Insecticidal effect of Cryptocarya alba essential oil on the housefly, Musca domestica L.

Abstract

The composition of the essential oil (EO) from Cryptocarya alba obtained by hydro distillation of fresh leaves was analyzed using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrosmetry (GC/MS). The insecticidal effect of the oil on the house fly Musca domestica was evaluated by placing flies in a sealed glass jar containing a piece of EO-treated cotton yarn. The dose necessary to kill 50% of flies (LC50) in 0.5 and 1 h was determined at 26 ± 1 °C. The essential oil from Cryptocarya alba showed significant insecticidal properties [33.56 (7.06-159.50) mg/dm3 (0.5 h) and 15.07 (5.29-42.91) mg/dm3 (1 h)]. According to GC and GC/MS analysis a total of 38 compounds were identified. The composition of the Cryptocarya alba essential oil reported in this study is different to that reported in other publications with 4-terpineol (17.48%) ; 4- (3,3-dimethyl-but-1-ynyl) -4-hydroxy-2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-2-enone (12.84%); 1,8-cineole (7.90%); p-cymene (7.11%) and sabinene (6.80%), accounting for 52.13% of the EO. The EO from Cryptocarya alba appears promising as a natural insecticide against houseflies. Keywords: Musca domestica; Cryptocarya alba; essential oil composition; GC-MS; NMR; natural insecticide.