Insecticidal Activity and Chemical Composition of Artemisia sieben Besser Essential Oil from Karaj,Iran

Atremisia sieberi Besser is a widely distributed plant that grows in many areas of Iran and has strong insecticidal activity against stored product pests, so an experiment was conducted to investigate fumigant toxicity of the A. sieberi oil collected from Karaj region of Iran. The oil was applied against one to seven day old adults of three major stored product insects including: Callosobruchus maculatus (Fab.), Sitophilus oryzae (L.), and Tribollium castaneum (Herbst). The potency of fumigant toxicity of A. sieberi on C. maculatus was higher (LC₅₀: 1.64 μL per L) than S. oryzae (LC₅₀: 4.41 μL per L) and T. castaneum (LC50: 20.31 μ.L per L). The relationships between the time exposure and oil concentration on mortality show that the mortality was increased as oil concentration and exposure time was increased. The concentration of 185 μL per L and exposure time of 24h was enough to obtain 100% kill of the insects. It was also found that the regions where A. sieberi grows affect essential oil components of the plant and can play an important role in properties of fumigant toxicity.     

Chemical Composition and Insecticidal Activity of Artemisia scoparia Essential Oil against Three Coleopteran Stored-Product Insects

Chemical composition of the essential oil from Artemisia scoparia Waldst et Kit, and its fumigant and repellent activity were investigated against three stored product insects, Callosobruchus maculatus (Fab.), Sitophilus oryzae (L.), and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst). Dry ground leaves were subjected to hydrodistillation using a modified clevenger-type apparatus and the chemical composition of the volatile oil was studied by GC-MS. Nineteen components (99.51% of the total composition) were identified. β-Pinene (19.01%), capillin (17.45%), limonene (15.11%), myrcene (10.95) were found to be the major constituents of the oil. The mortality of 1-7 day old adults of the insect pests increased with concentration from 37 to 926 μL per L air and with exposure time from 3 to 24 h. A concentration of 37 μL per L air and exposure time of 24 h was sufficient to obtain 100% kill of the insects. Callosobruchus maculatus was more susceptible than S. oryzae and T. castaneum. A second more detailed bioassay gave estimates for the LC₅₀ of C. maculatus as 1.46 μL per L air, S. oryzae 1.87 μL per L air and T. castaneum 2.05 μL per L air. Also, the essential oil was significantly more repellent to T. castaneum and S. oryzae than C. maculatus. However, half-life time of the oil for C. maculatus was longer than S. oryzae and T. castaneum. These results show the efficacy of A. scoparia oil for use in organic food protection.     

Evaluation of insecticidal activity of the essential oil of Allium chinense G. Don and its major constituents against Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel

Water-distilled essential oil from the dried bulbs of Allium chinense (Liliaceae) was analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Eighteen compounds, accounting for 98.4% of the total oil, were identified and the main components of the essential oil of A. chinense were methyl allyl trisulfide (30.7%), dimethyl trisulfide (24.1%), methyl propyl disulfide (12.8%) and dimethyl disulfide (9.6%) followed by methyl allyl disulfide (3.4%) and methyl propyl trisulfide (3.6%). The essential oil exhibited contact toxicity against the booklice (Liposcelis bostrychophila) with an LC₅₀ value of 441.8 μg/cm² while the two major constituents, dimethyl trisulfide and methyl propyl disulfide had LC₅₀ values of 153.0 μg/cm² and 738.0 μg/cm² against the booklice, respectively. The essential oil of A. chinense possessed strong fumigant toxicity against the booklice with an LC₅₀ value of 186.5 μg/l while methyl allyl trisulfide (LC₅₀ = 90.4 μg/l) and dimethyl trisulfide (LC₅₀ = 114.2 μg/l) exhibited stronger fumigant toxicity than methyl propyl disulfide (LC₅₀ = 243.4 μg/l) and dimethyl disulfide (LC₅₀ = 340.8 μg/l) against the booklice. The results indicated that the essential oil and its major constituents have potential for development into natural insecticides or fumigants for control of insects in stored grains.     

Chemical Constituents and Insecticidal Activities of Ajania fruticulosa Essential Oil

The insecticidal activity and chemical constituents of the essential oil from Ajania fruticulosa were investigated. Twelve constituents representing 91.0% of the essential oil were identified, and the main constituents were 1,8‐cineole ( 41.40% ), (+)‐camphor ( 32.10% ), and myrtenol (8.15%). The essential oil exhibited contact toxicity against Tribolium castaneum and Liposcelis bostrychophila adults with LD₅₀ values of 105.67 μg/adult and 89.85 μg/cm², respectively. The essential oil also showed fumigant toxicity against two species of insect with LC₅₀ values of 11.52 and 0.65 mg/l, respectively. 1,8‐Cineole exhibited excellent fumigant toxicity (LC₅₀ = 5.47 mg/l) against T. castaneum. (+)‐Camphor showed obvious fumigant toxicity (LC₅₀ = 0.43 mg/l) against L. bostrychophila. Myrtenol showed contact toxicity (LD₅₀ = 29.40 μg/cm²) and fumigant toxicity (LC₅₀ = 0.50 mg/l) against L. bostrychophila. 1,8‐Cineole and (+)‐camphor showed strong insecticidal activity to some important insects, and they are main constituents of A. fruticulosa essential oil. The two compounds may be related to insecticidal activity of A. fruticulosa essential oil against T. castaneum and L. bostrychophila.     

Bioactivity of essential oil of Litsea cubeba from China and its main compounds against two stored product insects

During our screening program for agrochemicals from Chinese medicinal herbs and wild plants, the essential oil of Litsea cubeba fruits was found to possess strong contact toxicity against the cigarette beetle Lasioderma serricorne adults and the booklouse Liposcelis bostrychophila, with LD₅₀ values of 27.33 μg/adult and 71.56 μg/cm², respectively, and also showed strong fumigant toxicity against the two stored product insects with LC₅₀ values of 22.97 and 0.73 mg/L, respectively. The essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation was investigated by GC MS. The main components of the essential oil were identified to be E-citral (geranial) (27.49%), Z-citral (neral) (23.57%) and d-limonene (18.82%) followed by β-thujene (3.34%), β-pinene (2.85%), α-pinene (2.57%), 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one (2.40%) and linalool (2.36%). Citral (Z/E-citral), d-limonene, β-pinene, α-pinene and linalool were separated and purified by silica gel column chromatography and preparative thin layer chromatography, and further identified by means of physicochemical and spectrometric analysis. Citral and linalool showed strong contact toxicity against L. serricorne and L. bostrychophila (LD₅₀ = 11.76, 12.74 μg/adult and 20.15, 99.97 μg/cm², respectively) and fumigant toxicity against L. serricorne and L. bostrychophila (16.54, 18.04 mg/L air and 0.14, 0.71 mg/L air, respectively). Otherwise, citral, d-limonene and linalool were strongly repellent against the cigarette beetle L. serricorne as the essential oil whereas β-pinene and α-pinene exhibited weaker repellency against the cigarette beetle compared with the positive control, DEET. Moreover, except α-pinene and linalool, the other three compounds as well as the essential oil exhibited comparable repellency against the booklouse relative to DEET.     

Rice weevil response to basil oil fumigation

Basil oil, Ocimum basilicum L., is a volatile plant essential oil that is known to have insecticidal activity against stored product pests such as rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.). Basil oil was diluted in acetone and applied to a sponge held inside a tea strainer for fumigations in containers with and without rice. Basil oil fumigation (3 ml, 10% concentration) caused high mortality in adult rice weevils when weevils were exposed in air in a sealed 1 L plastic container. However, when basil oil was placed in packaged rice, weevil mortality was low and reproduction was not affected. Effectiveness of plant essential oil fumigation should be conducted under realistic conditions to avoid experimental artifacts and misleading results.     

Fumigant toxicity of Apiaceae essential oils and their constituents against Sitophilus oryzae and their acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity

We evaluated the insecticidal and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition activities of the essential oils and their constituents of 10 Apiaceae on the adult rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae. Of the 10 species tested, dill (Anethum graveolens), caraway (Carum carvi), and cumin (Cuminum cyminum) essential oils showed strong fumigant toxicity against adult S. oryzae. LC₅₀ values of caraway, dill, and cumin essential oils were 2.45, 3.29, and 4.75 mg/L air, respectively. Among the test compounds, (+)-carvone, (?)-carvone, cuminaldehyde, dihydrocarvone, linalool oxide, carveol, trans-anethole, and neral demonstrated strong fumigant toxicity against adult S. oryzae with LC₅₀ values of 0.61, 0.84, 1.12, 2.92, 3.76, 4.29, 5.02, and 6.60 mg/L air, respectively. α-Pinene showed the strongest AChE inhibition activity followed by β-pinene and limonene. The measured toxicity of the artificial blends of the constituents identified in dill and cumin oils indicated that (+)-carvone and cuminaldehyde were major contributors to the fumigant toxicity of the artificial blend.     

Use of Tanacetum tomentosum and Ta. dolichophyllum essential oils as botanical repellents and insecticidal agents against storage pest Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

In this study, repellent and fumigant activities of Tanacetum tomentosum and Ta. dolichophyllum essential oils were investigated against Tribolium castaneum. Results showed that both oils had effective fumigant and repellent activities. Tanacetum tomentosum oil emerged as more potent than Ta. dolichophyllum oil with LC₅₀ values of 6.85 and 4.32 μL/0.25 L air after 24 and 48 h of exposure, respectively. Ta. tomentosum oil also showed more repellent activity than Ta. dolichophyllum oil by exhibiting repellent activity in the range of 38.70–82.35%. Chemical analysis of both oils revealed that β‐bisabolene (50.0%) was the major component of Ta. tomentosum oil and that β‐eudesmol (31.4%) and α‐bisabolol (10.7%) were the major components of Ta. dolichophyllum oil. Doses of 40 and 80 μL/0.5 L air of both oils significantly protected 500 g of wheat grains for up to 6 months from insect infestation, without causing any side effects in the germination rates; the order of germination rates was Ta. tomentosum (89.45%) > Ta. dolichophyllum (86.78%). Thus, this study suggests that essential oils from Ta. tomentosum and Ta. dolichophyllum can be used as potential alternative botanical fumigants for controlling Tr. castaneum.     

Novel vanillin derivatives containing a 1,3,4-thiadiazole moiety as potential antibacterial agents

In this study, thirty-four novel vanillin derivatives containing a 1,3,4-thiadiazole structure were obtained and their antibacterial activities were evaluated. The results indicate that most of the title compounds displayed inhibitory effects on Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) and Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola (Xoc). Among them, compound 29 exhibited excellent antibacterial activities against Xoo and Xoc in vitro, with the EC₅₀ values of 3.14 and 8.83 μg/mL, respectively, much superior to thiodiazole copper (87.03 and 108.99 μg/mL) and bismerthiazol (67.64 and 79.26 μg/mL). Under greenhouse condition, the protective efficiency of compound 29 against rice bacterial leaf blight was 49.34%, and curative efficiency was 40.96%. In addition, compound 29 can reduce the exopolysaccharides production of Xoo, increase the permeability of cell membrane and damage cell membrane.     

Efficacy of some plants as a post-harvest protectant against some major stored pests

The toxicity of vapours of the essential oil of Ferula gummosa, Elettaria cardamomum and Salvia officinalis on the adults and larvae of some stored product pests was investigated. The bioassays were carried out in 70 mL vials containing 10 individuals of each insect. The LC₅₀ values of fumigant bioassay after 24 h were calculated. Results indicated that the effect of the essential oil of F.gummosa was stronger than E. cardamomum, S. officinalis on stored pests. Also fumigant toxicity of S. officinalis on Sitophilus oryzae was similar to that of Sitophilus granarius adults. On the other hand, R. officinalis had a good effect on adults of Tribolium castaneum and larvae of Ephestia kuehniella. According to our results and good effect of these compounds, they will be a safe replace for chemical compounds in the future.     

Analysis of antibacterial and cytotoxic potential of medicinal plants from Cholistan desert,Pakistan

This study aimed to investigate the antibacterial and cytotoxic activity of 03 medicinal plants, Calligonum polygonides, Farsetia hamiltonii, and Pulcaria crispa, from Cholistan desert, Pakistan. The active constituents of plants species were extracted in 05 different solvents and the extracts were tested against various bacterial strains and brine shrimps. Although all Calligonum polygonides’s extracts except chloroform were active against Staphylococcus aureus the most active was the acetone extract (21 ± 0.00 mm at 200 μg/disc) and activity was better than Caricef (p-value 0.03). While its water extract was more potent (18 ± 1.45 mm at 200 μg/disc) than Augmentin and Caricef (p-value < 0.005). The methanol extract’s activity (15 ± 0.39 mm in 200 μg/disc) was comparable to Fucidin against Proteus vulgaris (p-value > 0.99) and activity of diethyl ether extract against Escherichia coli (10 ± 1.16 mm in 200 μg/disc) was same as of Urixin (p-value 0.91). Farsetia hamiltonii’s acetone extract against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10 ± 0.15 mm in 1 μg/disc) was more active than Augmentin Caricef and Cefotax (p-value < 0.02) and against Staphylococcus aureus (15 ± 1.15 mm in 200 μg/disc) activity was higher than Caricef (p-value 0.03). All Pulicaria crispa’s extracts except water extract were found active against Staphylococcus aureus. However, the diethyl ether extract was most effective (25 + 0.00 mm at 150 μg /disc) and activity was more than Augmentin, Oxy-tetracycline, Fucidin, Urixin, Ceftriaxone (p-value < 0.05). Although all extracts were exhibited cytotoxic activity, the Calligonum polygonides’s acetone extract (100%), Farsetia hamiltonii’s diethyl ether extract (90%) and Pulicaria crispa’s methanol extract (100%) were most active at 1000 μg/ml concentration. This study validated the medicinal significance of the studied plants and thus opens the way for their therapeutic applications.     

Essential oil composition of Senecio graciliflorus DC: Comparative analysis of different parts and evaluation of antioxidant and cytotoxic activities

The essential oil of different parts of Senecio graciliflorus DC was obtained by hydrodistillation and analysed by GC-FID and GC–MS for the first time. A total of 17, 20, 19 and 17 constituents were identified comprising 99.90, 95.50, 98.93 and 95.96% of the essential oil of flower, leaf, stem and root parts of Senecio graciliflorus respectively. Monoterpene hydrocarbons predominated in the essential oil with 85.28% in flower, 57.53% in leaf, 67.74% in stem and 64.98% in root oil. α-pinene, cis-ocimene, 1,2,3-trimethylcyclohexane and β-pinene were the major constituents of the essential oil. The flower essential oil exhibited a strong antioxidant potential displaying IC₅₀ values of 21.6 ± 0.6 and 26.0 ± 1.0 μg/ml in DPPH and hydroxyl radical assays respectively. On the other hand the essential oil of flower and root displayed highest cytotoxicity against lung (A-549) cancer cell lines (IC₅₀ = 19.1 ± 0.9 and 21.3 ± 1.1 μg/ml respectively. This study which represents the first report of the essential oil composition and bioevaluation of Senecio graciliflorus, can serve as a new source of cytotoxic and antioxidant activity.     

Investigation on the insecticidal efficacy of novel pellet formulation against Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Col.: Bruchidae) in three different heights and compared with phosphine

Applying essential oils, fumigant toxicity in stored products pests control has sharpened recently. Since these products have low penetration power and vapour pressure, their use in crop depth is restricted. The aim of this work was using controlled release technology to solve this problem. In this research, 1,8-cineole-based pellets were prepared by dry mixing method and physical load of 1,8-cineole on strach, which followed by pressing the mixture, using pellet maker apparatus, to form pellets. Insecticidal efficacy of produced pellets was investigated against adults (1–3?days old) Callosobruchus maculatus F. (Col.: Bruchidae) compared with phostoxin under 28?±?2?°C and darkness in laboratory condition. LC₅₀ and LC₉₅ of pellets against C. maculatus in 24?h were 0/017 and 0/050?ml active ingredient per L air, respectively. LC₅₀ and LC₉₅ of phosphine pellets against C. maculatus in 24?h were 0/124 and 1/852?ml active ingredient per L air, respectively.     

Fumigant toxicity of Laurus nobilis and Myrtus communis essential oils on larvae and adults of the Red flour beetle,Tribolium castaneum Herbst (Col.: Tenebrionidae)

Considering the invasion to food commodities by insects and harmful effect of chemical pesticides, essential oils are among the best known substances tested against stored product pests. These compounds may act as fumigants, contact insecticides, repellents or anti-feedants. In present study, fumigant toxicity of essential oils from Laurus nobilis L. and Myrtus communis L. was assessed on larvae and adults of Tribolium castaneum Herbst at 27?±?2?°C, 60?±?5% RH in darkness. Each essential oil was tested in five concentrations with three replicates. The LC₅₀ values of L. nobilis and M. communis against adults of beetle were calculated 243.78 and 56.11?μl/l and LC₉₅ values for them were 685.85 and 144.01?μl/l, respectively. For the larvae of T. castaneum, the LC₅₀ values for L. nobilis and M. communis were 211.64 and 69.63 and LC₉₅ values were 656.84 and 183.65?μl/l, respectively. Results showed that these essential oils may have potential as botanical control agents against larvae and adults of T. castaneum.     

In vitro evaluation of the effects of some plant essential oils on Ascosphaera apis,the causative agent of Chalkbrood disease

Ascosphaera apis is one of the major fungal pathogens of honey bee broods and the causative agent of Chalkbrood disease. The factors responsible for the pathogenesis of Chalkbrood disease are still not fully understood, and the increasing resistance of A. apis to commonly used antifungal agents necessitates a search for new agents to control this disease. The in vitro antifungal activities of 27 plant essential oils against two isolates of A. apis (Aksu-4 and Aksu-9) were evaluated. Out of the 27 plant essential oils tested, 21 were found to be effective in killing both isolates of A. apis. Based on their minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) values, the effective oils were grouped into three categories: highly effective, moderately effective and minimally effective. Mountain pepper oil, Kala Bhangra oil, spearmint oil, babuna oil, betel leaf oil, carrot seed oil, cumin seed oil and clove bud oil were highly effective, with MBC values between 50.0 μg/mL and 600.0 μg/mL. Mountain pepper was the most effective essential oil, with an MBC value of 50.0 μg/mL. Citral and caryophyllene containing oils were the most effective with MIC 50 ppm. The essential oils tested exhibited significant antimicrobial activities against both strains of A. apis, and they may contain compounds that could play an important role in the treatment or prevention of Chalkbrood disease of honeybee.     

Manganese sulfide nanospheres as mycocidal material and priming agent for fungi-infested rice seeds

Manganese sulfide nanospheres (MnS-NSs) prepared in situ via sonochemical process were characterized to investigate the effect of nanoscale MnS on antifungal potential against mycopathogens of rice viz. Fusarium verticillioides, Drechslera oryzae and Curvularia lunata. MnS-NSs dispersed in aqueous medium resulted in significant inhibition of growth of all the test fungi (ED₅₀ ≤ 18 μg/ml) at concentration much lower than standard commercial fungicides (captan and carbendazim with ED₅₀ ≥ 230 μg/ml) against respective fungi. The maximum per cent inhibition (98 ± 1.4) was recorded against C. lunata with a minimum ED₅₀ value of 14 μg/ml, followed by D. oryzae and F. verticillioides with ED₅₀ values of 17 and 18 μg/ml, respectively. Nanopriming of rice seeds with MnS-NSs at 35 μg/ml for 8 hr resulted in significant reduction in seed rot (76%) and seedling blight (89.13%) along with enhancement in percent germination, root length, shoot length, dry weight and vigour index of seedlings by 33.7%, 55%, 66.3%, 85.3% and 89.3%, respectively, compared with control. Hydropriming of seeds was found to control the seed health parameters less effectively than nanopriming.     

Insecticidal activities of essential oil of Callistemon viminalis applied as fumigant and powder against two bruchids

The fumigant and contact toxicity of essential oil (EO) extracted from the leaves of Callistemon viminalis and its aromatized clay powder (ACP) was evaluated against adults of Acanthoscelides obtectus and Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae). The results obtained for fumigation assays showed that C. maculatus seems to be more susceptible (LC₅₀ = 0.019 μl/cm³) to the vapours of the essential oil than A. obtectus (LC₅₀ = 0.011 μl/cm³) after 12 h exposure. On the other hand, A. obtectus seems to be more susceptible (LD₅₀ = 0.133 μl/g) to the essential oil applied by contact on grains than C. maculatus (LD₅₀ = 0.170 μl/g) after 2 days exposure. The ACP was also very toxic towards the adults of A. obtectus (LD₅₀ = 0.100 μl/g) and C. maculatus (LD₅₀ = 0.098 μl/g) by contact on grains. At the doses of 0.133 μl/g and 0.266 μl/g, mortalities caused by ACP on grains were higher than those caused by the same dose of EO against the two bruchids. It is also established that both the EO and the ACP caused higher inhibition of F₁ progeny production of A. obtectus than that of C. maculatus. The loss of insecticidal activity of the two materials in the course of time has been observed; however, the toxicity of the ACP was more persistent than that of the oil in the course of time when applied on grains. These results suggest that EO from the leaves of C. viminalis can be used as fumigant agent against A. obtectus and C. maculatus. In addition, it could be advisable to use an adsorbent mineral material as carrier of this EO for the prolongation of its insecticidal activity in the course of time.     

Toxicity of basil and orange essential oils and their components against two coleopteran stored products insect pests

Two commercialized essential oils and their constituent compounds were investigated for fumigant and contact activities against two grain storage insects, adults of the maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais) and the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum). The two commercialized basil and orange oils showed strong fumigant and contact activities against S. zeamais and T. castaneum. The constituents of the basil oil were linalool (21.83%), estragole (74.29%), and α-humulene (2.17%), and those of the orange oil were α-pinene (0.54%), sabinene (0.38%), β-myrcene (1.98%), limonene (96.5%), and linalool (0.6%). As a toxic fumigant, the basil oil was more effective (24-h LC₅₀ = 0.014 and 0.020 mg cm^− 3) than the orange oil (24-h LC₅₀ = 0.106 and 0.130 mg cm^− 3) against S. zeamais and T. castaneum adults, respectively. Among the constituents of the two essential oils, the toxicity of estragole was the highest (0.004 and 0.013), followed by linalool (0.016 and 0.023), limonene (0.122 and 0.171), α-pinene (0.264 and 0.273), and β-myrcene (0.274 and 0.275) based on 24-h LC₅₀ values (mg cm^− 3). Similar results were obtained in a contact toxicity test. The contact activity of basil oil was more toxic than orange oil, and estragole and linalool showed pronounced contact toxicity against S. zeamais and T. castaneum adults. Alpha-humulene had no activity as a fumigant at the tested doses, but it did have an effect as a contact poison, having 24-h LD₅₀ values of 0.040 and 0.045 mg adult^− 1 to S. zeamais and T. castaneum, respectively. Although basil oil, orange oil, and their components displayed both contact and fumigant toxicities, their effects were mainly exerted by fumigant action via the vapor phase. Thus, basil oil, orange oil, and their components could be potential candidates as new fumigants for the control of S. zeamais and T. castaneum adults.     

Chemical composition and free radical-scavenging,anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities of the essential oil from Ocimum kilimandscharicum

ObjectiveThe essential oil from the leaves of Ocimum kilimandscharicum (EOOK), collected in Dourados-MS, was investigated for anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity and chemical composition.Materials and methodsThe essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation, and the chemical composition was performed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The essential oil was evaluated for free radical-scavenging activity using the DPPH assay and was tested in an anticancer assay against ten human cancer cell lines. The response parameter (GI₅₀) was calculated for the cell lines tested. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using carrageenan-induced pleurisy in mice.ResultsThe chemical composition showed 45 components with a predominance of monoterpenes, such as camphor (51.81%), 1,8 cineole (20.13%) and limonene (11.23%). The EOOK exhibited potent free radical-scavenging activity by the DPPH assay with a GI₅₀ of 8.31 μg/ml. The major constituents, pure camphor (IC₅₀ = 12.56 μg/ml) and mixture of the limonene: 1, 8 cineole (IC₅₀ = 23.25 μg/ml) displayed a potent activity. The oral administration of EOOK (at 30 and 100 mg kg⁻¹), as well as the pure camphor or a mixture of 1,8 cineole with limonene, significantly inhibited the carrageenan (Cg) induced pleurisy, reducing the migration of total leukocytes in mice by 82 ± 4% (30 mg kg⁻¹ of EOOK), 95 ± 4% (100 mg kg⁻¹ of EOOK), 83 ± 9% (camphor) and 80 ± 5% (mixture of 1,8 cineole:limonene 1:1). In vitro cytotoxicity screening against a human ovarian cancer cell line displayed high selectivity and potent anticancer activity with GI₅₀ = 31.90 mg ml⁻¹. This work describes the anti-inflammatory, anticancer and antioxidant effects of EOOK for the first time.ConclusionsThe essential oil exhibited marked anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticancer effects, an effect that can be attributed the presence of majorital compounds, and the response profiles from chemical composition differed from other oils collected in different locales.     

New nemadectin congeners with acaricidal and nematocidal activity from Streptomyces microflavus neau3 Y-3

Two nemadectin congeners 1 and 2 were isolated from the fermentation broth of a mutant strain (Y-3) of Streptomyces microflavus neau3. Their structures were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis and comparison with data from the literature. Compound 2 possessed a 5-membered ring lactone that is unprecedented among known milbemycins and avermectins. Both compounds 1 and 2 exhibited potent acaricidal activity and nematocidal activity. Especially, compound 2 demonstrated impressive acaricidal activity against adult mites with an IC₅₀ of 2.3 ± 0.9 μg/mL and mite eggs with an IC₅₀ of 17.5 ± 2.1 μg/mL and nematocidal activity against Caenorhabditis elegans with an IC₅₀ of 0.7 ± 0.2 μg/mL, which are higher than those of nemadectin and the known commercial acaricide and nematocide milbemycin A3/A4.