Molluscicidal and Mosquitocidal Activities of the Essential oils of Thymus capitatus Hoff. et Link. and Marrubium vulgare L.

Abstract

SUMMARYSteam distillation of essential oils of aerial parts of Thymus capitatus and Marrubium vulgare L. collected at North cost of Egypt yielded 0.5% and 0.2%, respectively. Results of Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses of the two samples identified 96.27% and 90.19% of the total oil composition for T. capitatus and M. vulgare, respectively. The two oil samples appeared dominated by the oxygenated constituents (88.22% for T. capitatus and 57.50% for M. vulgare), composed of phenols, mainly carvacrol (32.98%) and thymol (32.82%) in essential oil of T. capitatus, and thymol (34.55%) in essential oil of M. vulgare. It was evaluated the molluscicidal activity of T. capitatus and M. vulgare essential oils on adult and eggs of Biomphalaria alexandrina as well as their mosquitocidal activity on Culex pipiens. The LC 50 and LC 90 of T. capitatus essential oil against adult snails was 200 and 400 ppm/3hrs, respectively, while for M. vulgare it was 50 and 100 ppm/3hrs, respectively. Moreover, M. vulgare showed LC 100 ovicidal activity at 200 ppm/24 hrs while T. capitatus oil showed no ovicidal activity. It was verified mosquitocidal activity, with LC 50 and LC 90 of 100 and 200 ppm/12hrs respectively for larvae, and 200 and 400 ppm/12hrs respectively for pupae of C. pipiens.

Comparison of chemical composition of the essential oil from Marrubium vulgare L. and M. incanum Desr. during the second year of cultivation

“…Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons were dominant in the essential oil from M. vulgare L., which is consistent with the research findings of many authors [7,20]. Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons were also dominant in M. thessalum [21].…”

“…A study performed by Salama et al [20] revealed that carvacrol was also the dominant component in the essential oil of M. vulgare L. with its content of 4.35%. This study showed a higher content of carvacrol in the oil of M. vulgare L. …”

Mediterranean essential oils as effective weapons against the West Nile vector Culex pipiens and the Echinostoma intermediate host Physella acuta: what happens around? An acute toxicity survey on non-target mayflies

“…Concerning plant species growing in Mediterranean regions, good examples include the larvicidal activity showed by essential oils from Egyptian Lamiaceae, such as Thymus capitatus Hoff. and Link., and Marrubium vulgare L. (LC 50 = 100 and 200 ppm, respectively) (Salama et al 2012), as well as by essential oils from Greek species belonging to the Satureja genus (Lamiaceae) (LC 50 ranging from 37.7 to 64.4 ppm) (Michaelakis et al 2008) and Mentha, Melissa and Salvia (LC 50 ranging from 47.88 to 140.42 ppm) (Koliopoulos et al 2010 (Kimbaris et al 2012). Also, essential oils from Greek Citrus species, including sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L.), lemon (Citrus limon L.) and bitter orange (Citrus aurantium L.), are effective toxics against Culex pipiens larvae (LC 50 were 51.50, 30.14 and 39.81 ppm, respectively) (Michaelakis et al 2009b), and similar results have been achieved also testing Apiaceae from the same geographical region (LC 50 ranging from 40.26 to 96.96 ppm) (Evergetis et al 2009).…”

Marrubium vulgare L.: A review on phytochemical and pharmacological aspects

“…The major constituents of the essential oil were reported as β-bisabolene, δ-cadinene, and isocaryophyllene [51]. In Egypt, Salama et al [52] reported that thymol and γ-cadinene as were the major constituents of M. vulgare oil. From Libya, EL-Hawary et al [53] investigated the main components of volatile oil of M. vulgare were carvacrol, E-β-farnesene, and thymol.…”

“…vulgare is an aromatic plant widely distributed along the Mediterranean area, in the North coast of Egypt. The essential oil from aerial parts of M. vulgare was evaluated for its molluscicidal and mosquitocidal activities on eggs of Biomphalaria alexandrina and Culex pipiens, respectively [52]. M. vulgare oil showed lethal concentration 100 ovicidal activity at 200 ppm/24 h. The identified amount of oxygenated constituents was 57.50% from M. vulgare, while the amount of identified hydrocarbons was 32.69%.…”