Isolation of a larvicidal compound from Piper solmsianum C.DC. (Piperaceae)

Abstract

The Aedes aegypti mosquito is one of the major vectors of arboviruses. These diseases have re-emerged and the insecticides used nowadays are toxic to mammals and environment and have only been effective in the short-term. In this context, natural products are an alternative. The genus Piper has many active compounds against arthropods, including neolignans. The present study evaluated the larvicidal potential of the n-hexanic extract of Piper solmsianum and eupomatenoid-6, identified by GC-MS and NMR techniques, from this extract against Ae. aegypti. The crude extract (100 μg/mL) killed 80% and 98.3% of larvae in the first and third day, respectively. Eupomatenoid-6 exhibited LD50 of 19.33 μM and LD90 of 28.68 μM and was then assayed in human fibroblast cells (MRC5), showing an IC50 of 39.30 μM with estimated LD50 of 42.26 mmol/kg. Our results indicate eupomatenoid-6 as a potent insecticide with relatively low toxicity for mammals.