Evaluation of larvicidal, adulticidal, and anticholinesterase activities of essential oils of Illicium verum Hook. f., Pimenta dioica (L.) Merr., and Myristica fragrans Houtt. against Zika virus vectors

Abstract

Aedes aegypti is the vector responsible for transmitting pathogens that cause various infectious diseases, such as dengue, Zika, yellow fever, and chikungunya, worrying health authorities in the tropics. Due to resistance of mosquitoes to synthetic insecticides, the search for more effective insecticidal agents becomes crucial. The aim of this study was to verify the larvicidal, adulticidal, and anticholinesterase activities of the essential oils of the Illicium verum (EOIV), Pimenta dioica (EOPD), and Myristica fragrans (EOMF) against Ae. aegypti. The essential oils (EOs) were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The larvicidal and adulticidal activities of EOs were evaluated against third instar larvae and Ae. aegypti adult females, respectively, using the procedures of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the anticholinesterase activity of the EOs by the modified Ellman method. The following major components were identified: (E)-anethole (90.1%) for EOIV, methyl eugenol (55.0%) for EOPD, and sabinene (52.1%) for EOMF. All EOs exhibited larvicidal and adulticidal activity against Ae. aegypti. The highest larval mortality was observed in EOMF with LC = 28.2 μg mL. Adult mortality was observed after 1 (knockdown) and 24 h exposure, with the highest potential established by the EOIV, KC = 7.3 μg mg female and LC = 10.3 μg mg female. EOIV (IC = 4800 μg mL), EOMF (IC = 4510 μg mL), and EOPD (IC = 1320 μg mL) inhibited AChE. EOMF (4130 μg mL) and EOPD (IC = 3340 μg mL) inhibited BChE whereas EOIV showed no inhibition. The EOs were toxic to larvae and adults of Ae. aegypti, as well as being less toxic to humans than the currently used insecticides, opening the possibility of elaboration of a natural, safe, and ecological bioinsecticide for vector control.

Chemical Composition and in Vitro Cytotoxic Screening of Sixteen Commercial Essential Oils on Five Cancer Cell Lines

“…(Ill.ve EO: 89.8 %). The same percentage of this compound was found in other Ill.ve EOs reported in the literature …”

Plant Natural Products for the Control of Aedes aegypti: The Main Vector of Important Arboviruses

“…Formulation development is therefore critical for essential oils to be used effectively and safely as pesticides. A number of studies have demonstrated that a suitable vehicle prolongs the insecticidal effect [51,53,54].…”

Biocontrol of mosquito vectors through herbal-derived silver nanoparticles: prospects and challenges

“…In general, insecticides of synthetic origin inhibit the acetylcholinesterase enzyme activity by binding to its active site resulting in an increase in acetylcholine formation and consequently leading to cell death (Edwards and Tchounwou 2005;Jokanovic and Prostran 2009). Continuous use of insecticides induces some mutations in the active site of acetylcholinesterase enzyme which prevents the binding of insecticide on enzyme-active site and avoids its inactivation, thereby creating resistance among vector species (Naqqash et al 2016;Da Rocha Voris et al 2018). Therefore, there is an urgent requirement for exploring innovative and novel strategies for controlling such harmful vector-borne diseases.…”