Phytochemical of Piper essential oil and acute toxicity against Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Abstract

Plant essential oils have been recognized as important natural resources for bioprospection of new insecticides. Here, we provided a chemical analysis and assessing the toxicity of the essential oil of Piper aduncum L. (Piperaceae) against Helicoverpa armigera Hubner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) a cosmopolite and key pest in agricultural systems. The essential oil was obtained from the leaves of P. aduncum via hydrodistillation. Subsequently, acute mortality bioassays with two modes of exposure (ingestion and topical methods) were conducted to assess the lethal effects. The chromatograph analysis of P. aduncum essential oil indicated myristicin, isomyristicin, asaricim, dillapiole and isocroweacin the compounds more abundant. The acute toxicity bioassays exhibited concentration-dependent to mortality of larvae of first and third instar of H. armigera, when exposure by ingestion or topical application to Piper essential oil, with highlight to reduction in survival in 1st instar larvae. The median lethal time (LT 50) when larvae were treated by ingestion was of LT 50 < 14.20 days (first instar) and LT 50 = 16.89 days (third instar). Whereas to larvae treated by topical method the median lethal time was of LT 50 < 14.68 days (first instar) and LT 50 < 10.73 days (third instar), which demonstrate a drastic reduction in survival of insect, when contrasted to control. In summary, our results highlight toxicity of P. aduncum essential oil against H. armigera and provide more information on plant-compounds that can be use in bioprospection of new insecticide molecules to pest management.

Brief Review on Piper aduncum L., its Bioactive Metabolites and its Potential to Develop Bioproducts

“…P. aduncum EOs appear to have promising properties in terms of insecticidal activity since they have been tested against a wide range of insects and reached positive results. Findings support the possibility of discovering suitable substitutes for chemical insecticides [37]. In sum, promising antileishmanial, antituberculosis and antifungal (Aspergillus niger and Cladosporium sp.)…”

Potential application of chitosan-based nanoparticles containing essential oils against mosquitoes, moths and beetles

“…Campos et al (2018) analyzed the toxicity of the monoterpenes carvacrol and linalool encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles against larvae of Helicoverpa armigera. This insect is an agricultural pest and some authors have evaluated its susceptibility to essential oils (Liao et al, 2017;Santos et al, 2017). These monoterpenes act by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase and are found in the essential oils of Thymus vulgaris and Ocimum basilicum, respectively (Campos et al 2018).…”

Bioactivity of Piper aduncum L. essential oil for insect pests of stored products1

“…The insecticidal activity of essential oil of P. aduncum (EOPA) has already been verified in insect orders such as Hymenoptera (Souto et al 2012), Coleoptera (Estrela et al 2006, Oliveira et al 2023, Lepidoptera (Fazolin et al 2016) and Hemiptera (Turchen et al 2016). Essential oil toxicity for insects occurs by inhaling or absorption in the insects' integument, what can be interesting for control through contact or fumigation (Gomes & Favero 2011, Turchen et al 2016, Santos et al 2017.…”