title: Efficacy of essential oils from edible plants as insecticides against the house fly, Musca domestica L.
abstract: The compositions of 12 essential oils (EOs) obtained by hydrodistillation of edible fruits and herbs were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS). The insecticidal activity of each oil against the house fly Musca domestica was evaluated by placing flies in a glass jar with a screw cap that held a piece of EO-treated cotton yarn. The dose necessary to kill 50% of flies (LC(50)) in 30 min was determined at 26 +/- 1 degrees C. Twelve EOs and 17 individual terpenes were assayed against M. domestica, showing LC(50) values ranging from 3.9 to 85.2 and from 3.3 to >100 mg/dm(3), respectively. EO from Citrus sinensis was the most potent insecticide (LC(50 )= 3.9 mg/dm(3)), followed by EOs from C. aurantium (LC(50 )= 4.8 mg/dm(3)) and Eucalyptus cinerea (LC(50 )= 5.5 mg/dm(3)). According to GC/MS analysis, limonene (92.47%), linalool (1.43%), and b-myrcene (0.88%) were the principal components of C. sinensis EO. Limonene was also the principal constituent (94.07%) of C. aurantium, while 1,8-cineole (56.86%) was the major constituent of E. cinerea EO. 1,8-Cineole was most active against M. domestica (LC(50 )= 3.3 mg/dm(3)), while (4R)(+)-limonene, was moderately active (LC(50 )= 6.2 mg/dm(3)). Dimethyl 2,2-dichlorovinyl phosphate (DDVP) selected as a positive control, showed an LC(50) of 0.5 mg/dm(3). EOs from C. sinensis, C. aurantium, and E. cinerea show promise as natural insecticides against houseflies.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Chemical Sciences, Laboratory of Fine Chemicals and Natural Products, Catholic University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina. sarapalacios@ucc.edu.ar
authors.forename: Sara M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Palacios
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bertoni
authors.forename: Yanina
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Rocío
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Santander
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Urzúa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006793:Houseflies / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D013729:Terpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils; D013729:Terpenes