Ascaridole-rich essential oil from marsh rosemary (Ledum palustre) growing in Poland exerts insecticidal activity on mosquitoes, moths and flies without serious effects on non-target organisms and human cells

Abstrakt

Marsh rosemary (Ledum palustre, Ericaceae) has been widely used in the traditional medicine of various regions worldwide, and as insect repellent. Little is known on its essential oil insecticidal potential. This study explored the insecticidal effects of the essential oil obtained from L. palustre growing in Poland on selected insect pests and vectors. GC-MS analysis evidenced an uncommon chemotype characterized by ascaridole (35.3% as sum of cis-ascaridole and isoascaridole) and p-cymene (25.5%). The essential oil was effective against Culex quinquefasciatus, Spodoptera littoralis and Musca domestica, showing LC50/LD50 of 66.6 mg L−1, 117.2 μg larva−1 and 61.4 μg adult−1, respectively. It was not toxic to non-target Eisenia fetida earthworms and moderately toxic to Daphnia magna microcrustaceans, over the positive control α-cypermethrin. The essential oil cytotoxicity on human keratinocytes and fibroblasts showed high IC50 values (71.3 and 84.4 μg mL−1, respectively). Comet assay data highlighted no DNA damages. Based on our findings, this essential oil, characterized by the ascaridole/p-cymene chemotype, could be a candidate for the formulation of botanical insecticides; large-scale production of green insecticides by this rare species may be assured by ex situ cultivation and biotechnological techniques.

Autorzy

Giovanni Benelli
Giovanni Benelli
Roman Pavela
Roman Pavela
Kevin Cianfaglione
Kevin Cianfaglione
Angelo Canale
Angelo Canale
Luciano Barboni
Luciano Barboni
Riccardo Petrelli
Riccardo Petrelli
Laura Zeppa
Laura Zeppa
Cristina Aguzzi
Cristina Aguzzi
Filippo Maggi
Filippo Maggi
artykuł
FOOD AND CHEMICAL TOXICOLOGY
Angielski
2020
138
111184
100
6,023
2
18