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Chemical composition and assessment of larvicidal and repellent capacity of 14 Lamiaceae essential oils against Aedes albopictus

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Abstract

In the current laboratory study, 14 essential oils (EOs) derived from 12 Lamiaceae plant species and their major components were screened for their larvicidal and repellent properties against Aedes albopictus, an invasive mosquito species of great medical importance. The results of toxicity bioassays revealed that the EOs from Thymus vulgaris, Ocimum basilicum, Origanum dictamnus, Origanum majorana, and Origanum vulgare, as well as their major components (terpenes), namely thymol, carvacrol, p-cymene, and γ-terpinene exerted the highest larvicidal effect. Essential oils from Mellisa officinalis, Origanum dictamus, Mentha spicata (chem. piperitenone epoxide), Origanum majorana, and Satureja thymbra were the most potent repellents, with the last two assigned as the best ones. Among the terpenes tested, piperitenone epoxide, carvacrol, thymol, and piperitenone provided the highest level of protection against Ae. albopictus adults. Chemical analysis revealed the presence of a high number of terpenes in the EOs, while in most cases, the biological action of the tested EOs and their major components was in consistency. The most effective EOs and terpenes that were identified through the current laboratory bioassays could be used as alternative agents to control larvae and repel adults of Ae. albopictus.

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The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Funding

This research has been co-financed by the European Union (EU Environmental Funding Programme LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance) and Greek national funds through the LIFE CONOPS project (www.conops.gr) “Development and demonstration of management plans against—the climate change enhanced—invasive mosquitoes in S. Europe” (LIFE12 ENV/GR/000466).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Biological Control of Pesticides, Department of Pesticides Control and Phytopharmacy, Benaki Phytopathological Institute, 8 S. Delta Str. 14561 Kifissia, Attica, Greece

    Athanassios Giatropoulos

  2. Laboratory of Agricultural Zoology and Entomology, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos str, 118 55, Athens, Greece

    Athanassios Giatropoulos & Nickolaos Emmanouel

  3. Laboratory of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Agricultural Development, Democritus University of Thrace, 193 Pantazidou str. 68 200 Ν., Orestiada, Greece

    Athanasios Kimbaris

  4. Laboratory of Agricultural Entomology, Department of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, Benaki Phytopathological Institute, 8 S. Delta Str. 14561 Kifissia, Attica, Greece

    Αntonios Michaelakis & Dimitrios P. Papachristos

  5. Laboratory of Chemistry, Department of Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos str, 11855, Athens, Greece

    Moschos G. Polissiou

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  1. Athanassios Giatropoulos
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  2. Athanasios Kimbaris
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  3. Αntonios Michaelakis
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  4. Dimitrios P. Papachristos
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  5. Moschos G. Polissiou
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  6. Nickolaos Emmanouel
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Giatropoulos, A., Kimbaris, A., Michaelakis, Α. et al. Chemical composition and assessment of larvicidal and repellent capacity of 14 Lamiaceae essential oils against Aedes albopictus. Parasitol Res 117, 1953–1964 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-018-5892-9

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