Insecticidal activity of two essential oils used in perfumery (ylang ylang and frankincense). Issue 22 (18th November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pavela, Roman; Maggi, Filippo; Giordani, Cristiano; Cappellacci, Loredana; Petrelli, Riccardo; Canale, Angelo
• Is Part Of: Natural product research. Volume 35:Issue 22(2021)
• Page Start: 4746
• Page End: 4752
• Publication Date: 2021-11-18
• Subjects: Cananga odorata -- Boswellia spp -- commercial essential oils -- insecticide -- mosquito larvicide -- housefly; Natural products -- Periodicals; Natural products -- Research -- Periodicals; Biological Factors -- Periodicals; Biological Products -- Periodicals; 547
• DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2020.1715403
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1478-6419

Abstract

Abstract: Nowadays, only a little part of essential oils produced at an industrial level is employed for insecticidal formulations, while thousand tons are used for perfumery purposes. This research explores the insecticidal potential of two essential oils largely used in perfumery, ylang ylang ( Cananga odorata ) and frankincense ( Boswellia spp.) on three insects of economic importance, Culex quinquefasciatus, Musca domestica and Spodoptera littoralis, comparing their performances with a commercial pyrethrum extract. GC-MS showed that the ylang ylang and frankincense essential oils were mainly composed of α-thujene (73.8%), benzyl salicylate (24.4%) and linalool (21.9%), respectively. Ylang-ylang and frankincense essential oils showed significant insecticidal activity against C . quinquefasciatus larvae (LC50 < 70 ppm) and M . domestica adults (LD50 < 80 µg/female), respectively, while no relevant toxicity was detected on S . littoralis . As highly available from the fragrance industry, these essential oils may be further considered as promising ingredients to be used in botanical formulations against mosquitoes and houseflies. Graphical Abstract: