Chemical composition and insecticidal activity of the essential oil of Amethystea caerulea L.

Abstract

The essential oil of the aerial parts of Amethystea caerulea L. was obtained from steam distillation and investigated by GC and GC-MS. The main components of the essential oil were morrilol (25.1%), 4-vinylguaiacol (14.3%) and acetoanisole (14.3%), followed by linalool (6.6%), eugenol (5.8%) and α-caryophyllene (5.2%). The essential oil showed pronounced contact toxicity against Drosophila melanogaster L. and maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais (Motsch.), with LD₅₀ values of 5.18 and 50.45 µg per adult, respectively. The essential oil also possessed strong fumigant toxicity against the maize weevils with an LC₅₀ value of 25.39 µg mL⁻¹.

Keywords:

• Amethystea caerulea L.
• Drosophila melanogaster L.
• Sitophilus zeamais (Motsch.)
• essential oil
• contact toxicity
• fumigant
• insecticidal activity

Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the Hi-Tech Research and Development of China 2006AA10A209.