Plant-Derived Pesticides as an Alternative to Pest Management and Sustainable Agricultural Production: Prospects, Applications and Challenges

Abstract

Pests and diseases are responsible for most of the losses related to agricultural crops, either in the field or in storage. Moreover, due to indiscriminate use of synthetic pesticides over the years, several issues have come along, such as pest resistance and contamination of important planet sources, such as water, air and soil. Therefore, in order to improve efficiency of crop production and reduce food crisis in a sustainable manner, while preserving consumer’s health, plant-derived pesticides may be a green alternative to synthetic ones. They are cheap, biodegradable, ecofriendly and act by several mechanisms of action in a more specific way, suggesting that they are less of a hazard to humans and the environment. Natural plant products with bioactivity toward insects include several classes of molecules, for example: terpenes, flavonoids, alkaloids, polyphenols, cyanogenic glucosides, quinones, amides, aldehydes, thiophenes, amino acids, saccharides and polyketides (which is not an exhaustive list of insecticidal substances). In general, those compounds have important ecological activities in nature, such as: antifeedant, attractant, nematicide, fungicide, repellent, insecticide, insect growth regulator and allelopathic agents, acting as a promising source for novel pest control agents or biopesticides. However, several factors appear to limit their commercialization. In this critical review, a compilation of plant-derived metabolites, along with their corresponding toxicology and mechanisms of action, will be approached, as well as the different strategies developed in order to meet the required commercial standards through more efficient methods.

Autoxidation Products of the Methanolic Extract of the Leaves of Combretum micranthum Exert Antiviral Activity against Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV)

“…Chemical control measures damaging virus epidemics in cultivated plants faced with increasing concerns over sustainability, human health, environment protection and social issues [ 22 ]: pesticides are recognized as a central responsible factor for the observed terrestrial biodiversity declines [ 23 ], as they are found as contaminants in soil, air, water, and non-targeted organisms [ 24 ]. Plants extracts and pure compounds have been described as potential tools to manage different crop pests and weeds, due to easily available sources, low cost, biodegradability, varied modes of action, and low toxicity to non-targeted organisms [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ]. Activity of plant compounds against phyto-viruses has been reported [ 30 , 31 , 32 ].…”

Acaricidal Efficacy of Plants from Ecuador, Ambrosia peruviana (Asteraceae) and Lepechinia mutica (Lamiaceae) against Larvae and Engorged Adult Females of the Common Cattle Tick, Rhipicephalus microplus

“…The isolated compound may act as a lead compound or prototype for the synthesis or semi synthesis of pesticide derivatives, which may result in more effective and safer products. However, it should be noted that the isolated compound may promote no activity at all because EO is more effective due to the synergic effect of compound mixture [47].…”

Plant-Based Bioinsecticides for Mosquito Control: Impact on Insecticide Resistance and Disease Transmission

“…The activity of a phytochemical can change significantly depending on the plant species, plant part and its age, polarity of solvents used during extraction procedures and mosquito species [104]. Phytochemicals show their effects through targeting important cell components and affecting insect physiology in different ways; via inhibition of AChE and GABA-gated chloride channel activity, disruption of sodium-potassium ion exchange and nerve cell membrane action, blocking calcium channels, and activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and octopamine receptors [105]. Moreover, phytochemicals can cause cellular destruction of epithelial cells in the midgut of mosquitoes and affect metamorphosis [106,107].…”