Repellent and Toxicant Effects of Eight Essential Oils against the Red Flour Beetle, Tribolium castaneum Herbst (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Cytotoxic and Antioxidant Potential of Launaea mucronata Forssk Essential Oil Growing in Northern Saudi Arabia

Essential oils are naturally occurring multicomponent combinations of isoprenoids with distinctive odors that are produced by aromatic plants from mevalonic acid. They are extensively applied in aromatherapy for the treatment of various ailments. To investigate the potential therapeutic value of the ingredients in Launaea mucronata essential oil (EO), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was used for essential oil characterization. Then, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), β-carotene/linoleic acid, and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays were used to evaluate the antioxidants. A 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to estimate the cytotoxicity. Following a thorough analysis of the GC-MS chromatogram, 87 components representing 97.98% of the entire EO mixture were identified. N-eicosane (10.92%), 2E,6Z-farnesol (10.74%), and 2Z,6E-farnesyl acetone (46.35%) were determined to be the major components of the oil. When the produced EO was evaluated for its antioxidant properties, it showed a strong inhibitory effect (%) of 65.34 at a concentration of 80 μg/mL. The results (g/mL) showed a positive response against the tested cell lines for HCT-116, MCF-7, and HepG2 (8.45, 10.24, and 6.78 g/mL, respectively). A high-concentration mixture of deadly components consisting of farnesol, bisabolol, eicosane, and farnesyl acetone may be responsible for this significant cytotoxic action, which was especially noticeable in the HepG2 cell line. Molecular docking occurred between farnesol and farnesyl acetone with the target residues of topoisomerases I and II, CDK4/cyclD1, and Aurora B kinases; these showed binding free energies ranging from -4.5 to -7.4 kcal/mol, thus demonstrating their antiproliferative action. In addition, farnesol and farnesyl acetone fulfilled most of the ADME and drug-likeness properties, indicating their activity.

Matricaria chamomilla Essential Oils: Repellency and Toxicity against Imported Fire Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Matricaria chamomilla flower essential oils (EOs) blue Egyptian (EO-1), chamomile German CO2 (EO-2), and chamomile German (EO-3) and the pure compound α-bisabolol were evaluated against red imported fire ants (RIFA), Solenopsis invicta Buren, black imported fire ants, S. richteri Forel (BIFA), and hybrid imported fire ants (HIFA) for their repellency and toxicity. A series of serial dilutions were tested starting from 125 µg/g until the failure of the treatment. Based on the amount of sand removed, EO-1 showed significant repellency at dosages of 7.8, 7.8, and 31.25 µg/g against RIFA, BIFA, and HIFA, respectively. EO-3 was repellent at 3.9, 7.8, and 31.25 µg/g against BIFA, RIFA, and HIFA, whereas α-bisabolol was active at 7.8, 7.8, and 31.25 µg/g against BIFA, HIFA, and RIFA, respectively. DEET (N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) was active at 31.25 µg/g. Toxicity of EOs and α-bisabolol was mild to moderate. For EO-1, LC₅₀ values were 93.6 and 188.11 µg/g against RIFA and BIFA; 98.11 and 138.4 µg/g for EO-2; and 142.92 and 202.49 µg/g for EO-3, respectively. The LC₅₀ of α-bisabolol was 159.23 µg/g against RIFA. In conclusion, M. chamomilla EOs and α-bisabolol offer great potential to be developed as imported fire ant repellents.

Influence of Effective Microorganisms on Some Biological and Biochemical Aspects of Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

The cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis (Bosid.), is a major pest in African and Asian nations that attacks a wide variety of host plants. This study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of effective microorganisms (EMs) on the biological and physiological features of S. littoralis larvae. Five concentrations (100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 ppm) of EMs were tested. Antifeedant activity, food consumption index, the efficiency of converting digested food, the efficiency of converting ingested food, relative growth rate, and approximate body tissue of the fourth larval instar of S. littoralis were determined. Moreover, carbohydrate enzyme activities (amylase, trehalose, and invertase), total protein, and total lipids of S. littoralis larvae were measured to elucidate the mode of action of the tested agent in the S. littoralis’s larval stage. The EMs at 500 ppm had a substantial impact on antifeedant activity, nutritional indices, egg deposit reduction, and hatchability in S. littoralis during the five days. All concentrations interrupted S. littoralis’s life cycle and developmental phases. Furthermore, all concentrations were quite useful in lengthening the developmental stages of S. littoralis. In addition, Ems affected the biochemical activities of larvae, leading to disturbances in carbohydrate, lipid, and protein levels. From this study, EMs can be used as a bioinsecticide alternative to traditional insecticides against S. littoralis and may be compatible with integrated pest management approaches.

Gamma Radiation: An Eco-Friendly Control Method for the Rice Weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.), is the most destructive insect pest of stored cereals worldwide. The current study was conducted to determine the lethal, reproductive, and histological effects of gamma irradiation on S. oryzae adults. In addition, the impact on germination, chlorophyll, and proline content in wheat seedlings from treated grains was determined. Wheat grains were infested with rice weevil adults and then irradiated by gamma rays. Gamma radiation was applied at a dosage of 0.10, 0.25, 0.50, and 1.00 kGy. Mortality percentage and LD50 were recorded after 48, 72, 96, and 120 h of treatment. The dosage of 1.00 kGy caused 100% mortality after 96 h of irradiation. The required dosage of gamma radiation to kill 50% (LD50) of adults after 48 h was 1.51 kGy. All tested doses caused complete sterility to 24 h old adults. A histological alteration was noticed at a dosage of 1.00 kGy, which showed cytoplasmic vacuolization, tissues exhibiting signs of putrefaction, and necrosis of cells; furthermore, gamma irradiation affected chlorophyll a and b. The highest amounts were detected in wheat seedlings from grains irradiated at 0.10 kGy. There was a significant increase in plant proline content at the higher doses (0.50 and 1.00 kGy) compared with seedlings from nonirradiated grains. It could be concluded that gamma radiation can be used as an eco-friendly trend to control stored-product pests without any residual effects.

Botanical Oils Isolated from Simmondsia chinensis and Rosmarinus officinalis Cultivated in Northern Egypt: Chemical Composition and Insecticidal Activity against Sitophilus oryzae (L.) and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst)

The rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.), and the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), are key stored-product pests in Egypt and worldwide. The extensive use of synthetic insecticides has led to adverse effects on the environment, human health, and pest resistance. As a result, environmentally friendly pest management alternatives are desperately required. The botanical oils of jojoba, Simmondsia chinensis (L.), and rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis L. plants growing in Egypt were extracted, identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and evaluated for their insecticidal activity against S. oryzae and T. castaneum. The main constituents identified in BOs were carvyl acetate (20.73%) and retinol (16.75%) for S. chinensis and camphor (15.57%), coumarin (15.19%), verbenone (14.82%), and 1,8-cineole (6.76%) for R. officinalis. The S. chinensis and R. officinalis BOs caused significant contact toxicities against S. oryzae and T. castaneum adults, providing LC₅₀ values of 24.37, 68.47, and 11.58, 141.8 ppm at 3 days after treatment (DAT), respectively. S. chinensis oil exhibited significant fumigation toxicity against both insects; however, it was more effective against S. oryzae (LC₅₀ = 29.52 ppm/L air) than against T. castaneum (LC₅₀ = 113.47 ppm/L air) at 3 DAT. Although the essential oil (EO) of R. officinalis significantly showed fumigation toxicity for S. oryzae (LC₅₀ = 256.1 and 0.028 ppm/L air at 1 and 3 DAT, respectively), it was not effective against T. castaneum. These BOs could be beneficial for establishing IPM programs for suppressing S. oryzae and T. castaneum.