Insecticidal effect of Eucalyptus globulus and Rosmarinus officinalis essential oils on a stored food pest Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera, Pyralidea)

Abstract

For the purpose of evaluating the local heritage of eastern Numidia, an ethnobotanical survey was conducted on a population located in the province (department) of El-Tarf (North-East of Algeria) on a frequency of use of two plants known in traditional health; Eucalyptus globulus (Myrtaceae) and Rosmarinus officinalis (Lamiaceae). After processing data, our results show a female dominance when using these plants on a fairly advanced age group (40 to 60 years old). These plants are used by the people at their fresh state and deem the leaf as the most used part for therapeutic and cosmetic purposes. Furthermore, steam baths and infusion remain the most widespread preparation methods. Most consumers use these plants to treat influenza, respiratory illnesses as well as diseases of the digestive tract. GC-MS of essential oils extracted from the plants studied disclose a dominance of the alcohols portrayed by the monoterpenes (42.73%), sesquiterpenes (32.6%) and oxides (10.48%) in E. globulus. Data also indicate a high content of oxides (38.11%) monoterpene alcohols (20.43%) and monoterpenes (19.70%) in R.officinalis. Toxicological contact tests were achieved on a store-products pest Ephestia kuehniella. The test results were assessed with E.globulus (LC50=0.013; LC95=0.081 µl/cm 2 ) and R.officinalis (LC50=0.011; LC95=0.059 µl/cm 2 ). The lethal time changes according to the dose used and the tested plant. In E.globulus, we observe (concentration: 0.005 µl/cm 2 ; LT50=56.2 h), (Concentration: 0.01 µl/cm 2 ; LT50=49.53h) and (Concentration: 0.04µl/cm 2 ; LT50=20.93h). Whereas in R.officinalis, we recorded (Concentration: 0.005 µl/cm 2 ; LT50=55.7h), (Concentration: 0.01µl/cm 2; LT50=54.99 h) and (Concentration: 0.04µl/cm 2 ; LT50=29.13 h). The bioinsecticide has also been administered by fumigation and underpins toxicity by the reduction of adults longevity in E.kuehniella with R.officinalis (LC50=4.03 µl/l air; LC95=14.73 µl/l air) and E.globulus (LC50=7.76 µl/lair; LC95=21.23 µl/l air). In addition, the tested plants show an outstanding repellent effect as long as E.globulus and R.officinalis essential oils respectively demonstrate a slightly repellent power at 42.22% (RD50=0.09 µl/cm 2 ; RD95=0.24 µl/cm 2 ) and repellent at 60.00% (RD50=0.06 µl/cm 2 ; RD95= 0.35 µl/cm 2 ) towards E.kuehniella adults. The plant resources represent a genuine reserve of bioactive molecules, which can create solutions to sustainable development issues. These plants might be the source of new molecules of combat against some pests in order to protect human health and safeguard the environment.

Evaluation of the Essential Oils Used in the Production of Biopesticides: Assessing Their Toxicity toward Both Arthropod Target Species and Beneficial Pollinators

“…The insecticidal effect has been studied in numerous species of different orders. Significant results were obtained for the species: the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica, with E. microtheca essential oil-LC 50 at 24 h being 25.261 µL/L of air and significantly decreased to 18.995 µL/L at 72 h [115]; for stored food pest Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera, Pyralidea) with E. globulus oil-LC 50 = 0.013 and LC 95 = 0.081 µL/cm 2 [122]; for the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae), with the oil of E. cinerea-LC 50 = 0.028 µL/insect, and LC 90 = 0.373 µL/insect [123]. With E. campaspe Moore and E. torquata Luehm.…”

A Multi-Approach Study of Phytochemicals and Their Effects on Oxidative Stress and Enzymatic Activity of Essential Oil and Crude Extracts of Rosmarinus officinalis

“…Another recent study on Tunisian R. officinalis EOs also found eucalyptol (37.56%) and camphor (7.10%) as the principal components [41]. Similarly, Rekioua [38] reported eucalyptol (37.51%) and camphor (11.70%) as the major chemical components in Algerian R. officinalis samples. Other studies have reported different levels of major components, with eucalyptol (25.5%), isobornyl acetate (15.7%), and camphor (12.2%) being the main components of EO obtained from R. officinalis grown in the United Arab Emirates [42], while two different EOs obtained from R. officinalis grown in Palestine contain three main components, namely eucalyptol (4.81-37.83%), α-pinene (13.07-51.36%), and camphor (11.95-24.30%) [43].…”

“…The chemical composition of R. officinalis EO has been the focus of numerous studies, which have investigated samples collected from various locations and at different phenological stages, both in Algeria and around the world [38,39]. In this study, we examined the chemical composition of EO extracted from R. officinalis grown in Algeria.…”

Biological, physicochemical and antibacterial properties of pure honey harvested at the municipality of Seraïdi (Annaba, north east of Algeria)

“…Plant inventory of the sampling area. Taibi et al, 2018;Boumendjel et al, 2021;Rekioua et al, 2022), thus adding quality to the honey harvested.…”