Mosquitoes are one of the main vectors of many important diseases and their degree of resistance to chemical insecticides has increased. Nowadays, it has become crucial to identify novel plant larvicides with an eco-friendly impact. The components of essential oils from Croton linearis Jacq. (EO-Cl), Lantana involucrata L. (EO-Li), Ocimum sanctum var. cubensis M. Gómez. (EO-Os), and Zanthoxylum pistaciifolium Griseb. (syn. Zanthoxylum flavum subsp. pistaciifolium (Griseb.) Reynel (EO-Zp) were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis. Larvicidal and adulticidal bioassays against Aedes aegypti, Anopheles albitarsis and Culex quinquefasciatus, were performed according to the World Health Organization standard methods. A high diversity of compounds was identified in the four oils, with a total of 152 compounds (33–70 components). EO-Cl, EO-Li, and EO-Os were classified as active against both insect forms, larvae and adults. Lantana involucrata showed the best results, with LC₅₀ values from 33.8 to 41.7 mg/L. In most of the cases, it was not possible to associate the main compounds with the measured activity, supporting the hypothesis about probable synergistic interactions among major and minor compounds. The results indicate EO-Cl, EO-Os, and EO-Li as good eco-friendly insecticides with potential.

Context: The blowfly Chrysomya putoria is widely distributed throughout the Neotropical region and, besides transmitting pathogens; they could cause secondary myiasis. Botanical insecticides provide an alternative to synthetic pesticides because the excessive use of synthetic insecticides resulted in a progressive resistance of the pests to these chemicals, diminishing their effectiveness and generating consequences with negative environmental impact. The essential oil extracted from Ocimum sanctum (basil) has showed insecticidal activity against some insects but has no reported studies on the activity of this plant against flies. Aims: To evaluate the insecticidal effects of Ocimum sanctum var. cubensis Gomes essential oil on the post embryonic development of Chrysomya putoria. Methods: The colonies of Chrysomya putoria were established and maintained at the Laboratório de Entomologia Médica e Forense (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The basil essential oil was tested in six concentrations (4.13, 8.25, 20.63, 41.25, 61.87 and 80,25 mg/mL). Mortality and changes in life cycle were recorded daily. Results: β-caryophyllene, β-selinene and eugenol, were the main constituents of the basil essential oil. The experiments demonstrated that in all concentrations tested, this essential oil shortening the duration of all post embryonic stages having a direct impact in the viability of this fly estimating the LC50 in 7.47 mg/mL of concentration. In addition, the essential oil caused morphological alterations in abdomen, wings and ptilinum at lower concentrations. Conclusions: This essential oil emerge as a good option for the control of the disease vector blowfly Chrysomya putoria.

La Caléndula officinalis L. ocupa un lugar destacado en el tratamiento de múltiples afecciones, debido a sus propiedades farmacológicas, dentro de las que se incluyen antibacteriana, antiinflamatoria, cicatrizante, astringente, antiséptica, hipotensora, antiespasmódica, antibiótica, fungicida y antioxidante. Con el objetivo de cuantificar la proporción de compuestos fenólicos y flavonoides totales presentes en un extracto blando de flores de la planta, se elaboraron 5 lotes de extracto blando (EB) de Calendula officinalis L. La determinación cualitativa de fenoles totales y flavonoides reveló la presencia de estos compuestos en los extractos, lo que se confirmó con la determinación cuantitativa, revelando la presencia de un contenido de 9,65 a 11,31mgAG/0,1g y 1,51 a 2,17mgQ/0,1g de fenoles y flavonoides, respectivamente.

Essential oils have been considered as an important alternative facing synthetic pesticides. The control of the species Musca domestica is very important for public health due to their role as vector associated with Vibrio cholerae, Salmonella and Shigella, among other pathogens. The objective of this work was to evaluate the larvicidal and insecticidal efficacy of the essential oil of Ocimum sanctum var. cubensis, in the control of Musca domestica and its effect on the post-embryonic development of this species. The essential oil was applied topically in six concentrations to newly hatched larvae (1μL / larva). Mortality, interval length of each development period, as well as the weight of mature larvae were analyzed. An insecticidal bioassay was also carried out in adult flies. The essential oil of O. sanctum caused a slight reduction in the larval and pupal period for some of the concentrations evaluated. The time of development of the newly hatched larvae until the adult period was shortened in all the concentrations analyzed. The larvae of the control group were the heaviest. The effectiveness of the product in the control of the larvae of the flies of the species M. domestica was greater than 50%, except for those larvae treated with 80.25 mg/mL of the essential oil. The lethal concentration for adult insects LC50 was estimated at 9.41μg. Results demonstrated that the essential oil of O. sanctum has effect in all stages of the life cycle of M. domestica, extolling its potential as an effective insecticide against this species.

Mosquitoes represent the most important agent disseminating infectious diseases like yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya, and malaria, among others. An essential strategy for its control is killing them at immature stages using industrial insecticides. However, those chemicals often generate resistance and affect the environment and human health. Agricultural and plant by-products constitute a new sustainable option to obtain harmless and eco-friendly bioinsecticides to prevent mosquitoes from spreading. This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical profile of Persea americana Mill (Lauraceae) seed extracts and their insecticide activity against Aedes aegypti at larval and pupal stages. The ethanol extracts from avocado seeds were obtained by Maceration/stirring (MaE) and Soxhlet extraction (SE) methods. The main chemical profile was determined by quantitative and UPLC assays. Insecticide activity was assessed by the exposition of mosquitoes at larval and pupal stages to seed extracts. Human cell lines were used to evaluate the cytotoxicity. Soxhlet methodology was more efficient in the extraction of P. americana seeds metabolites (42.13±1.76 mg/mL) compared with MaE (20.46±1.66 mg/mL) (p< 0.05). Additionally, SE showed a higher amount of polyphenols (5.12±0.18 mg/mL). The UPLC spectra analysis revealed the presence of polyphenols, mainly catechin, and neolignan constituents. Both extracts showed larvicidal and pupicidal effects, but SE was more active at lower concentrations. Moreover, no significant toxic effects on human monocytes and fibroblast cell lines were found after treatment. In sum, avocado seed by-products can be considered an eco-friendly insecticide and its use may help to substantially decrease the vector-transmitted diseases in developing countries.

Los usos de las plantas en diferentes áreas de nuestra cultura han determinado y conformado bases de nuestra identidad. A través de la investigación etnobotánica, se puede rescatar información sobre el empleo de las plantas medicinales y documentar sobre especies útiles para el desarrollo de nuevos medicamentos. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue caracterizar el uso etnobotánico de las especies Coccoloba uvifera L. y Rhizophora mangle L. en la zona costera de la provincia Guantánamo. El estudio se realizó en el Consejo Popular Jesús Lores del municipio Imías. Los participantes fueron entrevistados utilizando una modificación del modelo de entrevista según la metodología establecida por el Programa de investigación aplicada a la medicina popular del caribe TRAMIL. La muestra fue seleccionada a través de un muestreo aleatorio no probabilístico y estuvo conformada por 200 personas. En la población entrevistada predominó el sexo femenino, las personas mayores de 60 años, el nivel de escolaridad secundario y los jubilados. El uso medicinal más frecuente para ambas especies fue como antidiarreico y la parte de la planta más empleada fue la corteza; la forma de preparación predominante fue la infusión para el mangle rojo y la decocción para la uva caleta; la única vía de administración reportada para ambas especies fue la oral. Se determinaron indicadores etnobotánicos, mostrando un alto índice de valor de uso y nivel de uso significativo, demostrándose la utilidad que la población le confiere a estas especies medicinales.