Bahia absinthifolia, Chrysactinia mexicana, Erigeron longipes, Eupatorium glabratum, Heliopsis annua, Heterotheca inuloides, Hippocratea celastroides, Hippocratea excelsa, Senecio flaccidus, Stevia serrata, and Zaluzania peruviana) as well as members of the Rutaceae and Verbenaceae families (Stauranthus perforates and L. palmeri, respectively)
This review demonstrates the relevant pesticidal activity of several native plant species of Mexico, the majority of which were reported at the in vitro level, while some were reported in in vivo assays
Summary
Pest control in the agricultural sector requires a greater number of alternative products that meet food safety, sustainability, and environmental care requirements. The exploration and use of natural products are currently increasing, with a greater focus on identifying metabolites for use in the treatment of human diseases, including parasistism and plant diseases, as well as products for use in pest control in the agricultural sector [4,5,6,7,8,9]. Few plant extracts have been shown to have an acaricidal activity, three of which are from Mexican flora and were tested on Rhipicephalus microplus, and only seven pure natural compounds have been identified as active principles [17]. Tagetes erecta (Asteraceae), a native plant of Mesoamerica, is currently recognized as one of the most promising plant species given its diverse biological activities against human and plant pathogens as well as against multiple pests [9,18]. Google Scholar, SciFinder, PubMed, Redylac, Scopus, and Science Direct, among others
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