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Insecticidal activity of essential oils from native medicinal plants of Central Argentina against the house fly, Musca domestica (L.)

Parasitology Research volume 106, pages 207–212 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

The insecticidal activity of nine essential oils (EOs) against the house fly (Musca domestica) was evaluated by placing flies in a screw-cap glass jar holding a piece of EO-treated cotton yarn. The dose necessary to kill 50% of flies (LC50) in 30 min was determined at 26 ± 1°C. The EOs showed LC50 values ranging from 0.5 to 46.9 mg/dm3. The EO from Minthostachys verticillata was the most potent insecticide (LC50 = 0.5 mg/dm3) followed by EOs from Hedeoma multiflora (LC50 = 1.3 mg/dm3) and Artemisia annua (LC50 = 6.5 mg/dm3). The compositions of the nine EOs, obtained by hydrodistillation of medicinal herbs, were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy. These analyses showed that (4R)(+)-pulegone (69.70%), menthone (12.17%), and limonene (2.75%) were the principal components of M. verticillata EO. (4R)(+)-pulegone was also the main constituent (52.80%) of H. multiflora, while artemisia ketone (22.36%) and 1,8-cineole (16.67%) were the major constituents of A. annua EO. The terpene (4R)(+)-pulegone showed a lower toxicity (LC50 = 1.7 mg/dm3) than M. verticillata or H. multiflora EOs. Dimethyl 2,2-dichlorovinyl phosphate, selected as a positive control, showed an LC50 of 0.5 mg/dm3. EOs from M. verticillata and H. multiflora show promise as natural insecticides against houseflies.

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Acknowledgments

Financial support for this work was provided by the Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Técnica, FONCYT, PICT 33593. We thank Joss Heywood for revising the English language.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Química Fina y Productos Naturales, Universidad Católica de Córdoba, Camino a Alta Gracia Km 10, 5000, Córdoba, Argentina

    Sara M. Palacios, Alberto Bertoni & Yanina Rossi

  2. Departamento de Ciencias del Ambiente, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Casilla 40, Correo 33, Santiago, Chile

    Rocío Santander & Alejandro Urzúa

Authors
  1. Sara M. Palacios
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  2. Alberto Bertoni
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  3. Yanina Rossi
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  4. Rocío Santander
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  5. Alejandro Urzúa
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Correspondence to Sara M. Palacios.

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Palacios, S.M., Bertoni, A., Rossi, Y. et al. Insecticidal activity of essential oils from native medicinal plants of Central Argentina against the house fly, Musca domestica (L.). Parasitol Res 106, 207–212 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-009-1651-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-009-1651-2

Keywords

  • Limonene
  • Musca Domestica
  • Artemisia Annua
  • DDVP
  • Menthone