Effects of Some Insecticides (Deltamethrin and Malathion) and Lemongrass Oil on Fruit Fly (Drosophila melanogaster)

Nutritional Aspects, Chemistry Profile, Extraction Techniques of Lemongrass Essential Oil and It's Physiological Benefits

Lemongrass contains a variety of substances that are known to have antioxidant and disease-preventing properties, including essential oils, compounds, minerals, and vitamins. Lemongrass (Cymbopogon Spp.) essential oil (LGEO) has been demonstrated to ameliorate diabetes and accelerate wound healing. A member of the Poaceae family, Lemongrass, a fragrant plant, is cultivated for the extraction of essential oils including myrcene and a mixture of geranial and neral isomers of citral monoterpenes. Active constituents in lemongrass essential oil are myrcene, followed by limonene and citral along with geraniol, citronellol, geranyl acetate, neral, and nerol, which are beneficial to human health. A large part of lemongrass' expansion is driven by the plant's huge industrial potential in the food, cosmetics, and medicinal sectors. A great deal of experimental and modeling study was conducted on the extraction of essential oils. Using Google Scholar and PubMed databases, a systematic review of the literature covering the period from 1996 to 2022 was conducted, in accordance with the PRISMA declaration. There were articles on chemistry, biosynthesis, extraction techniques and worldwide demand of lemongrass oil. We compared the effectiveness of several methods of extracting lemongrass essential oil, including solvent extraction, supercritical CO2 extraction, steam distillation, hydrodistillation (HD), and microwave aided hydrodistillation (MAHD). Moreover, essential oils found in lemongrass and its bioactivities have a significant impact on human health. This manuscript demonstrates the different extraction techniques of lemongrass essential oil and its physiological benefits on diabetic wound healing, tissue repair and regeneration, as well as its immense contribution in ameliorating arthritis and joint pain.Key teaching pointsThe international market demand prediction and the pharmacological benefits of the Lemongrass essential oil have been thoroughly reported here.This article points out that different extraction techniques yield different percentages of citral and other secondary metabolites from lemon grass, for example, microwave assisted hydrodistillation and supercritical carbon dioxide extraction process yields more citral.This article highlights the concept and application of lemongrass oil in aromatherapy, joint-pain, and arthritis.Moreover, this manuscript includes a discussion about the effect of lemongrass oil on diabetic wound healing and tissue regeneration - that paves the way for further research.

Biochemical evaluation and molecular docking assessment of Cymbopogon citratus as a natural source of acetylcholine esterase (AChE)- targeting insecticides

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) has been an effective target for insecticide development which is a very important aspect of the global fight against insect-borne diseases. The drastic reduction in the sensitivity of insects to AChE-targeting insecticides like organophosphates and carbamates have increased the need for insecticides of natural origin. In this study, we used Drosophila melanogaster as a model to investigate the insecticidal and AChE inhibitory potentials of Cymbopogon citratus and its bioactive compounds. Flies were exposed to 100 and 200 mg/mL C. citratus leaf extract for a 3-h survival assay followed by 45 min exposure for negative geotaxis and biochemical assays. Molecular docking analysis of 45 bioactive compounds of the plant was conducted against Drosophila melanogaster AChE (DmAChE). Exposure to C. citratus significantly reduced the survival rate of flies throughout the exposure period and this was accompanied by a significant decrease in percentage negative geotaxis, AChE activity, catalase activity, total thiol level and a significant increase in glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity. The bioactive compounds of C. citratus showed varying levels of binding affinities for the enzyme. (+)-Cymbodiacetal scored highest (−9.407 kcal/mol) followed by proximadiol (−8.253 kcal/mol), geranylacetone (−8.177 kcal/mol), and rutin (−8.148 kcal/mol). The four compounds occupied the same binding pocket and interacted with important active site amino acid residues as the co-crystallized ligand (1qon). These compounds could be responsible for the insecticidal and AChE inhibitory potentials of C. citratus and they could be further explored in the development of AChE-targeting insecticides.

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Cymbopogon citratus reduced the AChE activity, catalase activity, total thiol level in Drosophilia melanogaster.

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The bioactive compounds of Cymbopogon citratus displayed considerable binding affinities for Drosophila melanogaster AChE and the four top-scoring compounds are (+)-Cymbodiacetal, proximadiol, geranylacetone, and rutin.

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(+)-Cymbodiacetal showed the highest binding affinity to AChE (DmAChE).