Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometric Analysis and Insecticidal Activity of Essential Oil of Aerial Parts of Mallotus apelta (Lour.) Muell.-Arg. (Euphorbiaceae)

Xin Chao Liu¹, Xu Bo Chen², Zhi Long Liu¹

¹Department of Entomology, China Agricultural University, 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100193; ²College of Ecology, Lishui University, Zhejiang Province, 323000, China.

For correspondence:- Zhi Liu Email: zhilongliu@cau.edu.cn Tel:+861062732800

Received: 18 June 2014 Accepted: 12 August 2014 Published: 24 September 2014

Citation: Liu XC, Chen XB, Liu ZL. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometric Analysis and Insecticidal Activity of Essential Oil of Aerial Parts of Mallotus apelta (Lour.) Muell.-Arg. (Euphorbiaceae). Trop J Pharm Res 2014; 13(9):1515-1520 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v13i9.19

© 2014 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the chemical composition and insecticidal activity of the essential oil of the aerial parts of Mallotus apelta against maize weevils, Sitophilus zeamais and booklice, Liposcelis bostrychophila.

Methods: Water-distilled essential oil of M. apelta aerial parts was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometric (GC/MS) to determine its composition. Insecticidal activities of the essential oil were measured by using topical application/ impregnated filter paper and seal-spaced fumigation.

Results: Thirty-six compounds, accounting for 97.75 % of the oil, were identified. The main compounds found were β-eudesmol (18.65 %), β-caryophyllene (9.83%), β-selinene (6.55 %), caryophyllene oxide (6.29 %), bornyl acetate (6.07%), γ-eudesmol (5.40 %) and α-selinene (5.06 %). The essential oil showed contact toxicity against adult maize weevils L. bostrychophila with LD₅₀ (lethal dosage, 50 %) value of 46.69 μg/adult and 211.02 μg/cm, respectively. The essential oil also exhibited fumigant toxicity against adult S. zeamais and L. bostrychophila with a LC₅₀ (median lethal concentration) value of 48.42 and 3.21 mg/l, respectively.

Conclusion: The study indicates that the essential oil of M. apelta has the potential to be developed into a natural fumigant/insecticide for the control of stored product insects.

Keywords: Mallotus apelta, Sitophilus zeamais, Liposcelis bostrychophila, Contact toxicity, Fumigant, Essential oil