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. 2022 Mar 15;12:4406. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-08223-y

Larvicidal and adulticidal effects of some Egyptian oils against Culex pipiens

Mohamed M Baz 1, Abdelfattah Selim 2,, Ibrahim Taha Radwan 3, Abeer Mousa Alkhaibari 4, Hanem F Khater 5
PMCID: PMC8924206  PMID: 35292687

Abstract

Mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases represent an increasing global challenge. Plant extract and/or oils could serve as alternatives to synthetic insecticides. The larvicidal effects of 32 oils (1000 ppm) were screened against the early 4th larvae of Culex pipiens and the best oils were evaluated against adults and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC mass) and HPLC. All oils had larvicidal activity (60.0–100%, 48 h Post-treatment, and their Lethal time 50 (LT50) values ranged from 9.67 (Thymus vulgaris) to 37.64 h (Sesamum indicum). Oils were classified as a highly effective group (95–100% mortalities), including Allium sativum, Anethum graveolens, Camellia sinensis, Foeniculum vulgare, Nigella sativa, Salvia officinalis, T. vulgaris, and Viola odorata. The moderately effective group (81–92% mortalities) included Boswellia serrata, Cuminum cyminum, Curcuma aromatic, Allium sativum, Melaleuca alternifolia, Piper nigrum, and Simmondsia chinensis. The least effective ones were C. sativus and S. indicum. Viola odorata, Anethum graveolens, T. vulgaris, and N. sativa provide 100% adult mortalities PT with 10, 25, 20, and 25%. The mortality percentages of the adults subjected to 10% of oils (H group) were 48.89%, 88.39%, 63.94%, 51.54%, 92.96%, 44.44%, 72.22%, and 100% for A. sativum, An. graveolens, C. sinensis, F. vulgare, N. sativa, S. officinalis, T. vulgaris, and V. odorata, respectively. Camellia sinensis and F. vulgare were the most potent larvicides whereas V. odorata, T. vulgaris, An. graveolens and N. sativa were the best adulticides and they could be used for integrated mosquito control.

Subject terms: Developmental biology, Ecology

Introduction

Mosquitoes are an ancient nuisance pest and mosquito-borne diseases represent an increasing global health challenge, threatening over 40% of the world’s population and it is expected that almost half of the world’s population will be at risk of arbovirus transmission by 20501. Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae) is widely distributed, transmitting dreadful diseases leading to severe morbidity and sometimes mortality to humans and animals25.

Vector control is the primary method for reducing public concerns about mosquito-borne diseases611. Controlling adults and larvae through repellents and insecticides12,13, are the most effective approach for reducing mosquito bites. Using synthetic insecticides led to insecticide resistance, environmental pollution, and health hazards to human health and non-target organisms.

Searching for eco-friendly alternatives in botanicals such as essential oils (EOs) is a curtail need. EOs are volatile components found in many plant families like Asteraceae, Rutaceae, Myrtaceae, Lauraceae, Lamiaceae, Apiaceae, Piperaceae, Poaceae, Zingiberaceae, and Cupressaceae14. EOs contain complicated mixtures of products as phenols, sesquiterpenes, and monoterpenes15.

EOs have antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal activities. They also possess insecticidal effect interfering with insects' physiological, metabolic, behavioral, and biochemical functions through inhalation, ingestion, or skin absorption of EOs inducing a neurotoxic action16. EOs act as adulticides, larvicides, deterrents, and repellents. They are less toxic, biodegradable, and overcome insecticidal resistance15,17,18.

EOs have higher popularity with organic growers and environmentally conscious consumers and suitability for urban areas, homes, and other sensitive areas.

The role of EOs in mosquito control has been discussed15,19. This study aimed to screen and evaluate the lethal time values of the larvicidal effects of thirty-two oils and evaluate the adulticidal effect and phytochemical analyses of the most effective ones against Cx. pipiens.

Materials and methods

Plant oils

Thirty- two oils were purchased from EL CAPTAIN Company for extracting natural oils, plants, and cosmetics "Cap Pharm," El Obor, Cairo, Egypt and Harraz for Food Industry & Natrual products, Cairo, Egypt (Table 1).

Table 1.

Plants species screened (oil No = 32) used for larvicidal activity.

No. Oil name Plant oils
Order Family English name
1 Allium sativuma Asparagales Amaryllidaceae Garlic
2 Anethum graveolensa Apiales Apiaceae Dill
3 Argania spinosab Ericales Sapotaceae Argan
4 Boswellia serrata R.a Sapindales Burseraceae Olibanum
5 Brassica carinataa Brassicales Brassicaceae Mustard
6 Camellia sinensisa Ericales Theaceae Green Tea
7 Cedrus libani Aa Pinales Pinaceae Cedar wood
8 Citrullus colocynthis Lb Cucurbitales Cucurbitaceae Bitter apple
9 Crocus sativus L.a Asparagales Iridaceae Saffron crocus
10 Cucurbita maxima D.a Cucurbitales Cucurbitaceae Pumpkin
11 Cuminum cyminum La Apiales Apiaceae Cumin
12 Cupressus sempervirensb Pinales Cupressaceae Italian cypress
13 Curcuma aromatica S.a Zingiberales Zingiberaceae Curcuma
14 Curcuma longa L.a Zingiberales Zingiberaceae Common turmeric
15 Foeniculum vulgare M.a Apiales Apiaceae Sweet fennel
16 Gadus morhuaa Gadiformes Gadidae Cod Liver
17 Lepidium sativum L.a Brassicales Brassicaceae Garden pepperwort
18 Linum usitatissimum L.a Malpighiales Linaceae Common flax
19 Melaleuca alternifoliaa Myrtales Myrtaceae Tea tree
20 Nigella sativaa Ranunculales Ranunculaceae Black cumin
21 Panax ginsenga Apiales Araliaceae Chinese ginseng
22 Piper nigrum L.a Piperales Piperaceae Black pepper
23 Prunus dulcisb Rosales Rosaceae Almond
24 Ruta chalepensis L.a Sapindales Rutaceae Rues
25 Salvia officinalis L.a Lamiales Lamiaceae Sage
26 Sesamum indicuma Lamiales Pedaliaceae Sesame
27 Simmondsia chinensisb Caryophyllales Simmondsiaceae Jojoba
28 Syzygium aromaticum L Myrtales Myrtaceae Clove
29 Tilia americana L.a Malvales Malvales Tilia
30 Thymus vulgaris L Lamiales Lamiaceae Garden
31 Viola odorata L.a Malpighiales Violaceae Sweet violet
32 Zingiber officinalea Zingiberales Zingiberaceae Ginger

aPlant oils purchased from EL CAPTAIN company for extracting natural oils, plants and cosmetics “Cap Pharm”.

bPlant oils purchased from Harraz for Food Industry & Natural products.

Culex pipiens

Culex pipiens (anautogenous strain) was provided from the colony reared at the Department of Entomology, Faculty of Science, Benha University, Egypt, and maintained at 27 ± 2 °C, 75–85% RH and 14: 10 h (L/D) photoperiod.

Larvicidal efficacy

Thirty-two oils were screened for their larvicidal efficacy20 against the early fourth instar larvae, Cx. pipiens. Oils were added to a solvent (emulsifier) consisting of dechlorinated water plus 1.0 mL 0.5% Tween-20, through a shaker plate to yield a homogenous solution. Oils were added to a solvent consisting of dechlorinated water plus 5% tween 20. For each oil, twenty larvae were placed in a 500 mL glass beaker containing 250 mL of 1000 ppm. The experiment and the control group, treated with the solvent only, were replicated three times. Larval mortalities were recorded 0.5, 2, 8, 24, and 48 h post-treatment (PT).

Adulticidal efficacy

Susceptibility tests for adult mosquitoes were performed for the promising larvicidal oils through the CDC bottle bioassays21 with modifications. For each concentration, three bottles were coated. Several concentrations for each oil were prepared using pure ethanol as a solvent. The bottles were coated with the desired concentrations and left overnight at 27 ± 2 °C for solvent evaporation.

Adult mosquitoes (15–10, aged 3–4 days) fed on 10% sucrose solution were released to each bottle using a hand aspirator. The exposure time was set to 30 min. The mosquitoes were removed from the bottles. Mosquito groups were added to separate transparent paper cups (10 × 9 × 6 cm) having 10% sucrose solution and mortalities were checked after 24 h. Three replicates were made for each concentration.

GC/MS analysis

A Thermo Scientific Trace GC Ultra/ISQ Single Quadrupole MS, TG-5MS fused silica capillary column was used for the GC/MS study (0.1 mm, 0.251 mm and 30 m film thickness). An electron ionisation device with a 70 eV ionisation energy was employed for GC/MS detection. At a constant flow rate of 1 mL/min, helium gas was used as the carrier gas. Temperatures were established at 280 °C for the injector and MS transfer line. The oven temperature was set at 50 °C (hold for 2 min), then increased to 150 °C at a rate of 7 °C per minute, then to 270 °C at a rate of 5 °C per minute (hold for 2 min), and finally to 310 °C at a rate of 3.5 °C per minute (hold 10 min). A percent relative peak area was used to explore the quantification of all of the discovered components. The chemicals were tentatively identified by comparing their respective retention times and mass spectra to those of the NIST, WILLY library data from the GC/MS instrument. The identification was done using mass spectra and a computer search of user-generated reference libraries. To check peak homogeneity, single-ion chromatographic reconstruction was used. When identical spectra could not be identified, only the structural type of the relevant component was provided based on its mass spectral fragmentation. When possible, reference compounds were co-chromatographed to confirm GC retention durations22.

Data analysis

Data were analyzed through one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Duncan’s multiple range tests, and Probit analysis for calculating the lethal concentration (LC) and lethal time (LT) values using the computer program PASW Statistics 2009 (SPSS version 22). The relative efficacies (RE) were calculated18 according to the following formula:

REforLC=LC50LC90orLC99forrefernceoil/LC50LC90orLC99forEO.REforLT=LT50LT90orLT99forreferenceoil/LT50LT90orLT99forEO.

Non-parametric, Kruskal–Wallis test was performed to compare the mean differences of more than two groups followed by the Mann–Whitney test to compare the mean differences between the effective oil groups.

Results

The larvicidal effect of 32 oils was screened against the early 4th larvae, Cx. pipiens. The results showed that all plant oils had larvicidal activity (60.0–100%, 48 h PT) and their Lethal time 50 (LT50) values ranged from 9.67 (Thymus vulgaris) to 37.64 h (Sesamum indicum), Tables 2 and 3.

Table 2.

Larval mortality (%) of plant oils used at 1000 ppm through different time periods.

Oils Mortality % (mean ± SD)/h Grouping
0.5 2 8 24 48
Allium sativum 6.67 ± 0.58aE 22.33 ± 1.53D 46.67 ± 0.58efgiC 81.33 ± 1.53dB 96.67 ± 0.58eA H
Anethum graveolens 8.33 ± 0.58aE 23.33 ± 1.15D 48.67 ± 1.15jC 83.67 ± 1.53dB 98.33 ± 0.58eA H
Argania spinosa 5.00 ± 1.00aE 11.67 ± 0.58D 21.67 ± 1.53bcdC 43.33 ± 1.53cB 66.67 ± 1.53dA L
Boswellia serrata 3.33 ± 0.58aE 15.00 ± 1.00D 31.67 ± 1.53bcdeC 70.00 ± 1.00dB 90.00 ± 1.00eA M
Brassica carinata 3.33 ± 0.58aE 13.33 ± 0.58D 25.00 ± 1.00bcdC 45.00 ± 1.53cB 68.33 ± 2.08dA L
Camellia sinensis 8.33 ± 0.58aE 23.33 ± 1.00aC 61.67 ± 1.531jB 100.00 ± 1.00dA 100.00 ± 0.58eA H
Cedrus libani 5.00 ± 1.00abE 15.00 ± 0.00aD 25.00 ± 1.00cC 56.67 ± 1.00dB 78.33 ± 1.53eA L
Citrullus colocynthis 3.33 ± 0.58aE 11.67 ± 0.58cdeD 33.33 ± 0.58defgC 65.00 ± 1.00defB 75.00 ± 1.00deA L
Crocus sativus 3.33 ± 0.58aE 10.00 ± 1.00defD 21.67 ± 1.15hijC 39.33 ± 1.00hiB 62.33 ± 1.00fgA L
Cucurbita maxima 3.33 ± 0.58aE 10.00 ± 1.00defD 21.67 ± 1.53hijC 48.33 ± 1.53ghB 65.00 ± 1.35efgA L
Cuminum cyminum 3.33 ± 0.58aE 8.33 ± 0.58efD 33.33 ± 1.53defgC 63.33 ± 1.53defB 88.33 ± 1.53bcA M
Cupressus sempervirens 5.00 ± 1.00aE 8.33 ± 0.58efD 16.67 ± 0.58ijC 41.67 ± 2.08hiB 63.33 ± 2.00fgA L
Curcuma aromatic 5.00 ± 1.00aE 16.67 ± 1.53abcdeD 35.00 ± 1.73defC 71.67 ± 1.53cdB 88.33 ± 1.53bcA M
Curcuma longa 5.00 ± 1.00aE 10.00 ± 1.00defD 20.00 ± 1.00ijC 40.00 ± 2.08hiB 61.67 ± 1.53fgA L
Foeniculum vulgare 8.33 ± 0.58aE 25.00 ± 1.15aC 63.33 ± 0.58aB 100.00 ± 1.00aA 100.00 ± 0.00aA H
Gadus morhua 5.00 ± 1.00abE 13.33 ± 0.58bcdeD 31.67 ± 1.53defghC 55.00 ± 1.00fgB 75.00 ± 1.00deA L
Lepidium sativum 6.67 ± 0.58aE 15.00 ± 1.00abcdeD 36.67 ± 1.15deC 70.00 ± 1.00cdeB 90.00 ± 1.00abcA M
Linum usitatissimum 3.33 ± 0.58aE 15.00 ± 1.00abcdeD 40.00 ± 1.00cdC 55.00 ± 1.00fgB 75.00 ± 1.00deA L
Melaleuca alternifolia 6.67 ± 0.58aE 10.00 ± 1.00defD 40.00 ± 1.00cdC 71.67 ± 1.53cdB 81.67 ± 0.58cdA M
Nigella sativa 5.00 ± 1.00aE 20.00 ± 1.00abcdD 50.00 ± 1.00bcC 78.67 ± 1.53bcB 95.00 ± 1.00abA H
Panax ginseng 5.00 ± .1.00aE 11.67 ± 0.58cdeD 30.00 ± 1.73defghC 48.33 ± 1.53ghB 71.67 ± 1.15defA L
Piper nigrum 5.00 ± 1.00aE 20.00 ± 1.00abcdD 38.33 ± 0.58dC 70.00 ± 1.00cdeB 88.33 ± 1.58bcA M
Prunus dulcis 3.33 ± 0.57aE 13.33 ± 0.33bcdeD 31.67 ± 0.88defghC 50.00 ± 0.57ghB 75.00 ± 0.57deA L
Ruta chalepensis 3.33 ± 0.58aE 15.00 ± 1.00abcdeD 33.33 ± 2.08defgC 60.00 ± 2.00efB 80.00 ± 1.00cdA L
Salvia officinalis 6.67 ± 0.58aE 21.67 ± 1.53abcD 51.67 ± 1.53bC 80.00 ± 1.53bcB 97.33 ± 1.00abA H
Sesamum indicum 3.33 ± 0.58aE 8.33 ± 1.15efD 15.00 ± 1.00jC 36.67 ± 1.15iB 60.00 ± 1.15gA L
Simmondsia chinensis 5.00 ± 1.00aE 11.67 ± 0.58cdeD 36.67 ± 1.53deC 70.00 ± 2.0cdeB 91.67 ± 0.58abA M
Syzygium aromaticum 5.00 ± 1.00aE 13.33 ± 0.58bcdeD 23.33 ± 1.15ghijC 50.00 ± 1.00ghB 76.673 ± 1.53dA L
Tilia americana 5.00 ± 0.57aE 15.00 ± 0.0abcdeD 25.00 ± 0.57fghijC 56.67 ± 0.88fgB 88.33 ± 0.88bcA L
Thymus vulgaris 8.33 ± 0.58aE 21.67 ± 0.58abcD 58.33 ± 2.08abC 85.00 ± 0.58bB 100.00 ± 1.00aA H
Viola odorata 8.33 ± 0.58aE 23.33 ± 1.00abD 58.67 ± 1.53abC 89.67 ± 1.53abB 100.00 ± 0.00aA H
Zingiber officinale 5.00 ± 1.00aE 13.33 ± 0.58bcdeD 26.67 ± 1.53efghiC 48.33 ± 1.53ghB 75.00 ± 1.00deA L
Control 0.33 ± 0.33aA 0.33 ± 0.33fA 0.33 ± 0.33kA 0.33 ± 0.33jA 0.33 ± 0.33hA L

Numbers of the same raw followed by the same small letter are not significantly different (one-way ANOVA, Duncan’s MRT, P > 0.05).

H: The highly effective (95–100% mortalities), 8 oils.

M: The moderately effective group (81–92% mortalities), 7 oils.

L.: The moderately effective group, include the rest of oils, 17 oils.

Table 3.

Lethal time values of applied oils (1000 ppm) against Culex pipiens larvae.

Oil name LT50 (lower–upper) RE (LT50) LT90 (lower–upper) RE (LT90) LT99 (lower–upper) RE (LT99) Chi (Sig) Regrision equation
Allium sativum 13.95 (3.16–54.44) 2.7 31.17 (18.49–174.49) 2.2 45.20 (26.92–276.44) 2.1 39.30 (0.000a) y = 0.86 + 0.06*x
Anethum graveolens 19.90 (11.30–36.52) 1.9 39.41 (27.22–81.32) 1.8 55.31 (37.96–120.10) 1.8 23.13 (0.000a) y = 1.23 + 0.06*x
Argania spinosa 33.02 (22.75–55.92) 1.1 63.55 (45.59–120.49) 1.1 88.45 (62.33–175.00) 1.1 13.91 (0.008a) y = 1.31 + 0.04*x
Boswellia serrata 20.78 (12.05–37.26) 1.8 41.01 (28.56–82.20) 1.7 57.50 (39.77–121.10) 1.7 22.42 (0.000a) y = 1.27 + 0.06*x
Brassica carinata 32.09 (21.04–59.25) 1.2 62.39 (43.53–132.05) 1.1 87.09 (59.69–193.58) 1.1 17.05 (0.002a) y = 1.33 + 0.04*x
Camellia sinensis 13.02 (3.56–56.12) 2.9 27.65 (16.38–172.03) 2.5 39.58 (23.51–269.84) 2.4 40.31 (0.000a) y = 0.96 + 0.07*x
Cedrus libani A 26.87 (17.55–44.77) 1.4 52.99 (38.06–98.01) 1.3 74.29 (52.64–143.56) 1.3 16.60 (0.002a) y = 1.24 + 0.05*x
Citrullus colocynthis 26.08 (12.80–65.61) 0.0 52.72 (34.03–169.10) 0.0 74.44 (47.49–257.33) 1.3 32.23 (0.000a) y = 1.25 + 0.05*x
Crocus sativus 37.07 (25.39–68.56) 1.0 70.02 (49.05–147.56) 1.0 96.88 (66.53–213.77) 1.0 14.35 (0.006a) y = 1.41 + 0.04*x
Cucurbita maxima 30.90 (22.00–47.60) 1.2 57.85 (43.01–97.25) 1.2 79.81 (58.44–139.44) 1.2 12.91 (0.012a) y = 1.44 + 0.05*x
Cuminum cyminum 22.65 (13.54- I40.07) 1.7 43.44 (30.47–86.24) 1.6 60.39 (42.00–126.16) 1.6 22.68 (0.000a) y = 1.39 + 0.06*x
Cupressus sempervirens 34.67 (26.87–47.96) 1.1 67.29 (52.45–100.54) 1.0 93.88 (71.85–144.86) 1.0 18.16 (0.66a) y = 1.41 + 0.05*x
Curcuma aromatic 20.49 (10.77–39.97) 1.8 41.98 (28.40–94.24) 1.7 59.51 (40.00–141.25) 1.6 25.53 (0.000a) y = 1.14 + 0.05*x
Curcuma longa 33.89 (24.46–52.94) 1.1 63.92 (47.28–109.44) 1.1 88.41 (64.29–157.09) 1.1 11.35 (0.023a) y = 1.37 + 0.04*x
Foeniculum vulgare 10.22 (5.29–21.14) 3.7 20.99 (13.93–49.73) 3.3 29.77 (19.68–74.34) 3.3 21.56 (0.000a) y = 1.06 = 0.1*x
Gadus morhua 27.64 (16.47–54.29) 1.4 55.69 (37.98–128.11) 1.3 78.56 (52.78–191.03) 1.2 21.54 (0.000a) y = 1.2 + 0.04*x
Lepidium sativum 20.06 (11.18–36.90) 1.9 41.06 (28.31–84.97) 1.7 58.18 (39.83–126.60) 1.7 22.42 (0.000a) y = 1.11 + 0.05*x
Linum usitatissimum 26.78 (12.80–77.92) 1.4 55.74 (35.22–213.81) 1.3 79.35 (49.44–328.66) 1.2 31.75 (0.000a) y = 1.18 + 0.04*x
Melaleuca alternifolia 22.36 (9.11–58.90) 1.7 46.52 (29.47–159.02) 1.5 66.22 (41.73–244.98) 1.5 36.44 (0.000a) y = 1.12 + 0.05*x
Nigella sativa 15.67 (5.25–46.57) 2.4 33.48 (20.57–130.64) 2.1 48.00 (29.54–202.69) 2.0 36.89 (0.000a) y = 1.01 + 0.06*x
Panax ginseng 30.16 (19.05–57.39) 1.2 59.66 (41.18–131.40) 1.2 83.70 (56.80–194.15) 1.2 18.86 (0.001a) y = 1.25 + 0.04*x
Piper nigrum 20.14 (9.84–41.84) 1.9 42.45 (28.17–103.75) 1.6 60.63 (40.01–157.34) 1.6 27.10 (0.000a) y = 1.07 + 0.05*x
Prunus dulcis 26.75 (19.88–36.78) 2.6 58.25 (45.50–85.63) 1.4 78.56 (64.49–127.36) 1.2 21.11(0.03a) y = 1.2 + 0.04*x
Ruta chalepensis 25.12 (14.06–50.27) 1.5 50.74 (34.32- 119.52) 1.4 71.63 (47.88- 178.94) 1.4 24.68 (0.000a) y = 1.24 + 0.05
Salvia officinalis 15.42 (5.38–41.36) 2.4 34.12 (21.26–116.53) 2.1 49.37 (30.77–181.26) 2.0 32.84 (0.000a) y = 0.89 + 0.06*x
Sesamum indicum 37.64 (32.87–44.04) 1.0 68.08 (58.97–81.70) 1.0 92.89 (79.68–112.98) 1.0 8.60 (0.720a) y = 1.54 + 0.04*x
Simmondsia chinensis 19.00 (14.03–25.19) 1.9 40.45 (32.52- 55.17) 1.8 57.95 (46.08- 81.12) 1.8 4.20 (0.241a) y = 1.23 + 0.06*x
Syzygium aromaticum 32.14 (21.00–44.84) 1.2 63.13 (43.91–102.50) 1.1 88.39 (60.37–19.40) 1.1 16.81 (0.031a) y = 1.26 + 0.04*x
Tilia americana 26.03 (19.61–35.05) 1.4 52 (43.55–78.29) 1.3 78.62 (61.30–115.31) 1.2 16.6 (0.471a) y = 1.24 + 0.05*x
Thymus vulgaris 9.67 (3.58–33.79) 3.9 21.89 (13.29–104.01) 3.2 31.86 (19.19–163.28) 3.0 33.04 (0.000a) y = 0.88 + 0.09*x
Viola odorata 10.31 (3.88–28.58) 3.6 22.15 (13.76–78.00) 3.2 31.81 (19.76–120.35) 3.0 29.95 (0.000a) y = .96 + 0.09*x
Zingiber officinale 29.27 (19.73–48.49) 1.3 57.30(41.31–105.43) 1.2 80.16 (56.91–153.86) 1.2 14.90 (0.005a) y = 1.26 + 0.04*x
Reference oil Sesamum indicum Crocus sativus

RE Relative efficacy.

Significant values are in [bold].

The efficacy of oils could be classified, 48 h post-treatment (PT) as the highly effective group (H group) inducing 95–100% mortalities, including eight oils: Allium sativum, Anethum graveolens, Camellia sinensis, Foeniculum vulgare, Nigella sativa, Salvia officinalis, T. vulgaris, and Viola odorata. Camellia sinensis and F. vulgare provided 100%, 24 h PT (Table 2).

The LT50 values of the H group ranged from 9.67 (T. vulgaris) to 19.91 (An. graveolens) hours and those of LT99 values ranged from 29.97 (Foeniculum vulgare) to 55.32 (An. graveolens). The relative effects (RE) of such oils according to LT50 values were 2.7, 1.9, 2.9, 3.7, 2.4, 2.4, 3.9, and 3.6 times, respectively, times than S. indicum; whereas those of LT99 values were 2.1, 1.8, 2.4, 3.3, 2.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 3.0 times, respectively, than C. sativus. The Chi-square, significance, and regression equations were provided for all teste oils (Table 3).

The moderately effective (M group) group of oils resulted in 81–92% mortalities 48 h PT, including B. serrata, C. cyminum, C. aromatic, L. sativum, M. alternifolia, P. nigrum, and S. chinensis. They provided 63.33–71.67% mortalities, 24 h PT (Table 2).

The LT50 values of M group ranged from 19.00 (S. chinensis) to 22.65 (C. cyminum) hours and those of LT99 values ranged from 57.95 (S. chinensis) to 66.22 (M. alternifolia) (Table 3). Their RE regarding the LT50 values were 1.8, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 1.7, 1.9, and 1.9 times than S. indicum, respectively, whereas those of LT99 values were 1.7, 1.6, 1.6, 1.7, 1.5, 1.6, and 1.8 times than C. sativus, respectively (Table 3).

The least effective group (L group) included the other 17 oils, and the least effective ones were C. sativus, and S. indicum, providing 62.33 and 60.00% mortalities, 48 h PT, whereas their LT50 values were 37.07 and 37.64 h and their LT99 values were 96.88 and 92.89 h, respectively (Table 3).

Furthermore, the Kruskal–Wallis test was performed to compare the mean differences of more than two groups, followed by the Mann–Whitney test to compare the mean differences between groups. Whereas Kruskal–Wallis and Friedman's tests showed there are significant indications between the three groups at different times (P = 0.001) (Tables 4 and 5).

Table 4.

Kruskal–Wallis test for larval mosquito mortality (%) of plant oil groups at 1000 ppm.

Oil groups Mortality % (mean ± SD)*
0.5 h 2 h 8 h 24 h 48 h
Low 4.2 ± 0.847 12.3 ± 2.278 25.980 ± 6.590 49.4 ± 7.838 71.6 ± 7.39
Medium 5.0 ± 1.361 13.8 ± 4.050 35.950 ± 2.864 69.5 ± 2.841 88.3 ± 3.191
High 7.5 ± 1.260 22.7 ± 1.527 54.792 ± 6.389 87.1 ± 8.533 98.3 ± 1.992
Chi-Square 16.909** 18.152** 23.037** 25.391** 25.098**
df 2 2 2 2 2
Asymp. Sig 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.001

*Means produced by non-parametric analysis (Kruskal–Wallis, p 0.05).

**The X2 value is sig. at significant level 1%

H: The highly effective group (95–100% mortalities) are 8 oils (A. sativum, A. graveolens, C. sinensis, F. vulgare, N. sativa, S. officinalis, T. vulgaris, and V. odorata).

M: The moderately effective group (81–92% mortalities) are 7 oils (B. serrata, C. cyminum, C. aromatic, L. sativum, M. alternifolia, P. nigrum,and S. chinensis).

L.: The moderately effective group are included the rest of oils, 17 oils (A. spinosa, B. carinata, C. libani, C. colocynthis, C. sativus, C. maxima, C. sempervirens, C. longa, G. morhua, L. usitatissimum, P. ginseng, P. dulcis, R. chalepensis, S. indicum, S.aromaticum, T. americana, and Z. officinale).

Table 5.

Friedman test for larval mosquito mortality (%) of plant oil groups at 1000 ppm.

Oil groups 0.5 h 2 h 8 h 24 h 48 h Chi2
Df = 4
Low 4.2 ± 0.847 12.3 ± 2.278 25.980 ± 6.590 49.4 ± 7.838 71.6 ± 7.39 68**
Medium 5.0 ± 1.361 13.8 ± 4.050 35.950 ± 2.864 69.5 ± 2.841 88.3 ± 3.191 28**
High 7.5 ± 1.260 22.7 ± 1.527 54.792 ± 6.389 87.1 ± 8.533 98.3 ± 1.992 31.7**
total 5.21 ± 1.733 15.21 ± 5.111 35.36 ± 13.379 63.23 ± 17.613 81.93 ± 13.09 127.6**

**The X2 value is sig. at significant level 1%

Viola odorata, A. graveolens, T. vulgaris, and N. sativa provide 100% adult mortalities PT with 10. 25. 20, and 25%. The mortality percentages of the adults subjected to 10% of oils (H group) were 48.89%, 88.39, 63.94, 51.54, 92.96, 44.44, 72.22, and 100.0% for A. sativum, An. graveolens, C. sinensis, F. vulgare, N. sativa, S. officinalis T. vulgaris, and V. odorata, respectively. Their adulticidal LC50 values, 24 h PT, were 15.57, 2.42, 9.01, 15.07, 3.42, 20.46, 3.08, and 1.88%; whereas their LC90 values were 38.86, 9.47, 32.18, 33.34, 5.44, 50.76, 16.08, and 7.37%, respectively. Salvia officinalis followed by A. sativum were the least effective oils against adults. According to LC90, N. sativa, V. odorata and An. graveolens killed mosquitoes 9.3, 6.9, and 5.4 times more than S. officinalis (Table 6).

Table 6.

The adulticidal effects of selected plant oils against Culex pipiens after 24 h post-treatments.

Oil name Conc. % Mortality% (mean ± SD) LC50 (lower–upper limit) RE (LC50) LC90 (lower–upper limit) RE (LC90) LC95 (lower–upper limit) RE (LC95) Chi (Sig) Equation
Allium sativum 0 0 ± 0e 15.57 (8.49–28.46) 2.4 38.86 (26.79–81.87) 1.9 45.47 (31.19–97.80) 1.9 24.40 (0.000a) Y = 0.051 + 0.008*x
0.5 20.00 ± 6.67d
2.0 24.44 ± 5.88d
5.0 42.22 ± 2.22c
10 48.89 ± 4.44c
20 62.22 ± 8.01b
40 86.67 ± 3.85a
Anethum graveolens 0 6.37 ± 18.75d 2.42 (0.08–4.22) 8.05 9.47 (4.66–17.80) 5.4 23.25 (7.17–129.13) 2.6 33.254 (.000a) Y = 0.242 + 0.130*x
0.1 36.86 ± 15.46bc
0.5 41.66 ± 27.57b
2 46.12 ± 11.77b
5 75.96 ± 18.84a
10 88.39 ± 7.27a
20 91.85 ± 9.24a
25 100.00 ± 0.00a
Camellia sinensis 0 3.57 ± 20.00c 9.01 (− 17.75 to 23.09) 2.3 32.18 (19.96–170.57) 1.6 38.754 (24.052–218.98) 1.5 26.52 (0.000a) Y = 0.644 + 0.106*x
2 51.51 ± 2.62b
5 61.21 ± 6.30ab
10 63.94 ± 10.22ab
15 75.35 ± 29.22ab
20 78.78 ± 16.87ab
25 91.99 ± 0.45a
Foeniculum vulgare 0 10.50 ± 25.00d 15.07 (0.10–104.60) 1.4 33.34 (21.67–789.17) 1.5 38.53 (24.63–986.39) 1.5 22.19 (0.000a) Y = 0.331 + 0.03*x
5 36.73 ± 16.93bc
10 51.54 ± 11.47ab
15 51.70 ± 2.27ab
20 59.00 ± 16.87ab
25 75.96 ± 1.36a
Nigella sativa 0 4.95 ± 20.61e 3.42 (− 53.96 to 30.15) 6.0 5.44 (− 14.41 to 84.13) 9.3 29.95 (15.87-1184.48) 2.0 57.88 (0.000a) Y = 0.261 + 0.06*x
0.05 41.87 ± 12.75 cd
0.1 60.68 ± 3.73bc
0.5 72.91 ± 6.45ab
1 74.54 ± 19.78ab
2 78.09 ± 18.28ab
10 92.96 ± 9.44ab
25 100.00 ± 6.11ab
Salvia officinalis 0 0 ± 0e 20.46 (11.34–45.85) 1.0 50.76 (33.24–140.52) 1.0 59.35 (38.59–168.23) 1.0 25.35 (0.000a) Y = 0.8022 + 0.091*x
0.5 17.78 ± 2.22d
2.0 22.22 ± 2.22d
5.0 37.78 ± 4.45c
10 44.44 ± 4.44bc
20 53.33 ± 3.85b
40 73.33 ± 7.70a
Thymus vulgaris 0 3.57 ± 7.15c 3.08 (− 3.29 to 7.48) 6.6 16.08 (10.43–41.60) 3.2 19.76 (12.83–52.76) 3.0 34.12 (0.000a) Y = 0.350 + 0.091*x
0.1 38.74 ± 4.28b
0.5 61.66 ± 7.26ab
2 69.82 ± 9.85ab
10 72.22 ± 14.69ab
20 100.00 ± 0.00a
Viola odorata 0 3.57 ± 7.15d 1.88 (− 1.80 to 5.29) 10.8 7.37 (4.46–29.82) 6.9 8.92 (5.43–37.58) 6.6 21.99 (0.001a) Y = 0.190 + 0.112*x
0.1 50.00 ± 10.00c
0.5 54.95 ± 15.61c
1 57.50 ± 19.20c
2 65.83 ± 13.21bc
6 85.05 ± 13.62ab
10 100.00 ± 0.00a
Reference oils Salvia officinalis

Oil phytochemical analysis

Phytochemical analysis of oils of F. vulgare Mill., An. graveolens L., V. odorata L., T. vulgaris L., A. sativum, S. officinalis and C. sinensis by GC/MS and HPLC analysis revealed their major compounds. F. vulgare oil contains Estragole (70.36%); Limonene (8.96%) and 1,3,3-trimethyl Bicyclo [2.2.1]heptan-2-one (2.81%) (Table 7 and Fig. 1).

Table 7.

GC/MS analysis of the Foeniculum vulgare Mill.

Peak no. Rt (min.) MW MF Area % Probabilities of the detected compounds
1 5.03 40 C3H4 0.14 1-Propyne
2 5.22 138 C7H10N2O 0.26 2,3,3a,4,7,7a-Hexahydro-1H-benzimidazol-2-one
3 5.28 348 C19H22ClFN2O 1.06 1-Chloro-3-(3-fluorobenzoyl)-4-(2-(diethylamino)ethylamino)benzene
4 6.38 136 C10H16 0.41 Sabinene
5 6.49 262 C12H23O4P 1.01 Dimethyl{[2,2-dimethyl-3-(2′-methylprop-1′-cyclopropyl]methyl}phosphate
6 7.57 670 C44H27DN4Ni 0.15 (5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl[2-(2)H1]prophyrin-ato)zinx(II)
7 9.17 136 C10H16 8.96 Limonene
8 10.90 152 C10H16O 2.81 1,3,3-trimethyl Bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one
10 14.26 148 C10H12O 70.36 Estragole
11 14.72 818 C44H28Br2N4Ti 0.11 Tetraphenylporphyrinatodibromotitanium (IV)
12 16.70 166 C11H18O 0.47 3,7-Dimethyl-2,6-Nonadienal
13 17.28 152 C10H16O 1.41 2,4-Decadienal
14 18.07 194 C14H26 0.17 1,1′-Bicycloheptyl
15 29.40 300 C17H36O2Si 0.20 Tetradecanoic acid, trimethylsilyl ester
16 32.19 160 C10H21F 0.15 Fluoro decane
17 32.36 244 C13H24O4 0.11 Oxalic acid isohexylpentyl ester
18 33.14 328 C19H40O2Si 1.74 Hexadecanoic acid, trimethylsilyl ester
19 33.78 282 C18H34O2 0.15 (Z) 9-Octadecenoic acid
20 34.03 138 C10H18 0.25 7-Methyl-1-nonyne
21 34.12 282 C18H34O2 0.30 (Z) 9-Octadecenoic acid
22 34.58 256 C16H32O2 0.12 Hexadecanoic acid
23 35.57 280 C18H32O2 1.44 (Z,Z) 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid
24 35.64 280 C18H32O2 1.03 (Z,Z) 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid
25 35.70 356 C21H40O4 0.53 2,3-Dihydroxypropylelaidate
26 35.76 238 C16H30O 1.67 Z-7-Hexadecenal
27 36.25 280 C18H32O2 0.23 (Z,Z )9,12-Octadecadienoic acid
28 36.38 266 C18H34O 0.43 12-Octadecenal
29 42.83 142 C9H18O 0.13 Nonanal
31 46.93 660 C20Cl12 0.13 Dodecachloroperylene
32 48.70 295 C20H25NO 0.61 (R)-1-[N-1-cyclopentylpropionylamino-1-ethyl]naphthalene
33 50.05 354 C20H18O6 0.38 Isosesamin

Figure 1.

Figure 1

GC/MS analysis of the Foeniculum vulgare Mill.

Anethum graveolens showed abundance of 4-Pyridinecarbaldehyde-4-propyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (32.13%); 1,5-dimethyl-1,5-Cyclooctadiene (17.19%); Dihydrocarvone (5.98%); 3a(1H)-Azulenol,2,3,4,5,8,8a-hexahydro-6,8-adimethyl-3-(1-methylethyl),[3R-(3à,3aà,8aà)] (Carotol) (21.26%); and tricyclic compound Daucol (2.39%) (Table 8 and Fig. 2).

Table 8.

GC/MS analysis of the Anethum graveolens L.

Peak no. Rt (min.) MW MF Area % Probabilities of the detected compounds
1 5.14 238 C13H18O4 0.49 Diethyl 3,4-bis(methylene)cyclopentane-1,1-dicarboxylate
2 5.21 600 C33H28O11 0.69 (2′S,3S,3′S,P)-hydroxyanhydrophlegmacin-9,10-quinone 8′-O-methylether
3 7.65 290 C19H30O2 0.06 2-(2′-Isopropenyldec-2′-enyl)methylcyclopentane-1,3-dione
4 9.18 136 C10H16 17.19 1,5-Dimethyl-1,5-Cyclooctadiene
5 9.35 136 C10H16 0.23 dl-Limonene
6 14.05 152 C10H16O 5.98 Dihydrocarvone
7 14.25 152 C10H16O 0.86 CIS-DIHYDROCARVONE
8 15.44 150 C10H14O 14.62 2-Methyl-5-(1-methylethenyl)2-Cyclohexen-1-one
9 15.80 733 C44H28Cl2N4V 0.07 Dichloro(5,10,15,20-tetra phenylporphyrinato)vanadium
10 16.71 692 C41H33FeO5P 0.13 Dicarbonyl(1,3-5-ü-6-phenyl-2-(phenylethynyl)cyclohept-4-ene-1,3-diyl) triphenoxyphosphaneiron
11 17.29 110 C8H14 0.47 octahydro Pentalene
12 18.89 675 C44H28CuN4 0.09 (5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl[2-(2)H1]prophyrinato)copper(II)
13 20.82 204 C15H24 0.10 à-Humulene
14 21.36 686 C37H24Cl2N6O4 0.08 2,2-Bis[4[[4-chloro-6-(3-ethynylphenoxy)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]oxy]phenyl]propane
15 21.92 134 C10H14 0.14 1,2,3,4-Tetramethyl-5-methylenecyclopenta-1,3-diene
16 22.07 204 C15H24 0.38 á –Bisabolene
17 22.16 648 C35H38Cl2N4O4 0.11 2,4-bis(á-chloroethyl)-6,7-bis[á-methoxycarbonylethyl]-1,3,5-trimethylporphyrin
18 22.36 640 C32H64O5Si4 0.23 OTETRAKIS(TRIMETHYLSILYL)3,5-DIHYDROXY-2-(3-HYDROXY-1-OCTENYL)CYCLOPENTANEHEPTANOATE
19 23.34 208 C14H24O 0.18 3-Oxabicyclo[3.3.1]non-6-ene
20 24.23 222 C15H26O 21.26 3a(1H)-Azulenol,2,3,4,5,8,8a-hexahydro-6,8-adimethyl-3-(1-methylethyl),[3R-(3à,3aà,8aà)]
21 24.57 572 C23H26Br2O7 0.10 Dibromogomisin A
22 25.05 222 C10H14N4S 32.13 4-Pyridinecarbaldehyde-4-propyl-3-thiosemicarbazone
23 25.28 238 C15H26O2 2.39 Daucol
24 26.01 194 C12H18O2 0.06 3-(1-Hydroxyhexyl)phenol
25 27.54 220 C15H24O 0.06 Trans-Z-à-Bisaboleneepoxide
26 33.01 2598 N/A 0.07 YGRKKRRQRRRGPVKRRLDL/5
27 34.16 691 C51H33NO2 0.07 2,6-Bis(2,3,5-triphenyl-4-oxocyclopentadienyl)pyridine
28 35.47 733 C44H28Cl2N4V 0.08 Dichloro(5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrinato)vanadium
29 40.31 739 C39H81NO4Si4 0.13 (3S,4R,1′E,2″R,3″R)-1-tertButyldimethylsilyl-4-(3′-tertbutyldimethylsilyloxy-2′-methylprop-1′-enyl)-3-(1″,3″ di(tertbutyldimethylsilyloxy)-2″-methylhex-5″-yl]-3-methylazetidin-2-one
31 43.48 114 C6H10O2 0.13 3,4-Hexanedione
32 50.56 680 C35H40O5Si5 0.06 Pentamethylpentaphenylcyclopentasiloxane
33 51.11 733 C44H28Cl2N4V 0.09 Dichloro(5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrinato)vanadium

Figure 2.

Figure 2

GC/MS analysis of the Anethum graveolens L.

Viola odorata L. oil contains Diphenyl ether (42.04%); alpha.-Ionone(11.87%); (Z)-5-(4-tert-Butyl-1-hydroxycyclohexyl)-3-methylpent-2-en-4-yne (7.22%); 2,3,3a,4,5,5a,6,7,9a,9b-decahydro-3,5a,9-trimethyl-7,9a-peroxy Naphtho-[1,2-b]furan-2-one (6.6%); 2-hexyl-1-Decanol (4.15%); and hexadecahydro-Pyrene (2.79%) (Table 9 and Fig. 3).

Table 9.

GC/MS analysis of the Viola odorata L.

Peak no. Rt (min.) MW MF Area % Probabilities of the detected compounds
1 23.923 170 C12H10O 42.04 Diphenyl ether
2 24.735 192 C13H20O 11.87 .alpha.-Ionone
3 26.485 192 C13H20O 7.73 3-Buten-2-one, 4-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexen-1-yl)
4 28.317 236 C15H24O2 0.61 Limonen-6-ol, pivalate
5 28.58 226 C13H22O3 0.9 2-Hydroxy-1,1,10-trimethyl-6,9-epidioxydecalin
6 28.786 238 C16H30O 1.26 7-Hexadecenal, (Z)-
7 29.599 236 C16H28O 0.83 7,11-Hexadecadienal
8 29.713 296 C20H40O 1.48 Phytol
9 29.959 242 C16H34O 2.15 2-Hexyl-1-Decanol
10 30.074 378 C25H46O2 1.09 Undec-10-ynoic acid, tetradecyl ester
11 30.211 296 C20H40O 1.02 PHYTOL ISOMER
12 30.881 266 C16H26O3 0.67 2-Dodecen-1-yl(-)succinic anhydride
13 31.338 242 C16H34O 2.14 1-Decanol, 2-hexyl-
14 31.939 218 C16H26 2.79 hexadecahydroPyrene
15 32.054 240 C17H36 0.7 Tetradecane, 2,6,10-trimethyl
16 34.245 250 C16H26O2 7.22 (Z)-5-(4-tert-Butyl-1-hydroxycyclohexyl)-3-methylpent-2-en-4-yne
17 35.092 264 C15H20O4 6.6 2,3,3a,4,5,5a,6,7,9a,9b-decahydro-3,5a,9-trimethyl-7,9a-peroxy Naphtho[1,2-b]furan-2-one
18 35.269 264 C15H20O4 4.73 2,3,3a,4,5,5a,6,7,9a,9b-decahydro-3,5a,9-trimethyl-7,9a-peroxy Naphtho [1,2-b]furan-2-one
19 35.905 242 C16H34O 2.19 2-hexyl-1-Decanol
20 37.146 266 C18H34O 1.89 Z,E-2,13-Octadecadien-1-ol
21 23.923 170 C12H10O 0.78 Diphenyl ether

Figure 3.

Figure 3

GC/MS analysis of the sample Viola odorata L.

Thymus vulgaris oil included 2-Ethynyl-3-hydroxypyridine (12.37%); 2-á-pinene(8.92%),2,5-Dipropoxybenzalde-hyde (7.70%); 5-Amino-8-cyano-7-methoxy-3,4-dihydro-3-methy-l1,6-naphthyridin- (1H)-one (5.05%); à-terpinyl acetate (5.00%); 4-methyl-1-(1-methyl-ethyl)-3-Cyclohexen-1-ol (4.73%), 3-(6,6-Dimethyl-5-oxohept-2-enyl)-cyclo-heptanone (4.54%); 10-Methylnonadecane(4.12%); 9-methyl Nonadecane-(3.55%); n1,1′-oxybis Decane (2.36%); 7,11-Hexadecadienal (2.14%); and (2R,3R)-3- (2-Methoxy-4-methylphenyl)-2,3-dimethylcyclopentanone (2.01%) (Table 10 and Fig. 4).

Table 10.

GC/MS analysis of Thymus vulgaris L.

Peak no. Rt (min.) MW MF Area % Probabilities of the detected compounds
1 5.1 208 C13H20O2 0.86 TRANS-á-IONON-5,6-EPOXIDE
2 5.23 122 C8H15B 0.79 1-Borabicyclo[4.3.0]nonane
3 6.46 136 C10H16 1.85 Tricyclene
4 6.86 136 C10H16 0.69 Camphene
5 7.64 136 C10H16 8.92 2-á-pinene
6 9.07 119 C7H5NO 12.37 2-Ethynyl-3-hydroxypyridine
7 11.32 196 C12H20O2 0.68 Linalyl acetate
8 12.50 152 C10H16O 1.27 (1S) Bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one, 1,7,7-trimethyl
9 13.39 156 C10H20O 0.78 1-Methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)Cyclohexanol
10 13.51 154 C10H18O 4.73 4-Methyl-1-(1-methylethyl)-3-Cyclohexen-1-ol
11 13.91 154 C10H18O 1.13 à,à,4-trimethyl (S) 3-Cyclohexene-1-methanol
12 15.67 182 C11H18O2 0.63 linalyl formate
13 16.48 196 C12H20O2 1.76 EXOBORNYL ACETATE
14 18.17 196 C12H20O2 5.00 à-terpinyl acetate
15 20.52 142 C9H18O 0.56 3-Ethylheptanal
16 21.94 268 C19H40 0.58 Nonadecane
17 22.84 199 C9H13NO4 1.87 2S,7S Methyl-2-Hydroxy-3-oxotetrahydro-1-Hpyrrolizine-7a-(5H)-carboxylate
18 22.97 226 C16H34 0.92 Pentadecane-5-methyl
19 23.10 212 C15H32 0.75 3-ethyl Tridecane
20 23.22 348 C19H40O3S 0.84 hexyltridecyl ester Sulfurous acid
21 23.39 226 C16H34 1.09 3-methyl Pentadecane
22 24.06 168 C8H12N2O2 1.52 1,6-diisocyanato Hexane
23 24.24 298 C20H42O 2.36 1,1′-oxybis Decane,
24 24.40 282 C20H42 0.81 Eicosane
25 24.65 334 C18H38O3S 0.57 Sulfurous acid, butyltetradecyl ester
26 25.10 282 C20H42 4.12 10-Methylnonadecane
27 25.24 268 C19H40 1.00 7-hexyl Tridecane
28 25.37 334 C18H38O3S 1.10 6-Tetradecanesulfonic acid, butyl ester
29 25.49 334 C18H38O3S 1.44 6-Tetradecanesulfonic acid, butyl ester
31 25.68 250 C16H26O2 4.54 3-(6,6-Dimethyl-5-oxohept-2-enyl)-cycloheptanone
32 25.98 222 C13H18O3 7.70 2,5-Dipropoxybenzaldehyde
33 26.30 352 C25H52 1.33 Pentacosane
34 26.44 282 C20H42 3.55 9-methyl, Nonadecane
35 26.62 224 C16H32 1.08 1-Hexadecene
36 26.84 236 C16H28O 2.14 7,11-Hexadecadienal
37 27.25 232 C11H12N4O2 5.05 5-Amino-8-cyano-7-methoxy-3,4-dihydro-3-methy-l1,6-naphthyridin-2(1H)-one
38 27.32 232 C15H20O2 2.01 (2R,3R)-3-(2-Methoxy-4-methylphenyl)-2,3-dimethylcyclopentanone
39 27.42 282 C20H42 0.87 2,6-dimethyl Octadecane
40 27.54 310 C22H46 0.77 8-heptyl Pentadecane
41 27.65 376 C21H44O3S 0.61 Sulfurous acid, hexyl pentadecyl ester
42 27.82 226 C16H34 0.88 Hexadecane
43 28.42 164 C5H9BrO 0.62 1-Bromo-2-methyl-3-Buten-2-ol
44 28.54 242 C16H34O 1.25 2-Hexyl-1-decanol
45 28.69 111 C7H13N 1.08 1-isocyano Hexane
46 29.32 116 C7H16O 1.94 2-ethyl 1-Pentanol
47 30.70 200 C13H28O 0.82 2-Propyldecan-1-ol
48 31.33 197 C11H19NO2 0.98 2-Ethylhexyl cyanoacetate
49 33.27 592 C41H84O 0.70 1-Hentetracontanol
50 36.28 324 C23H48 0.57 9-hexyl Heptadecane
51 37.92 366 C26H54 0.58 5,14-dibutyl Octadecane

Figure 4.

Figure 4

GC/MS analysis of Thymus vulgaris L.

Allium sativum contains many effective chemical compounds including the 9-Octadecenamide, (Z)-(29.07%), Trisulfide, di-2-propenyl (14.86%), and isochiapin B%2 < (8.63%) compounds (Table 11 and Fig. 5).

Table 11.

GC/MS analysis of the Allium sativum.

Peak no. Rt (min.) MW MF Area % Probabilities of the detected compounds
1 6.27 146 C6H10S2 4.54 Diallyl disulphide
2 7.49 152 C4H8S3 9.68 Trisulfide, methyl 2-propenyl
3 9.35 178 C6H10S3 14.86 Trisulfide, di-2-propenyl
4 12.22 350 C19H26O6 8.63 ISOCHIAPIN B %2 < 
5 14.97 334 C20H30O4 3.54 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, butyl octyl ester
6 16.05 346 C19H22O6 3.11 ISOCHIAPIN B
7 17.67 387 C17H37N7O3 7.84 9-OCTADECENAMIDE
8 19.61 281 C18H35NO 29.07 9-Octadecenamide, (Z)-
10 21.40 208 C11H12O2S 4.25 3-(Benzylthio)acrylic acid, methyl ester
11 23.27 300 C19H24O3 5.86 3,17-DIOXO-11-à-HYDROXYANDROSTANE-1,4-DIENE
12 23.54 436 C26H44O5 1.82 3 Ethyl iso-allocholate
13 23.62 490 C34H50O2 6.81 CHOLEST-5-EN-3-YL BENZOATE

9-Octadecenamide, (Z)- (29.07), Trisulfide, di-2-propenyl (14.86), and ISOCHIAPIN B %2 < (8.63).

Figure 5.

Figure 5

GC/MS analysis of Allium sativum.

Salvia officinalis oil showed abundance of Terpinen-4-ol (17.35%), Camphor (16.08%), 14-á-H-PREGNA (9.25%), and 1-CHLOROOCTADECANE (6.82%), (Table 12 and Fig. 6). Finally, C. sinensis oil is dissolved in distilled water and its major components include Gallic acid (1674 µg/ml), Catechin (421 µg/ml), Methyl gallate (1076 µg/ml), Coffeic acid (678 µg/ml), Coumaric acid (566 µg/ml), Naringenin (178 µg/ml), and Kaempferol (218 µg/ml), Table 13. Essential oils and the most active ingredients of the analyzed oils were drawn (Fig. 7).

Table 12.

GC/MS analysis of the Salvia officinalis.

Peak no. Rt (min.) MW MF Area % Probabilities of the detected compounds
1 10.22 152 C10H16O 16.08 Camphor
2 10.90 156 C10H20O 5.24 Cyclohexanol, 1-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)-
3 11.47 154 C10H18O 17.35 Terpinen-4-ol
4 13.86 254 C13H24O2 2.47 Tridecanedial
5 14.50 280 C18H32O2 3.43 17-Octadecynoic acid
6 15.70 400 C28H48O 0.90 Cholestan-3-ol, 2-methylene-, (3á,5à)-
7 16.68 268 C17H32O2 1.80 7-Methyl-Z-tetradecen-1-ol acetate
8 17.50 280 C19H36O 1.63 12-Methyl-E,E-2,13-octadecadien-1-ol
10 17.99 288 C21H36 2.03 14-á-H-PREGNA
11 19.18 288 C18H37Cl 5.13 1-CHLOROOCTADECANE
12 19.51 288 C21H36 1.77 14-á-H-PREGNA
13 19.86 450 C32H66 4.33 DOTRIACONTANE
14 20.18 536 C37H76O 1.41 1-Heptatriacotanol
15 20.32 268 C16H28O3 1.15 Z-(13,14-Epoxy)tetradec-11-en-1-ol acetate
16 20.55 258 C16H34S 1.58 tert-Hexadecanethiol
17 20.80 312 C20H40O2 3.17 Ethanol, 2-(9-octadecenyloxy)-, (Z)-
18 20.90 288 C21H36 2.18 14-á-H-PREGNA
19 21.26 350 C19H26O6 0.73 ISOCHIAPIN B %2<
20 21.61 288 C18H37Cl 6.82 1-CHLOROOCTADECANE
21 21.84 294 C21H36 3.7 14-á-H-PREGNA
22 22.39 288 C21H36 0.82 1-Heptatriacotanol
23 22.47 346 C19H22O6 2.74 ISOCHIAPIN B
24 22.73 288 C21H36 9.25 14-á-H-PREGNA
25 23.09 280 C19H36O 2.20 12-Methyl-E,E-2,13-octadecadien-1-ol
26 23.23 350 C19H26O6 2.05 ISOCHIAPIN B %2 < 

Figure 6.

Figure 6

GC/MS analysis of Salvia officinalis.

Table 13.

HPLC analysis for Camellia sinensis.

Standard Sample green tea
St. compound Conc. (µg/ml) Area Compound Area Conc. (µg/ml = µg/g)
allic acid 16.8 179.72 Gallic acid 895.77 1674.71
Chlorogenic acid 28 335.23 Chlorogenic acid 75.30 125.79
Catechin 67.5 584.16 Catechin 182.42 421.56
Methyl gallate 10.2 789.05 Methyl gallate 4163.86 1076.52
Coffeic acid 18 469.51 Coffeic acid 895.98 687.01
Syringic acid 17.2 389.86 Syringic acid 30.41 26.83
Pyro catechol 29.2 451.95 Pyro catechol 0.00 0.00
Rutin 61 457.55 Rutin 71.83 191.53
Ellagic acid 34.3 495.60 Ellagic acid 37.52 51.93
Coumaric acid 13.2 729.56 Coumaric acid 1566.70 566.93
Vanillin 12.9 543.81 Vanillin 0.00 0.00
Ferulic acid 12.4 353.45 Ferulic acid 71.09 49.88
Naringenin 15 266.56 Naringenin 158.25 178.11
Taxifolin 13.2 189.35 Taxifolin 16.08 22.42
Cinnamic acid 5.8 573.08 Cinnamic acid 0.00 0.00
Kaempferol 12 289.35 Kaempferol 263.99 218.97

Figure 7.

Figure 7

Essential oils and their most active ingredients.

Discussion

EOs could serve as suitable alternatives to synthetic insecticides because they are relatively safe, available, and biodegradable15. In this study, 32 oils were evaluated against Cx. pipiens. Thymus vulgare and C. sinensis were the most effective larvicides (100% mortality 24 h PT). The larvicidal effect of the H group could be arranged according to their LT50 values (h) as follows: T. vulgaris (9.67), F. vulgare (10.22), V. odorata (10.31), C. sinensis (13.02), A. sativum (13.95), S. officinalis (15.42), N. sativa (15.67), then An. graveolens (19.90). On the other hand, their LT99 values ranged from 29.77 (F. vulgare) to 55.31 (An. graveolens).

In this study, the most effective oils against adults were An. graveolens and V. odorata followed by T. vulgaris then N. sativa. The data revealed that F. vulgare is a highly potent larvicide. Similarly, its oil controlled Anopheles atroparvus, Culex quinquefasciatus23,24, and Aedes aegypti25. Despite its effectiveness as larvicide in this study, F. vulgare was the least effective adulticide. In contrast, it induced adulticidal properties against Cx. quinquefasciatus23.

Our data indicated that C. sinensis was a highly effective larvicide and the less effective adulticide. Comparatively, the chemical extracts of C. sinensis induced larvicidal and adult repellent effects against Cx. pipiens providing the highest protection (100%) from the bites of starved females at the dose of 6 mg/cm226. Moreover, its leaf extract showed larvicidal effect against Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles gambiae (s.s.)27.

Thymus vulgarisd An. graveolens showed potent larvicidal and adulticidal effects in this work. Likewise, T. vulgaris has both effects against Cx. quinquefasciatus28 and Ae. aegypti29. Thymus vulgaris exhibited larvicidal properties, 100% mortality, against Cx. pipiens larvae, at 200 ppm, whereas the LC25 and LC50 vlalues indicated no effect on AChE activity, activation of the detoxification system, as indicated by an increase in GST activity and a decrease in GSH rate30.

Our findings agree with another study found that the most potent EOs out of 53 oils against larvae were F. vulgare, T. vulgaris, Citrus medica (lime), and C. sinensis (LC50 = 27.5, 31.6, 51.3, 53.5 ppm, respectively). C. sinensis was the most efficient EOs enhancing the efficacy of deltamethrin, co-toxic factor = 316.67, over than PBO, the positive control, co-toxic factor = 283.35)31.

Some oils applied in this study showed a similar larvicidal effect against Cx. pipiens as N. sativa32,33 and S. officinalis34. Some essential oils such as T. vulgaris, S. officinalis, C. sempervirens and A. graveolens had a larvicidal effect against mosquito larvae and their LC90 values were < 200–300 ppm. This result may be due to several reasons, including the percentages of their principal components compositions that are manipulated according to the origin of plant oil, quality of oil, susceptibility of the strain used, oil storage conditions, and technical conditions3537.

Likewise our findings, An. graveolens and F. vulgare act as larvicidal, pupicidal, and oviposition deterrent agents against M. domestica38. Moreover, Ocimum basilicum was the most effective extract tested on Cx. pipiens larvae and adults39,40.

Allium sativum showed high potency against larvae in this study. A similar finding was recorded for Cx. pipiens and Culex restuans (LC50 = 7.5 and 2.7 ppm, respectively)41. Argania spinosa oil showed a low larvicidal effect in this study. A similar effect was recorded against Cx. quinquefasciatus larvae42.

Curcuma species was less effective in this study, but its 27 components as curcuminoids and monocarbonyl curcumin derivatives were effective larvicidal agents against Cx. Pipiens and Ae. albopictus43 and hexane extraction of Curcuma longa showed 100% larvicidal activity against Cx. pipiens and Aedes albopictus at 1000 ppm after being treated 24 h44.

Zingiber officinale and Syzygium aromaticum were less effective. In contrast, they were effective against Cx. pipiens (LC50 = as 71.85 and 30.75, respectively)45.

Sesamum indicum is one of the L group in this study. In contrast, petroleum ether extract showed larvidcidal, antifeedant and repellent action against Cx. pipiens33. Furthermore, EOs of N. sativa, Allium cepa, and S. indicum, induced larvicidal effect and their LC50 values against both field and laboratory strains of Cx. pipiens were 247.99 and 108.63; 32.11 and 2.87; and finally, 673.22 and 143.87 ppm, respectively. They influenced the pupation and adult emergence rates besides developmental abnormalities at sublethal concentrations46.

Boswellia serrata (M group) and Brassica carinata (L group) showed relative larvicide against Cx. pipiens in this study. A similar result was reported47,48. The lethal concentration values of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-grecum), earth almond (Cyperus esculentus), mustard (Brassica compestris), olibanum (Boswellia serrata), rocket (Eruca sativa), and parsley (Carum ptroselinum) were 32.42, 47.17, 71.37, and 83.36, 86.06, and 152.94 ppm, respectively. Against Cx. pipiens larvae. Furthermore, increasing concentrations were directly proportional to the reduction of both pupation and adult emergences rates48.

Some oil-resins as Commiphora molmol, Araucaria heterophylla, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Pistacia lentiscus, and Boswellia sacra showed larvicidal activity against Cx pipiens larvae. The larvicidal effect 24 and 48 h PT, respectively, were for acetone extracts, 1500 ppm, of C. molmol (83.3% and 100% and LC50 = 623.52 and 300.63 ppm) and A. heterophylla (75% and 95% and LC50 = 826.03 and 384.71 ppm). On the other hand, the aqueous extract of A. heterophylla induced higher moralities (LC50 = 2819.85 ppm and 1652.50 ppm), followed by C. molmol, (LC50 = 3178.22 and 2322.53 ppm)49.

A similar larvicidal effect was recorded for Rosmarinus officinalis, hexane extract (80 and 160 ppm), reduced 100% mortality against 3rd and 4th instars larvae of Cx. pipiens and the toxicity increased in the pupal and adult stages50.

Out of 36 essential oils, red moor besom leaf oil has strong fumigation activity against Cx. pipiens pallens adults51. Similar to the adulticidal effect of the applied oils in this work, some other oils have adulticidal activities against mosquitoes as Cedrus deodara, Eucalyptus citriodora, Cymbopogon flexuous, Cymbopogon winterianus, Pinus roxburghii, S. aromaticum, and Tagetes minuta52. The Leaf Oils of Cinnamomum species had adulticidal activities against Ae. aegypti and Aedes albopictus53. EOs have adulticidal effects against Musca domestica54 as A. sativum, S. aromaticum, and F. vulgare55. Essential oils of Melaleuca leucadendron (L.) and Callistemon citrinus (Curtis) showed 100% adult mortality against Aedes aegypti (L.) and Cx. quinquefasciatus (Say), 24 h exposure56.

The results showed that A. sativum, and S. officinalis oils were effective against mosquito larvae, maybe due to the presence of a number of active secondary compounds such as ISOCHIAPIN B%2 < (sesquiterpene lactone) and 9-Octadecenamide, (Z)-that are anti-inflammatory activity57, also, Terpinen-4-ol and Camphor in Sage oil that these are excellent natural insecticide58, but these oils garlic and Sage did not show the required efficacy against adult mosquitoes.

The phytochemical analysis of this study revealed the major activated compounds of the analyzed oils. Green tea oil is a highly effective larvicide in this study contains a high amount of polyphenols that have antioxidant activity. A similar finding was reported59. Our data indicated that green tea oil also contains polyphenols as Gallic acid, Catechin, Methyl gallate, Coffeic acid, Coumaric acid, Naringenin, and Kaempferol which might aid in its insecticidal effect.

This study indicated that F. vulgare contains Estragole (70.36%) and Limonene (8.96%). Similarly, Limonene as a cyclic monoterpene has a viable insecticidal effect60. Besides, Estragole induced toxicity to adult fruit flies, Ceratitis capitata61. Moreover, An. graveolens contains thiosemicarbazone (32.13%) in this study. Likewise, thiosemicarbazide is a major component An. graveolens with insecticidal effect62. Also, Dauco and carotol are essential oils documented for An. graveolens in this work have repellent activity against adult Ae. aegypti, Ae. albopictus, and Anopheles quadrimaculatus Say63. Furthermore, V. odorata in the present analysis contains alpha-ionone, which revealed anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects64. Thymus vulgaris showed good alpha-pinene and pyridine derivatives that play an important role as larvicidal and adulticidal effects against Ae. aegypti and growth regulator, respectively65,66. In addition, the combination of all constituents may promote their individual larvicidal and adulticidal effects.

The biochemical compositions showed that T. vulgaris oil affected the energy reserves with a marked effect on proteins and lipids30. The differences between our findings and those of the others could be attributed to the biological activities and the chemical composition for EOs, which could vary between plant age, tissues, geographical origin, the part used in the distillation process, distillation type, and the species. Therefore, types and levels of active constituents in each oil may be responsible for the variability in their potential against pests16.

Conclusions

Diseases transmitted by mosquitoes represent global concerns. Our findings demonstrate the potential of F. vulgare and C. sinensis as the most potent larvicides and N. sativa, V. odorata, and An. graveolens as the most effective adulticides as they contain good command of different essential oils. EOs could be used for integrated mosquito control programs as larvicides or synergists for enhancing the efficacy of current adulticides31. Further studies are needed to develop nanoformulations that improve the efficacy and minimize applications after revealing their ecotoxicological side views.

Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the Science, Technology, Innovation Funding Authority, Egypt, entitled: “Lumpy Skin Disease in Cattle and Development of Sustainable Pest Management Tools”, Project ID: 37024.

Author contributions

Conceptualization, A.A., A.M. and M.B.; methodology, H.K., M.B., I.R.; validation, M.B., I.R. and A.A.; formal analysis, A.A. and H.K.; resources, A.A.; writing—original draft preparation, M.B., I.R., H.K. and A.A.; writing—review and editing, H.K., A.A., A.M. and A.S.; supervision, H.K.; project administration, A.S.; funding acquisition, A.S. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

Open access funding provided by The Science, Technology & Innovation Funding Authority (STDF) in cooperation with The Egyptian Knowledge Bank (EKB).

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Footnotes

Publisher's note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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