Chemistry and Bioactivity of Croton Essential Oils: Literature Survey and Croton hirtus from Vietnam

Abstract

Using essential oils to control vectors, intermediate hosts, and disease-causing microorganisms is a promising approach. The genus Croton in the family Euphorbiaceae is a large genus, with many species containing large amounts of essential oils, however, essential oil studies are limited in terms of the number of Croton species investigated. In this work, the aerial parts of C. hirtus growing wild in Vietnam were collected and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). A total of 141 compounds were identified in C. hirtus essential oil, in which sesquiterpenoids dominated, comprising 95.4%, including the main components β-caryophyllene (32.8%), germacrene D (11.6%), β-elemene (9.1%), α-humulene (8.5%), and caryophyllene oxide (5.0%). The essential oil of C. hirtus showed very strong biological activities against the larvae of four mosquito species with 24 h LC50 values in the range of 15.38–78.27 μg/mL, against Physella acuta adults with a 48 h LC50 value of 10.09 μg/mL, and against ATCC microorganisms with MIC values in the range of 8–16 μg/mL. In order to provide a comparison with previous works, a literature survey on the chemical composition, mosquito larvicidal, molluscicidal, antiparasitic, and antimicrobial activities of essential oils of Croton species was conducted. Seventy-two references (seventy articles and one book) out of a total of two hundred and forty-four references related to the chemical composition and bioactivity of essential oils of Croton species were used for this paper. The essential oils of some Croton species were characterized by their phenylpropanoid compounds. The experimental results of this research and the survey of the literature showed that Croton essential oils have the potential to be used to control mosquito-borne and mollusk-borne diseases, as well as microbial infections. Research on unstudied Croton species is needed to search for species with high essential oil contents and excellent biological activities.

Chemical Composition of Essential Oils from Natural Populations of Artemisia scoparia Collected at Different Altitudes: Antibacterial, Mosquito Repellent, and Larvicidal Effects

“…This predicament has prompted agrochemical businesses and researchers to look for natural compounds and extracts that could serve as viable replacements [ 7 , 8 ]. Plants are considered a potential resource for mosquito control [ 9 ] and offer an eco-friendly approach to preventing the spread of mosquito-borne diseases [ 10 , 11 ].…”

Chemical composition and larvicidal activity of essential oil from leaves of <i>Eucalyptus robusta</i>

“…The larvae were fed on a mixture of dog food and yeast (3:1, w/w). The 3 rd instar and early 4th instar larvae were used to evaluate the larvicidal activity of the EO according to the method previously described (Ngoc Anh et al, 2023). Ethanol (Sigma-Aldrich) was used to prepare a stock solution (1%) (WHO, 2005) of essential oil.…”

Chemical Composition, Mosquito Larvicidal and Antimicrobial Activities, and Molecular Docking Study of Essential Oils of Cinnamomum melastomaceum, Neolitsea buisanensis and Uvaria microcarpa from Vietnam

“…Essential oils have emerged as possible options for the control of mosquito vectors, intermediate hosts, parasites, and bacteria due to their complex chemical compositions. [1] The activity of essential oil is expressed based on the synergistic and antagonistic interactions among these complex compounds. It is believed that the target organisms find it challenging to acquire resistance to essential oils because of the complex structure of their chemical makeup and the interactions between the components.…”

“…Essential oils have emerged as possible options for the control of mosquito vectors, intermediate hosts, parasites, and bacteria due to their complex chemical compositions [1] . The activity of essential oil is expressed based on the synergistic and antagonistic interactions among these complex compounds.…”

“…The activity of essential oil is expressed based on the synergistic and antagonistic interactions among these complex compounds. It is believed that the target organisms find it challenging to acquire resistance to essential oils because of the complex structure of their chemical makeup and the interactions between the components [1] . Using essential oils in synergistic combinations with pesticides, and antibiotics may reduce drug use, improve control effectiveness, and diminish resistance.…”