Pimpinella anisum Essential Oil Nanoemulsion Toxicity against Tribolium castaneum? Shedding Light on Its Interactions with Aspartate Aminotransferase and Alanine Aminotransferase by Molecular Docking

Abstract

The insecticidal activity is the result of a series of complex interactions between toxic substances as ligands and insect’s enzymes as targets. Actually, synthetic insecticides used in pest control programs are harmful to the environment and may affect non-target organisms; thus, the use of natural products as pest control agents can be very attractive. In the present work, the toxic effect of aniseed (Pimpinella anisum L.) essential oil (EO) and its nanoemulsion (NE) against the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum, has been evaluated. To assess the EO mode of action, the impact of sub-lethal concentrations of aniseed EO and NE was evaluated on enzymatic and macromolecular parameters of the beetles, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total protein, total lipids and glucose. Finally, a molecular docking study was conducted to predict the mode of action of the major EO and NE components namely E-anethole, Limonene, alpha-himalachalene, trans-Verbenol and Linalool at binding site of the enzymes AST and ALT. Herein, the binding location of the main compounds in both proteins are discussed suggesting the possible interactions between the considered enzymes and ligands. The obtained results open new horizons to understand the evolution and response of insect-plant compounds interactions and their effect predicted at the molecular levels and side effects of both animal and human.

Potential of Essential Oils from Anise, Dill and Fennel Seeds for the Gypsy Moth Control

“…Therefore, GML mass change during 2 days of feeding was provoked not only by among-treatment variation in the amount of consumed and assimilated food (pre-ingestive and pre-digestive mechanisms, respectively) but also was a consequence of the EO influence on post-ingestive and post-digestive mechanisms. Our results are in accordance with findings of other studies which showed negative values of RGR and ECI in T. castaneum adults exposed to anise EO [ 45 ] and 4th instar P. unipuncta larvae exposed to trans-anethol [ 55 ].…”

“…Depletion of metabolites and adaptive increase in antioxidative and detoxification enzymes have been described in pest insects exposed to EOs [ 114 , 122 , 123 , 124 , 125 , 126 ] and azadirachtin [ 127 , 128 ]. Similar results were obtained in studies dealing with the impact of Apiaceae EOs on insect pests [ 45 , 113 , 129 , 130 , 131 ]. In lepidopteran pests, S. frugiperda and Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner limonene, carvon, estragol and anethol (compounds of anise, dill and fennel seed EOs) are detoxified by microsomal cytochrome P-450 monooxygenases [ 132 ].…”

“…The odor of volatile compounds as well as their taste provokes specific and precise behavioral responses of insects, i.e., movement away (avoidance) from the non-host or movement towards the host plant (attraction) [ 40 ]. Besides avoidance behavior induced by odor and taste of secondary plant metabolites, non-host plant compounds may also negatively affect consumption and/or impair the digestion and nutrient absorption, interfere with mitochondrial function, and have toxic, genotoxic, and prooxidant effects [ 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 ]. These collateral effects caused by secondary metabolites and, among them essential oils, on behavior and insect physiology are the basis for their application as botanical insecticides.…”

Pesticidal Activity and Mode of Action of Monoterpenes

“…47 Linalool has antifeedant activity against the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum). 46 These data show that linalool has application prospects in the control of sanitary and agricultural pest insects. An EO of Pimenta dioica that contains linalool as a main component can completely inhibit the mycelial growth of Aspergillus flavus at 2.5 mg/L.…”

Essential Oils from Artemisia herba alba Asso., Maticaria Recutita L., and Dittrichia Viscosa L. (Asteraceae): A Promising Source of Eco-Friendly Agents to Control Callosobruchus maculatus Fab. Warehouse Pest

“…Several studies on natural bioinsecticides have revealed that essential oils along with other secondary plant metabolites (terpenoids, polyphenols, steroids, and alkaloids) synthesized by aromatic and medicinal plants are responsible for several biological activities against plant pests, especially essential oils which have shown important insecticidal, nematicidal, acaricidal, and larvicidal properties [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. Essential oils not only act as poisons or neurotropic on the nervous system of insects [21][22][23] but also can affect cytochrome P450, which plays a key role in the insect detoxification system, alter insect metabolism (e.g., ATP synthesis, Krebs cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, and others) [24]. Overall, the final action of EOs may be the result of more than one specific interaction with the targets, so that the possibility of insects developing resistance is greatly reduced [25].…”