The use of botanical extracts of the plant Jatropha curcas (Euphorbiaceae) represents a valuable alternative to control insect pests and avoid the detrimental effects on the environment and health that arise due to synthetic chemical insecticides. Thus, we conducted a systematic review to summarize the published evidence on the bioactivity of J. curcas against insect pests. Electronic databases were searched to identify studies that assessed J. curcas extracts against insect pests in various types of crops. We included 39 articles that reported the insecticidal and insectistatic activity of several botanical extracts from J. curcas against insects of eight different taxonomic orders. The evidence demonstrates that aqueous and methanolic extracts from seeds and leaves, seed oil, and petroleum ether seed extracts were effective against insect pests of stored grains, aphids of cabbage and sorghum, fruit flies, and desert locusts. The extracts caused high mortality, controlled the populations, reduced oviposition, diminished hatchability, and increased the antifeedant effect. However, the type of solvent used to obtain the botanical extract and the method of application (contact or food) are fundamental to increase its bioactivity. Therefore, botanical extracts from seeds and leaves of J. curcas should be considered as an alternative against insect pests and may be incorporated into integrative and sustainable management for insect control.

The armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is the main pest that attacks corn, and it has acquired resistance to chemical insecticides. In this study, the insecticidal and insectistatic activity of hexanic, acetonic, methanolic, and aqueous extracts of four genotypes of physic nut Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae) seeds (Utim 1, Utim 2, Ahuehuetzingo, and Ceprobi) against S. frugiperda larvae was assessed. The acetonic extract at 5,000 ppm of the Utim 1 genotype, presented insectistatic activity by decreasing the weight gain of S. frugiperda larvae at 7 days by 66.7 % and at 14 days by 71.8 %, and prolonged larval development by 13 days, in addition to causing larval and pupal mortality of 72 and 84 %, respectively. The hexanic extract of Utim 2 showed insecticidal activity with a larval and pupal mortality of 80 % at 5,000 ppm. On the other hand, the acetonic extract of the Ahuehuetzingo genotype showed greater insecticidal activity at 5,000 ppm, with 100 % mortality of S. frugiperda larvae and pupae. The hexanic extract of the Ceprobi genotype presented insectistatic activity at 5,000 and 2,500 ppm, by reducing the weight gain of the larvae at 7 and 14 days by 47.6 and 74.3 % for 5,000 ppm and 28.5 and 53.0 % for 2,500 ppm. In addition, the acetonic and aqueous extracts at 5,000 ppm caused mortality of 76 and 80 % in S. frugiperda larvae and pupae, respectively. All concentrations of the Utim 2 and Ahuehuetzingo genotypes caused a phagostimulant effect on the feeding of insect pest larvae. J. curcas seed extracts can be explored as a useful alternative for the agroecological control of S. frugiperda.

We conducted a scoping review to 1) map and categorize published studies reporting interventions during the in vitro production of Bovine embryos and 2) qualitatively summarize the effects of treatments based on hormones, growth factors, sera, and reproductive fluids during oocyte maturation and embryo development. We searched electronic databases using keywords ('Bovine', 'embryo', 'blastocyst', 'oocyte', 'in vitro', 'quality') derived from the PIOS approach of the PRISMA statement. We identified 231 studies published during 2000−2021, with 133 being published between 2012 and 2021. The 231 studies were classified into four treatment categories: culture conditions (28), medium composition (45), bioactive supplements (79), and other additives (79), with 19 subcategories within these categories. A total of 77 studies included hormones, growth factors, sera, and reproductive fluids, among which 53 studies reported a positive effect on embryo production. Hormone-based treatments using melatonin, gonadotropins, and steroids were the most effective, followed by interventions assessing growth factors such as EGF, FGF, IGF-1, and BMP. These treatments improved oocyte competence, cytoplasmic/nuclear maturation, oocyte quality, and blastocyst development. Although free-serum media and synthetic/alternative products can partially or totally replace serum, it is sometimes necessary even at low concentrations. At high concentrations, hormones or growth factors may have detrimental effects on oocyte nuclear maturation, impair embryo development, and decrease embryo survival. Further meta-analyses are needed to estimate the intervention-specific effects. Future research should focus on interventions that have a positive effect and can be used extensively for Bovine production.

The use of botanical extracts of the plant Jatropha curcas (Euphorbiaceae) represents a valuable alternative to control insect pests and avoid the detrimental effects on the environment and health that arise due to synthetic chemical insecticides. Thus, we conducted a systematic review to summarize the published evidence on the bioactivity of J. curcas against insect pests. Electronic databases were searched to identify studies that assessed J. curcas extracts against insect pests in various types of crops. We included 39 articles that reported the insecticidal and insectistatic activity of several botanical extracts from J. curcas against insects of eight different taxonomic orders. The evidence demonstrates that aqueous and methanolic extracts from seeds and leaves, seed oil, and petroleum ether seed extracts were effective against insect pests of stored grains, aphids of cabbage, sorghum, fruit flies, and desert locusts. The extracts caused high mortality, controlled the populations, reduced oviposition, diminished hatchability, and increased the antifeedant effect. However, the type of solvent used to obtain the botanical extract and the method of application (contact or food) are fundamental to increase its bioactivity. Therefore, botanical extracts from seeds and leaves of J. curcas should be considered as an alternative against insect pests and may be incorporated into integrative and sustainable management for insect control.

Tenebrio molitor is a common stored grains pest. The conventional way for its management involves the use of synthetic fumigants. Despite their effectiveness, these can cause environmental damage. The use of essential oils has emerged as an alternative for its management. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess Lantana camara essential oil (EO) and endo-borneol biological activities against T. molitor. Insecticidal activity and weight gain were evaluated through the impregnated paper method against larvae and adults, while repellency was conducted with a Y-tube olfactometer; L. camara EO showed higher mortality for T. molitor adults (LC₅₀ = 7.2 μL EO L⁻¹ air) than for larvae (LC₅₀ = 13.7 μL EO L⁻¹ air) after 30 d. Furthermore, L. camara EO was found to be repellent for T. molitor adults (RC₅₀ = 0.08 μL EO cm⁻²). Regarding the EO composition, endo-borneol was identified by GC-MS as a major compound with 14.24% abundance. Larvae exhibited higher susceptibility (LC₅₀ = 7.8 μL L⁻¹ air) to endo-borneol than adults (LC₅₀ = 46 μL L⁻¹ air) after 72 h. Notably, endo-borneol demonstrated significantly higher repellent activity (RC₅₀ = 0.03 μL cm⁻²) than L. camara EO (RC₅₀ = 0.08 μL EO cm⁻²). These findings suggest that endo-borneol has potential as a natural source alternative for T. molitor management.