Abstract
Mosquitoes are important vectors of several diseases, and control of these insects is imperative for human health. Insecticides have proven useful in controlling mosquito populations, but insecticide resistance and environmental concerns are increasing. Additionally, emerging and re-emerging microbial infections are problematic. Essential oils have been shown to be promising mosquito larvicidal agents as well as antimicrobial agents. In this work, the essential oils from four species of Myrtaceae (Baeckea frutescens, Callistemon citrinus, Melaleuca leucadendra, and Syzygium nervosum) growing wild in central Vietnam have been obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatographic techniques. The essential oils have been screened for mosquito larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, and Culex quinquefasciatus, and for antimicrobial activity against Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. Callistemon citrinus fruit essential oil, rich in α-pinene (35.1%), 1,8-cineole (32.4%), limonene (8.2%), and α-terpineol (5.8%) showed good larvicidal activity with 24-h LC50 = 17.3 μg/mL against both Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus, and good antibacterial activity against E. faecalis (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) = 16 μg/mL) The 48-h larvicidal activities of M. leucadendra leaf essential oil, rich in α-eudesmol (17.6%), guaiol (10.9%), linalool (5.1%), (E)-caryophyllene (7.0%), and bulnesol (3.6%) were particularly notable, with LC50 of 1.4 and 1.8 μg/mL on Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus. Similarly, M. leucadendra bark essential oil, with α-eudesmol (24.1%) and guaiol (11.3%), showed good antibacterial activity against. E. faecalis. Both B. frutescens and C. citrinus leaf essential oils demonstrated anti-Candida activities with MIC values of 16 μg/mL. The results of this investigation suggest that essential oils derived from the Myrtaceae may serve as “green” alternatives for the control of mosquitoes and/or complementary antimicrobial agents.
Highlights
Mosquitoes are important vectors of diseases and kill more humans than any other animal.Aedes aegypti (L.) and Ae. albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae) are vectors of the yellow fever, dengue, Mosquitoes are important of diseases and kill more humans than any other animal
The essential oil from the fresh leaves of Baeckea frutescens was obtained in a yield of 2.23%
Essential oil from the fresh of Baeckea frutescensin was obtained in a yield
Summary
Mosquitoes are important vectors of diseases and kill more humans than any other animal. The Myrtaceae is comprised of 131 genera and around 5500 species, all of which are woody trees important for their medicinal essential oils, such as clove (Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. Perry), tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia Cheel), allspice (Pimenta dioica (L.) Merr.), and Eucalyptus. In this for their medicinal essential oils, such as clove (Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M. Perry), tea tree work, we present the essential oil compositions of four species of Myrtaceae growing wild in central (Melaleuca alternifolia Cheel), allspice (Pimenta dioica (L.) Merr.), and Eucalyptus. Baeckea of Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Jaingxi, and Zhejiang), Burma, Cambodia, India, the Philippines, sumatrana Blume) is a shrub or small tree that ranges throughout southeastern China
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