Chemical composition, antibacterial and insecticidal activities of the essential oil from the Pistacia terebinthus L. Spp. palaestina (Boiss.) (Anacardiaceae)

Essential oil (EO) was hydrodistillated using a Clevenger-type apparatus and chemically determined using gas chromatography (GC) and GC/mass spectrometry. The analysis of the EO from the leaves of the Pistacia terebinthus has indicated that ?-pinene (19.97%), sabinene (15.43%), ß-pinene (8.57%) and terpinen-4-ol (9.65%) are the major compounds of the oil in concern. In the antibacterial disc diffusion assay, EO revealed a broad spectrum activity on the growth of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria when compared with the standard antibiotics. Likewise, in the insecticidal assay, significant activity was observed on two important pest insects, Acanthoscelides obtectus and Tribolium castaneum. A 100% mortality was found at 160µL/L air dose for T.castaneum at 48-h and A.obtectus at 72-h exposure periods, respectively. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Chemical Characterization, Phytotoxic, Antimicrobial and Insecticidal Activities of Vitex agnus-castus’ Essential Oil from East Mediterranean Region

Essential oil of Vitex agnus-castus’ leaves was analysed GC and GC-MS. The oil was predominantly rich in 1,8-cineole (24.38 %), sabinene (22.77 %), trans-ß-farnesene (8.50 %), ?-pinene (7.14 %), ß-caryophyllene (6.49 %) and 1-terpinen-4-ol (5.23 %). In the phytotoxicity assay, the highest concentration of the oil (40 µL) completely inhibited the germinations of Lactuca sativa and Lepidium sativum. In the antimicrobial assays, essential oil was more active on yeast species and gram positive bacteria. The results of the insecticidal assays were also significant as the mortalities were 70 % and 96.67 % on Acanthoscelides obtectus and Tribolium castaneum at 34 µL L-1 and 136 µL L-1 oil (24 h), respectively. Essential oil of V. agnus-castus could be suggested as a potential source of bioagents for prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms in concern. © 2015, Har Krishan Bhalla & Sons

The use of plant extracts for stored product protection

A wide range of plant extracts have been used alternatively to chemical insecticides against stored product insect pest species. These substances could be used alone or in combination with other alternatives or synthetic insecticides in order to enhance their action. Botanicals can be applied with the same techniques that are used for the application of traditional contact insecticides or fumigants. Given that stored product insects exhibit different levels of sensitivity or tolerance to plant extracts, a wide screening of these substances has been carried out to widen the available tools against these harmful organisms with interesting results. © 2014 Springer India. All rights reserved