Essential oil composition of Callistemon citrinus (Curtis) and its protective efficacy against Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

PLoS One. 2022 Aug 19;17(8):e0270084. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270084. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Tribolium castaneum is one of the major pests of stored grains which causes extensive damages. To control this insect pest many synthetic chemical pesticides are used. However, continuous usage of synthetic fumigants causes pest resurgence, toxic residues, genetic resistance in pests, environmental contamination and health hazards etc., To avert these problems, essential oils are used as bio-fumigants to control the stored pests. They could act as best alternatives to synthetic fumigant in closed environment. Hence, the present study aimed to evaluate the pesticidal activity of Callistemon citrinus oil against Tribolium castaneum. GC-MS analysis of C. citrinus essential oil (EO) showed 10 compounds; among them, the major constituent was eucalyptol (1, 8-cineole) at 40.44%. The lethal concentration (LC50) values were 37.05 μL/L (adults) and 144.31 μL/L (larvae) at 24 and 48 hrs respectively. Exposure to C. citrinus EO significantly reduced the beetle fecundity, ovicidal activity, egg hatchability, larvae survival and emergence of adult. The effect of EO on enzymatic activity of T. castaneum adults was examined using Acetylcholinesterase, α-Carboxylesterase, β-Carboxylesterase, Glutathione-S-Transferase, Acid and Alkaline phosphatase assays. The results indicated that the activity of detoxification enzymes drastically varied when compared with control. This EO had toxicant effects on all stages of the life of T. castaneum.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholinesterase
  • Animals
  • Coleoptera*
  • Eucalyptol / pharmacology
  • Insecticides* / toxicity
  • Myrtaceae*
  • Oils, Volatile* / chemistry
  • Oils, Volatile* / pharmacology
  • Tribolium*

Substances

  • Insecticides
  • Oils, Volatile
  • Acetylcholinesterase
  • Eucalyptol

Grants and funding

The present study was funded by the DST (DST-PURSE Phase II Programme), India, New Delhi sanctioned to Dr. M. Jayakumar Assistant Professor University of Madras. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.