Insecticidal Activity of 25 Essential Oils on the Stored Product Pest,

Overview

Journal Foods

Specialty Biotechnology

Date 2021 Jan 27

PMID 33498233

Citations 14

Authors

Sebastien Demeter

Olivier Lebbe

Florence Hecq

Stamatios C Nicolis

Tierry Kenne Kemene

Henri Martin

Marie-Laure Fauconnier

Thierry Hance

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The granary weevil is a stored product pest found worldwide. Environmental damages, human health issues and the emergence of resistance are driving scientists to seeks alternatives to synthetic insecticides for its control. With low mammal toxicity and low persistence, essential oils are more and more being considered a potential alternative. In this study, we compare the toxicity of 25 essential oils, representing a large array of chemical compositions, on adult granary weevils. Bioassays indicated that was the most toxic essential oil, with the lowest calculated lethal concentration 90 (LC90) both after 24 h and 7 days. , and oils appeared to have a good potential in terms of toxicity/cost ratio for further development of a plant-derived biocide. Low influence of exposure time was observed for most of essential oils. The methodology developed here offers the possibility to test a large array of essential oils in the same experimental bioassay and in a standardized way. It is a first step to the development of new biocide for alternative management strategies of stored product pests.

Citing Articles

Chemical Composition of Essential Oils and Their Potential Applications in Postharvest Storage of Cereal Grains.

Yu J Molecules. 2025; 30(3).

PMID: 39942787 PMC: 11820458. DOI: 10.3390/molecules30030683.

The Potency of Essential Oils in Combating Stored-Product Pests: From Nature to Nemesis.

Kavallieratos N, Eleftheriadou N, Filintas C, Boukouvala M, Gidari D, Skourti A Plants (Basel). 2025; 14(2.

PMID: 39861543 PMC: 11768866. DOI: 10.3390/plants14020192.

Nanoencapsulated Essential Oils for Post-Harvest Preservation of Stored Cereals: A Review.

Maurya A, Yadav A, Soni M, Paul K, Banjare U, Jha M Foods. 2025; 13(24.

PMID: 39766956 PMC: 11727106. DOI: 10.3390/foods13244013.

Therapeutic applications of eucalyptus essential oils.

El Shiekh R, Atwa A, Elgindy A, Mustafa A, Senna M, Alkabbani M Inflammopharmacology. 2024; 33(1):163-182.

PMID: 39499358 PMC: 11799053. DOI: 10.1007/s10787-024-01588-8.

Mentha arvensis oil exhibits repellent acute toxic and antioxidant activities in Nauphoeta cinerea.

Leite Dos Santos C, Moreira A, Teles B, Kamdem J, Alasmari A, Alasmari F Sci Rep. 2024; 14(1):21599.

PMID: 39284902 PMC: 11405674. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-72722-3.

References

Stroh J, Wan M, Isman M, Moul D . Evaluation of the acute toxicity to juvenile Pacific coho salmon and rainbow trout of some plant essential oils, a formulated product, and the carrier. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 1998; 60(6):923-30. DOI: 10.1007/s001289900716. View

Plata-Rueda A, Campos J, Rolim G, Martinez L, dos Santos M, Fernandes F . Terpenoid constituents of cinnamon and clove essential oils cause toxic effects and behavior repellency response on granary weevil, Sitophilus granarius. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2018; 156:263-270. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.03.033. View

ABBOTT W . A method of computing the effectiveness of an insecticide. 1925. J Am Mosq Control Assoc. 1987; 3(2):302-3. View

Isman M, Grieneisen M . Botanical insecticide research: many publications, limited useful data. Trends Plant Sci. 2013; 19(3):140-5. DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2013.11.005. View

Phillips T, Throne J . Biorational approaches to managing stored-product insects. Annu Rev Entomol. 2009; 55:375-97. DOI: 10.1146/annurev.ento.54.110807.090451. View

Tanoh E, Boue G, Nea F, Genva M, Wognin E, Ledoux A . Seasonal Effect on the Chemical Composition, Insecticidal Properties and Other Biological Activities of Guill. & Perr. Essential oils. Foods. 2020; 9(5). PMC: 7278710. DOI: 10.3390/foods9050550. View

Huang Y, Chen S, Ho S . Bioactivities of methyl allyl disulfide and diallyl trisulfide from essential oil of garlic to two species of stored-product pests, Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). J Econ Entomol. 2000; 93(2):537-43. DOI: 10.1603/0022-0493-93.2.537. View

Kumar D, Kalita P . Reducing Postharvest Losses during Storage of Grain Crops to Strengthen Food Security in Developing Countries. Foods. 2017; 6(1). PMC: 5296677. DOI: 10.3390/foods6010008. View

Maes C, Bouquillon S, Fauconnier M . Encapsulation of Essential Oils for the Development of Biosourced Pesticides with Controlled Release: A Review. Molecules. 2019; 24(14). PMC: 6680563. DOI: 10.3390/molecules24142539. View

10.

Lins L, Maso S, Foncoux B, Kamili A, Laurin Y, Genva M . Insights into the Relationships Between Herbicide Activities, Molecular Structure and Membrane Interaction of Cinnamon and Citronella Essential Oils Components. Int J Mol Sci. 2019; 20(16). PMC: 6720526. DOI: 10.3390/ijms20164007. View

11.

Jankowska M, Wisniewska J, Faltynowicz L, Lapied B, Stankiewicz M . Menthol Increases Bendiocarb Efficacy Through Activation of Octopamine Receptors and Protein Kinase A. Molecules. 2019; 24(20). PMC: 6832705. DOI: 10.3390/molecules24203775. View

12.

Nea F, Kambire D, Genva M, Tanoh E, Wognin E, Martin H . Composition, Seasonal Variation, and Biological Activities of Essential Oils from Côte d'Ivoire. Molecules. 2020; 25(10). PMC: 7287757. DOI: 10.3390/molecules25102400. View

13.

Plata-Rueda A, Martinez L, dos Santos M, Fernandes F, Wilcken C, Soares M . Insecticidal activity of garlic essential oil and their constituents against the mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor Linnaeus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Sci Rep. 2017; 7:46406. PMC: 5397855. DOI: 10.1038/srep46406. View

14.

Jeon J, Lee C, Lee H . Food protective effect of geraniol and its congeners against stored food mites. J Food Prot. 2009; 72(7):1468-71. DOI: 10.4315/0362-028x-72.7.1468. View

15.

Likhoshvai V, Ratushny A . Generalized hill function method for modeling molecular processes. J Bioinform Comput Biol. 2007; 5(2B):521-31. DOI: 10.1142/s0219720007002837. View

16.

Hong T, Perumalsamy H, Jang K, Na E, Ahn Y . Ovicidal and larvicidal activity and possible mode of action of phenylpropanoids and ketone identified in Syzygium aromaticum bud against Bradysia procera. Pestic Biochem Physiol. 2018; 145:29-38. DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2018.01.003. View

17.

Chaaban A, Richardi V, Carrer A, Brum J, Cipriano R, Martins C . Insecticide activity of Curcuma longa (leaves) essential oil and its major compound α-phellandrene against Lucilia cuprina larvae (Diptera: Calliphoridae): Histological and ultrastructural biomarkers assessment. Pestic Biochem Physiol. 2019; 153:17-27. DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2018.10.002. View

18.

Huang Y, Liao M, Yang Q, Shi S, Xiao J, Cao H . Knockdown of NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase and CYP6MS1 increases the susceptibility of Sitophilus zeamais to terpinen-4-ol. Pestic Biochem Physiol. 2019; 162:15-22. DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2019.07.008. View

19.

Park J, Lee H . Toxicities of Eucalyptus dives Oil, 3-Carvomenthenone, and Its Analogues against Stored-Product Insects. J Food Prot. 2018; 81(4):653-658. DOI: 10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-17-399. View