Toxicity of Kadsura coccinea (Lem.) A. C. Sm. Essential Oil to the Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius L. (Hemiptera: Cimicidae).

Junaid U. Rehman,Wei Wang,Amar G. Chittiboyina,Mei Wang,Yan Qin,Ikhlas A. Khan,Bin Li,Yupei Yang,Yongbei Liu

doi:10.3390/insects10060162

Junaid U. Rehman, Wei Wang + Show 7 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/insects10060162

Copy DOI

Abstract

Kadsura coccinea (Lem.) A.C. Smith is an evergreen, woody climbing plant that is widely distributed throughout southwest mainland China. Extracts of this plant are used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the treatment of various diseases, like cancer and dermatosis, and as an anodyne to relieve pain, while the leaves are used to treat eczema. In the current study, the toxicity of essential oil from its stem (EOKC) was studied against two strains of bed bugs (Cimex lectularius). Essential oil from the plant was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC/MS. The major compound identified was β-caryophyllene (24.73%), followed by caryophyllene oxide (5.91%), α-humulene (3.48%), and β-pinene (2.54%). Preliminary screening was performed by topically delivering a 1 µL droplet of the treatments dissolved in acetone. At 24 h after treatment, the EOKC induced mortality rates of 61.9% and 66.7% in the Bayonne and Ft. Dix strains, respectively, at 100 µg/bug. Four major compounds—β-caryophyllene, caryophyllene oxide, α-humulene, and β-pinene—were selected based on their availability and were subjected to topical, residual, and fumigation methods. When applied topically, only β-caryophyllene induced high toxicity in both strains. None of the selected compounds induced significant toxicity in the residual and fumigation methods.

Highlights

We explored the toxicity of the essential oil of stems from Kadsura coccinea (Lem.)
As no insecticidal data have been previously available on EOKC, we investigated the topical/contact toxicity properties of EOKC, while its major components were further investigated using topical, residual, and fumigant methods against two strains of bed bug: Bayonne and Ft
The topical topical assay assayresults resultsshowed showedthat thatexposure exposuretotoEOKC

Summary

Introduction

Cimex lectularius (Lem.) A.C. Smith, popularly known as the bed bug, is a hematophagous pest that feeds on human blood. Its feeding behavior makes it a difficult pest to control. It typically feeds at night, whereas, during the day, it hides in the folds of furniture and inside cracks and crevices in both wooden and non-wooden structures [1,2]. Insecticides, especially pyrethroids, remain its main control measure, but bed bugs have developed a resistance to these compounds over time [7,8,9]. As bed bugs are an urban pest, the use of chemical insecticides, especially those with longer residues, to control them predispose humans to the risk of chemical exposure [6].

Objectives

Results

Conclusion