title: Toxicological Evaluation of Essential Oil From the Leaves of Croton argyrophyllus (Euphorbiaceae) on Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) and Mus musculus (Rodentia: Muridae).
abstract: Plant-derived essential oils can be used as insecticides for vector control. However, to establish their safety, it is necessary to perform toxicological studies. Herein, we evaluated the chemical composition and insecticidal activity of the essential oil from the leaves of Croton argyrophyllus on the third- and fourth-instar larvae and adult Aedes aegypti (L., 1762). We also evaluated the acute toxicity of the essential oil in adult female Mus musculus. The lethal concentration 50 (LC50) and 90 (LC90) of C. argyrophyllus essential oil on larvae of Ae. aegypti were 0.31 and 0.70 mg ml-1, respectively, and 5.92 and 8.94 mg ml-1, respectively, on Ae. aegypti adults. The major components of the essential oil were spathulenol (22.80%), (E)-caryophyllene (15.41%), α-pinene (14.07%), and bicyclogermacrene (10.43%). It also displayed acute toxicity in adults of Mus musculus; the intraperitoneal and oral lethal dose 50 (LD50) were 2,000 mg kg-1 and 2,500 mg kg-1, respectively. The results showed that the essential oil from C. argyrophyllus leaves has insecticidal activity on Ae. aegypti larvae and adults at an average lethal concentration below the median lethal dose needed to cause acute toxicity in the common mouse.
authors.affiliation: Mestre em Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia (UESB).
authors.forename: R C D
authors.initials: RCD
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Pesquisa em Química Aplicada/Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia - Praça Primavera, 40, 45700-000, Bairro Primavera, Itapetinga - BA, Brasil.
authors.forename: S L C E
authors.initials: SLCE
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Antibióticos - Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Arthur de Sá, s/n, 50740-521, Recife - PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Pesquisa em Química Aplicada/Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia - Praça Primavera, 40, 45700-000, Bairro Primavera, Itapetinga - BA, Brasil.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Gualberto
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Pesquisa em Química Aplicada/Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia - Praça Primavera, 40, 45700-000, Bairro Primavera, Itapetinga - BA, Brasil.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Pesquisa em Produtos Naturais, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, Cep: 21941-902, Brasil.
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Pesquisa em Produtos Naturais, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, Cep: 21941-902, Brasil.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Carvalho
mesh_terms: D000330:Aedes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D000818:Animals; D029802:Croton / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D007306:Insecticides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity*; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D051379:Mice; D009032:Mosquito Control; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D009822:Oils, Volatile
keywords: Phytochemical; botanical insecticide; dengue; toxicology