Essential oils of medicinal plants from the central andes of Argentina: chemical composition, and antifungal, antibacterial, and insect-repellent activities

The antifungal, antibacterial, and insect‐repellent activities of the essential oils (EOs) of Acantholippia seriphioides, Artemisia mendozana, Gymnophyton polycephalum, Satureja parvifolia, Tagetes mendocina, and Lippia integrifolia, collected in the Central Andes area, province of San Juan, Argentina, were investigated. The dermatophytes Microsporum gypseum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and T. rubrum were inhibited by the EOs of G. polycephalum, L. integrifolia, and S. parvifolia, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) between 31.2 and 1000 μg/ml. Moreover, all EOs presented moderate activity against the bacteria tested, and the L. integrifolia and G. polycephalum EOs showed excellent repellent properties against Triatoma infestans, the Chagas disease vector, with repellency values between 60 and 100%. The A. seriphioides, G. polycephalum, and L. integrifolia EOs, obtained by hydrodistillation, were characterized by GC‐FID and GC/MS analyses. The highest number of components (40) was identified in L. integrifolia EO, which, along with that of A. seriphioides, contained important amounts of oxygenated monoterpenes (44.35 and 29.72%, resp.). Thymol (27.61%) and carvacrol (13.24%) were the main components of A. seriphioides EO, and borneol, lippifoli‐1(6)‐en‐5‐one, and terpinen‐4‐ol (>8.5%) were the principal compounds of L. integrifolia EO. These results support the idea that oxygenated monoterpenes are the bioactive fractions of the EOs. Finally, the study shows that these Andean species might be used to treat superficial fungal infections and to improve the local Chagas disease situation by vector‐control.     

10种植物乙醇提取物对金银花蚜虫的生物活性研究

采用微量滴定法测定了10种植物乙醇提取物对金银花蚜虫的生物活性.结果表明,10种植物乙醇提取物对金银花蚜虫均有一定的驱避活性和毒杀作用.在10 mg/mL的浓度下,臭椿、曼陀罗和桂花的提取物对金银花蚜虫的驱避作用较强,其在12 h的驱避率分别为78.74％、77.54％、75.11％;夏枯草提取物的驱避效果最弱,12 h的驱避率为58.53％.随着处理时间的延长,各植物提取物的驱避效果均呈下降趋势;印楝提取物的毒杀活性最强,72 h后的校正死亡率达68.30％;曼陀罗和苦瓜的作用次之,72 h后的校正死亡率分别为66.41％和63.70％;夏枯草提取物的作用最低,72 h后的校正死亡率仅为26.47％.进一步的毒力分析表明,印楝提取物对金银花蚜虫的毒力较强,24h的Lc.值为11.0836 mg,/mL.     

Effects of sweet alyssum flowers and their volatile compounds on Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) in the laboratory

Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) is a major global pest of soft fruit crops. Based on field observations, we tested in the laboratory whether sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima (L.)) flower volatiles and their major constituent compounds, acetophenone and benzaldehyde, repelled D. suzukii flies. Volatiles from cut flowers and acetophenone reduced numbers of D. suzukii attracted to raspberries, and acetophenone reduced numbers of larvae in the raspberries. Testing of sweet alyssum plantings or dispensing acetophenone to repel D. suzukii in fields and lower fruit infestation should be conducted.     

无翅桃蚜对龟纹瓢虫的视觉和嗅觉识别反应

为探明桃蚜Myzus persicae是否可以识别来自其捕食性天敌的嗅觉和视觉信息,本研究采用桃蚜和龟纹瓢虫Propylaea japonica这一猎物-捕食者系统,在室内测定了无翅桃蚜对龟纹瓢虫成虫体色和挥发物的识别反应。选择反应试验结果表明,无翅桃蚜既能通过视觉信息识别瓢虫的存在,也能通过嗅觉信息识别瓢虫的存在,说明桃蚜对龟纹瓢虫体色和气味信息的识别存在一定的冗余现象。剂量反应试验结果表明,龟纹瓢虫粗提物的剂量与其对桃蚜的驱避率呈现良好的线性关系,识别反应剂量的临界值在0.3~0.6个瓢虫当量之间,1.2~1.5个瓢虫当量的粗提物的驱避作用与20头活体龟纹瓢虫的驱避作用相当。结论认为,桃蚜可以识别龟纹瓢虫的存在,并对其作出一定的躲避反应,从而降低被捕食的风险。     

定量计算萜类蚊虫驱避化合物与羧酸缔合作用对其驱避活性的影响

【目的】驱避剂是防止蚊虫叮咬的良好个人防护用品,但其作用机理一直未被解释清楚。本研究利用化学计算手段对4种重要的人体引诱物（乙酸、丙酸、丁酸和戊酸）与22个萜类驱避化合物的缔合作用以及该作用对驱避活性的影响进行了研究,以期为蚊虫驱避机理研究提供新思路。【方法】利用GAUSS View软件构建引诱化合物分子、驱避化合物分子以及二者可能形成的缔合体结构,再利用GAUSSIAN软件优化所有结构,并计算它们的能量和各类参数;借助AMPAC和CODESSA软件计算出所有结构的描述符;以萜类驱避化合物对白纹伊蚊Aedes albopictus校正驱避率的对数值（logCRR）为活性数据,利用CODESSA软件建立描述符与驱避活性的定量构效关系模型。【结果】4种羧酸与萜类驱避化合物相互缔合的缔合能量大多在18~20 kJ/mol之间,缔合距离和角度分别在2.0~2.5 Å 和110°~180°内波动,符合氢键相互作用的特征。4个最优定量构效关系模型的R²值均大于0.9,模型中的参数都包含缔合体的描述符,表明引诱物 驱避物缔合作用与校正驱避率的对数值显著相关。【结论】4种羧酸与萜类驱避化合物之间存在中等强度的氢键缔合作用,该缔合作用对驱避活性具有重要影响。研究初步揭示了引诱物 驱避物缔合作用的存在,也为从新的角度研究蚊虫驱避机理提供了前期研究基础。     

Repellency of essential oils against Nephotettix cincticeps: Laboratory and glasshouse assays

Four oils from Piper nigrum, Litsea cubeba, Zanthoxylum bungeanum and Curcuma longa were obtained by ethanol extraction. The repellency of these oils and two major compounds (linalool and piperine) was evaluated against female adult and third‐instar nymphs of the rice pest, Nephotettix cincticeps, under laboratory and glasshouse conditions. Paired‐choice and no‐choice assays were used for each treatment, with essential oils evaluated after 24 and 48 hr of exposure and chemical compounds evaluated after 12 and 24 hr of exposure. The potential effects of essential oils on activities of glutathione S tranferase (GST), carboxyl esterase (CarE) and acetyl cholinesterase (AchE) were also evaluated after 48 hr of exposure to leafhoppers. The constituents of the essential oils were determined using GC‐MS. The results showed that the major components in the oils were piperine (34.75%) for P. nigrum, 9,12‐octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z) (18.74%) for L. cubeba, ethanone, 1‐(2‐hydroxy‐4,6‐dimethoxyphenyl) (18.51%) for Z. bungeanum and turmerone (15.89%) for C. longa. In all cases, the essential oils repelled female adults and third‐instar nymphs of N. cincticeps. The repellency of the tested oils and chemicals compounds in the paired‐choice assay was higher than in the no‐choice assay. In all experimental conditions, P. nigrum and C. longa oils were the most and the least potent, respectively. Linalool was the best repellent among the single‐tested compounds under laboratory conditions. In the glasshouse study, the highest repellency was observed in the mixture of linalool and piperine. GST and CarE activities of leafhoppers were significantly enhanced by exposure to the four essentials oils; AchE activity increased significantly only in the P. nigrum and L. cubeba assays. Our results clearly indicate that the tested oils and chemical compounds are promising agents for developing plant‐based pesticides to control N. cincticeps.     

Repellency of deet to nymphs of Triatoma infestans

The repellency of N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (deet) to Triatoma infestans (Klug) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) was evaluated using third-instar nymphs and a video tracking technique. Three experimental designs were used: (a) the test arena floor was divided into two halves, only one of which was treated with deet; (b) the arena floor was divided into an inner circle and an outer ring, only the latter treated with deet; (c) half of the test arena was covered by a filter paper roof treated with deet (out of reach of the nymphs). In all three types of experiment, a repellent effect was demonstrated proportional to the dose of deet. When a host (pigeon) was shielded by deet-treated gauze, the rate of blood-feeding by the nymphs was inhibited. Topical pre-treatment of the nymphs with N-ethylmaleimide, to block chemoreception, inhibited the repellency.     

四种植物精油成分对枸杞棉蚜的生物活性

【目的】研究植物精油4种成分丁香酚(eugenol)、α-松油醇(α-terpineol)、肉桂油(cinnamon oil)和香茅油(citronella oil)对枸杞棉蚜Aphis gossypii的生物活性以及马来酸二乙酯和水杨酸乙酯对这些化合物对枸杞棉蚜毒力的影响,为无公害防治枸杞(Lycium spp.)害虫奠定科学基础。【方法】采用二项选择法测定上述4种精油成分(1%)对枸杞棉蚜无翅成蚜的驱避作用;玻璃管药膜法进行生物测定,评估这4种化合物及其与马来酸二乙酯或水杨酸乙酯的混合液对枸杞棉蚜成蚜的毒力;采用生物化学方法分析这些化合物处理后枸杞棉蚜成蚜乙酰胆碱酯酶(AChE)和三磷酸腺苷酶(ATPase)的离体活性。【结果】α-松油醇(1%)对枸杞棉蚜无翅成蚜的驱避作用明显,1, 2和3 h的驱避率分别为58.1%, 58.6%和55.7%; 3 h时测试的4种化合物对枸杞棉蚜成蚜的驱避率由大到小依次为α-松油醇>香茅油>肉桂油>丁香酚。丁香酚对枸杞棉蚜成蚜的毒杀作用最强,处理4 h时的LC₅₀值为0.48 mL/L,肉桂油、α-松油醇、香茅油对枸杞棉蚜成蚜的LC₅₀值分别为1.23, 6.24和11.97 mL/L。对枸杞棉蚜成蚜的生物测定结果表明,马来酸二乙酯对香茅油、肉桂油、丁香酚和α-松油醇的增效比分别为2.75, 2.86, 1.78和1.56;水杨酸乙酯对香茅油、肉桂油、丁香酚和α-松油醇的增效比分别为3.41, 2.67, 2.00和1.89。毒力比结果表明,所测定的4种化合物对枸杞棉蚜的毒力相差49.9倍,丁香酚与马来酸二乙酯或水杨酸乙酯的混合液对枸杞棉蚜的触杀毒力最高。4种精油成分对枸杞棉蚜成蚜AChE和ATPase活性有不同的作用,丁香酚对AChE活性的抑制作用最强,但对ATPase活性表现为低浓度促进,高浓度抑制。【结论】α-松油醇对枸杞棉蚜驱避作用最好;丁香酚、α-松油醇、肉桂油和香茅油这4种精油成分对枸杞棉蚜的毒力相差很大;丁香酚与马来酸二乙酯或水杨酸乙酯混合后对枸杞棉蚜的毒力提高,具有进一步开发应用的潜力;所测精油成分对枸杞棉蚜离体AChE和ATPase活性有一定抑制作用。     

Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes Use Their Legs to Sense DEET on Contact

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The life and work of Eugenie Clark: devoted to diving and science

Synopsis Eugenie Clark is an ichthyologist with a talent for communicating about marine life. Her life had three principal periods, (1) studies under Charles Breder, Carl Hubbs, Lester Aronson and Myron Gordon, (2) directorship of the Cape Haze Marine Laboratory sponsored by the Vanderbilts, and (3) professorship and inspired teaching at the University of Maryland. Genie proved that sharks have surprising learning abilities and that, contrary to popular opinion, none are vicious killers. During her studies on reproductive behavior, territoriality, and ecology of tropical marine sand-dwelling fishes of the Caribbean and Red seas, among many other phenomena, she discovered the cross-fertilizing hermaphroditeSerranus subligarius, the Moses and peacock soles producing toxins that repel sharks and other predators, and sharks sleeping in underwater caves in Mexico and Japan. She combined a love for swimming and diving with the study of marine fishes - from hard-hat diving and snorkeling to using SCUBA and submersibles. Professor emerita since 1992, she has ridden whale sharks and participated in dives using submersibles to 3 600 m depths. She is a recipient of over 25 honors and awards, participated in 24 television specials, and the current IMAX film on sharks. She is the author of theLady with a Spear andThe Lady and the Sharks which are of considerable popular fame.