Insecticidal Potential of Matricaria chamomilla ’s Essential Oil and Its Components (E)-β-Farnesene, Germacrene D, and α-Bisabolol Oxide A against Agricultural Pests, Malaria, and Zika Virus Vectors

Khalid A. Al-Ghanim (), Kaliyamoorthy Krishnappa, Jeganathan Pandiyan, Marcello Nicoletti, Baskar Gurunathan and Marimuthu Govindarajan ()
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Khalid A. Al-Ghanim: Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Kaliyamoorthy Krishnappa: Department of Zoology and Wildlife Biology, A.V.C. College, Mannampandal, Mayiladuthurai 609 305, Tamil Nadu, India
Jeganathan Pandiyan: Department of Zoology and Wildlife Biology, A.V.C. College, Mannampandal, Mayiladuthurai 609 305, Tamil Nadu, India
Marcello Nicoletti: Department of Environmental Biology, Foundation in Unam Sapientiam, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Baskar Gurunathan: Department of Biotechnology, St. Joseph’s College of Engineering, Chennai 600 119, Tamil Nadu, India
Marimuthu Govindarajan: Unit of Mycology and Parasitology, Department of Zoology, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar 608 002, Tamil Nadu, India

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 4, 1-14

Abstract: Agricultural and medical insect pests are damaging edible crops, spreading diseases, and harming non-target fauna and flora. Prominent polyphagous insect pests harass farmers in the agronomy sector, causing uncountable revenue corrosion. Ecofriendly phytopesticides can avoid the consequences of the bulk usage of synthetic chemicals. In this study, the toxic effect on third-instar larvae of four different insect species ( Spodoptera litura , Helicoverpa armigera , Aedes vittatus , and Anopheles subpictus ) and the bio-toxicity on non-target fauna (NTF) ( Stegodyphus sarasinorum and Gambusia affinis ) were evaluated using Matricaria chamomilla ( Mc ) essential oil (EO) and its major phytoconstituents ( Mc -MPCs). GC–MS analysis of the studied M. chamomilla EO gathered 39 constituents, with (E)-β-Farnesene (24.3%), Germacrene D (9.4%), and α-Bisabolol oxide A (10.2%) accounting for the major constituents. Remarkable larval death was seen in H. armigera and Ae. vittatus . In addition, (E)-β-Farnesene, Germacrene D, and α-Bisabolol oxide A exhibited a relevant maximum toxic effect on the target pest’s third-instar larvae. The bio-toxicity of M. chamomilla EO and Mc -MPCs was tested on terrestrial and aquatic NTF. The LC 50 values for S. sarasinorum and G. affinis ranged from 922.65 to 1750.49 µg/mL. M. chamomilla EO and its MPCs evidenced prospective phytopesticidal efficiency on selected agricultural and medical insect pests.

Keywords: phytoconstituents; pesticide; insecticide; larvae; non-target fauna; ecofriendly (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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