The Chemical Composition of Essential Oils from Cinnamomum camphora and Their Insecticidal Activity against the Stored Product Pests.

Shanshan Guo,Junyu Liang,Wenjuan Zhang,Shushan Du,Zhiwei Deng,Chengfang Wang,Zhufeng Geng

doi:10.3390/ijms17111836

Shanshan Guo, Junyu Liang + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms17111836

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Abstract

To investigate the chemical composition and insecticidal activity of the essential oils of certain Chinese medicinal herbs and spices, the essential oils were extracted from the stem barks, leaves, and fruits of Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl, which were found to possess strong fumigant toxicity against Tribolium castaneum and Lasioderma serricorne adults. The essential oils of the plants were extracted by the method of steam distillation using a Clavenger apparatus. Their composition was determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometric (GC-MS) analyses (HP-5MS column), and their insecticidal activity was measured by seal-spaced fumigation. D-camphor (51.3%), 1,8-cineole (4.3%), and α-terpineol (3.8%), while D-camphor (28.1%), linalool (22.9%), and 1,8-cineole (5.3%) were the main constituents of its fruits. The essential oils of the C. camphora all showed fumigant and contact toxicity. Other compounds exhibited various levels of bioactivities. The results indicate that the essential oils of C. camphora and its individual compounds can be considered a natural resource for the two stored-product insect management.

Highlights

The red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum Herbst) and the cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricorne Fabricius) are worldwide pests of stored products
The gas chromatography/mass spectrometric (GC-MS) analysis results for the C. camphora essential oils are summarized in Table 1 and Figure A1
The main components of EB were D-camphor (51.3%), 1,8-cineole (4.3%), α-terpineol (3.8%), and 3-methyl-2-butenoic acid, oct-3-en-2-yl ester (3.1%), while safrole (29.0%), D-camphor (28.1%), linalool (12.8%), and 1,8-cineole (5.3%) were the main constituents of EF

Summary

Introduction

The red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum Herbst) and the cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricorne Fabricius) are worldwide pests of stored products. They are dominant populations in the stored traditional Chinese medicines insect community [1]. During the screening process for new agrochemicals from Chinese medicinal materials and spices, the essential oils of Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl (commonly known as camphor tree, camphorwood or camphor laurel) were found to possess fumigant and contact activities against the red floor beetle and the cigarette beetle. C. camphora is a tree native to South China, Taiwan, South Japan, Korea, and Vietnam [10] It is cultivated as an ornamental plant and as a good material for wood furniture. This plant can be used to treat muscular strains, inflammation, and rheumatic conditions [11]

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