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

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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

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