title: Antifeedant activity of citrus waste wax and its fractions against the dry wood termite, Cryptotermes brevis.
abstract: The wood protective action of citrus wax, a waste from the citrus industry that is a mixture of citrus fruit epicuticular waxes and essential oils, was evaluated against the termite Cryptotermes brevis Walker (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae). The antifeedant index (AI) of the total wax and fractions was calculated. The total citrus wax exhibited an AI₅₀ value of 24.69 mg/cm³, the wax after hydrodistillation showed the strongest antifeedant property (AI₅₀ 11.68 mg/cm³). Fractionation of the wax and gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis allowed the identification of coumarins and furancoumarins as the active compounds. These results suggest the potential use of these industrial residues as a natural approach to termite control.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Institute, University of Caxias do Sul, 95070-560 Caxias do Sul, RS-Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Carolina
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Sbeghen-Loss
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mato
authors.forename: Maria Veronica
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Cesio
authors.forename: Caren
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Frizzo
authors.forename: Neiva Monteiro de
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.forename: Horacio
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heinzen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002957:Citrus; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D020049:Isoptera / Q000187:drug effects*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014885:Waxes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D009822:Oils, Volatile; D014885:Waxes