Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Insecticidal Activity of Essential Oil of Cinnamomum cassia and its Main Constituent, trans-Cinnamaldehyde, against the Booklice, Liposcelis bostrychophila

Xin Chao Liu¹, Jun Cheng², Na Na Zhao¹, Zhi Long Liu¹

¹Department of Entomology, China Agricultural University, 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100193; ²Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (North), Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing University of Agriculture, Haidian District, Beijing 102206, China.

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

Received: 3 July 2014 Accepted: 9 September 2014 Published: 19 October 2014

Citation: Liu XC, Cheng J, Zhao NN, Liu ZL. Insecticidal Activity of Essential Oil of Cinnamomum cassia and its Main Constituent, trans-Cinnamaldehyde, against the Booklice, Liposcelis bostrychophila. Trop J Pharm Res 2014; 13(10):1697-1702 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v13i10.18

© 2014 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the insecticidal activity of the essential oil of Cinnamomum cassis and its main constituent compound, trans-cinnamaldehyde, against the booklice, Liposcelis bostrychophilaA294;

Methods: Steam distillation of C. cassis twigs was carried out using a Clavenger apparatus in order to obtain the volatile oils. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometric (GC/MS) analyses (HP-5MS column) of the essential oil were performed and its contact (using impregnated filter paper method) and fumigant toxicity (sealed space) determined. The bioactive constituent compound, trans-cinnamaldehyde was isolated and identified from the oil based on bioactivity-directed fractionation.

Results: A total of 35 components, accounting for 97.44 % of the essential oil of C. cassis, were identified. The principal compounds in the essential oil were trans-cinnamaldehyde (49.33 %), acetophenone (6.94 %), trans-cinnamic acid (5.45 %) and cis-cinnamaldehyde (4.44 %) followed by o-methoxycinnamaldehyde (3.48 %), coumarin (3.42 %) and (E)-cinnamyl alcohol (3.21 %). The essential oil displayed contact toxicity against adult L. bostrychophila with a median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) of 55.68 μg/cm² as well as fumigant toxicity (LC₅₀, 1.33 mg/l air). Trans-cinnamaldehyde exhibited strong contact and fumigant toxicity with LC₅₀ of 43.40 μg/cm² and 1.29 mg/l air, respectively.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that the essential oil of C. cassis and its constituent compound, trans-cinnamaldehyde, possess potentials for development into natural fumigants/insecticides for the control of booklice.

Keywords: Liposcelis bostrychophila, Cinnamomum cassis, Contact toxicity, Fumigant, trans-Cinnamaldehyde, Essential oil