Insecticide Activity of Ageratina jahnii and Ageratina pichinchensis (Asteraceae) against Lutzomyia migonei (Diptera: Psychodidae)



  Previous article Browse articles Next article  ORIGINAL ARTICLE Adv Biomed Res 2017,  6:53

Insecticide Activity of Ageratina jahnii and Ageratina pichinchensis (Asteraceae) against Lutzomyia migonei (Diptera: Psychodidae)

Lizzeth Torres1, Janne Rojas2, Maritza Rondón3, Antonio Morales2, Elsa Nieves3
1 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, LAPEX-Experimental Parasitology Laboratory, Mérida; Organic Biomolecular Research Group, Research Institute, Faculty of Pharmacy and Bioanalysis, University of Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
2 Organic Biomolecular Research Group, Research Institute, Faculty of Pharmacy and Bioanalysis, University of Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
3 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, LAPEX-Experimental Parasitology Laboratory, Mérida, Venezuela

Date of Web Publication02-May-2017

Correspondence Address:
Dr. Elsa Nieves
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, LAPEX-Experimental Parasitology Laboratory, University of Los Andes, Mérida
Venezuela
Login to access the Email id

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None

Crossref citationsCheckPMC citations1

DOI: 10.4103/2277-9175.205525

Rights and Permissions

Background: Insects are mostly pathogens transmitters, thus the necessity of finding effective bioinsecticides to combat them. In the present investigation, the insecticide activity of Ageratina jahnii and Ageratina pichinchensis (Asteraceae) essential oils, methanol, and aqueous extracts was evaluated against Lutzomyia migonei (Diptera: Psychodidae) females, Leishmania transmitters, a wide distributed parasitosis in Latin America. Materials and Methods: All extracts were prepared by maceration at room temperature, and essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation process. Females of L. migonei were used in the bioassays using the adulticide test in pots. Results: Essential oils from both assayed plant species showed 100% of L. migonei mortality at 48 h of exposure at the concentration of 10 mg/ml. A. jahnii essential oil exhibited the following values, LD50 = 0.39 mg/ml, LD90 = 1.57 mg/ml, LD95 = 2.31 mg/ml, and LD99 = 4.80 mg/ml while for A. pichinchensis essential oil values were LD50 = 0.31 mg/ml, LD90 = 0.99 mg/ml, LD95 = 1.38 mg/ml, and LD99 = 2.55 mg/ml. Conclusion: Higher toxicity was observed with A. pichinchensis essential oil against L. migonei, comparing to A. jahnii oil. Two new plant species are being reported, showing bioactive properties against common tropical disease vectors such as L. migonei, hence, opening possibilities to a more environmental friendly control.

Keywords: Ageratina jahnii, Ageratina pichinchensis, Asteraceae, insecticide activity, Lutzomyia migonei


How to cite this article:
Torres L, Rojas J, Rondón M, Morales A, Nieves E. Insecticide Activity of Ageratina jahnii and Ageratina pichinchensis (Asteraceae) against Lutzomyia migonei (Diptera: Psychodidae). Adv Biomed Res 2017;6:53
How to cite this URL:
Torres L, Rojas J, Rondón M, Morales A, Nieves E. Insecticide Activity of Ageratina jahnii and Ageratina pichinchensis (Asteraceae) against Lutzomyia migonei (Diptera: Psychodidae). Adv Biomed Res [serial online] 2017 [cited 2021 Dec 5];6:53. Available from: https://www.advbiores.net/text.asp?2017/6/1/53/205525   Introduction Top

Ageratina Spach (1841) is the biggest and most diverse genus of Oxylobinae subtribe belonging to Asteraceae Bercht and J. Presl (1820) family. Ageratina jahnii (synonym Ageratina stevioides) is an endemic shrub of venezuelan andes paramo, distributed in Mérida, and Tachira states, growing up in montane forest and subparamo ecosystems, located between 2600 and 3800 m.a.s.l. On the other hand, Ageratina pichinchensis (synonym Ageratina ibaguensis, Ageratina aschenborniana and Ageratina bustamenta), is a shrub well distributed in Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Perú, México, Guatemala, and Panamá. In Venezuela is located in Amazonas, Aragua, Bolívar, Distrito Federal, Mérida, Monagas, Trujillo, Zulia, and Táchira states, growing up, as well, in montane forest and subparamo ecosystems, located between 1000 and 3850 m.a.s.l.[1]

Regarding phytochemistry of these species, there have been several reports of natural components isolated from A. pichinchensis aerial parts, such as, carvacrol, ageraborniol, β- sitosterol, stigmasterol, 5-acethyl-3 β-angeloxy-2,3-dihydro-2 β-(1-hidroxy-isopropyl)-1-benzofuran; 2,2-dimethyl-7-methoxy-2H-1-chromene; and 3-O-β- D-galactopyranosyl-5,4'-dihidroxy-6,7-dimethoxy flavones;[2],[3],[4],[5],[6],[7] while for A. jahnii, 8-β-hidroxy-13-epi-ent-labdan-15-oic acid, 16-a-hidroxy-ent-kauran-19-oic acid, 5-hidroxy-6-7-4'-trimethoxy flavone, 5-hidroxy-3, 7, 4'-trimethoxy flavone,[8],[9] hardwickiic acid, jhanol, and jhanidiol have also been published.[4],[10]

A. pichinchensis is also known as antifungal; some reports have indicated that hexanic extracts are effective against infections caused by Trichophyton rubrum,[11],[12],[13] fungus responsible for 80% of onychomycosis and athlete's foot infections. In addition, A. pichinchensis and A. jahnii essential oils have demonstrated antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis bacteria.[14] Larvicidal activity has also been reported for acetone extracts of A. adenophora leaves against Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus larvae, reporting LC50 of 356.7 ppm for A. aegypti and 227.2 ppm for C. quinquefasciatus.[15]

Lutzomyia migonei (Diptera: Psychodidae) is an anthropophilic sandfly widely distributed in the American continent, and it is well known as a transmitter of Leishmania parasite, responsible of leishmaniasis disease that represents a serious health problem. Furthermore, L. migonei is being recognized as common sandfly vector in Venezuela, Brazil, and Argentina.[16],[17] At present, there is no efficient control system available against leishmaniasis disease. Therefore, it is necessary to search for alternative control measures based on natural insecticides from plants against sandflies.[18] The present investigation evaluates two Ageratina species, A. jahnii, and A. pichinchensis, as adulticides against L. migonei in experimental conditions.

  Materials and Methods Top

Collection and maintenance of sandflies

L. migonei females from a laboratory colony that begun with specimens captured in the Arenal area, at an altitude of 1360 m above sea level (m.a.s.l.), located in Ejido, Merida, Venezuela (8°35” N-71°9'0) were used in this assay. The colony is maintained with the technique described by Killick-Kendrick et al.[19] in an incubator at 25°C ± 1 and 80% ±10 of relative humidity (RH), at the LAPEX - Experimental Parasitology Laboratory, University of Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela. Females of L. migonei are fed by biting hamsters previously intraperitoneally anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital (0.1 g/ml). The oviposition occurs after 72 h postfeeding. Eggs are kept in plastic buckets at 24°C with 90% RH and leave it to hatching that occurs after 10 days. Larvae are fed on a diet prepared with a mixture of equal parts of rabbit, rabbit feces, and coffee leaves kept within plastic buckets using same conditions explained before, allowing pupation that is completed in approximately 30 days. Once adults have emerged, they are transferred to nylon cages, and the whole process is repeated. Groups of 120 (3–4 days old) laboratory reared L. migonei females were experimentally used in the adulticide test and the experiments were repeated by 6-fold.

Botanical material

Ageratina jahnii (B.L. Rob.) R. M. King and H. Rob. was collected on January 27, 2010 in páramo “Piedra Pirela,” 5 km from San José de Acequia, Mérida state, Venezuela at 3122 m.a.s.l. A. pichinchensis (Kunth) R. M. King and H. Rob. was collected on January 29, 2011 in páramo “Las Coloradas,” Campo Elias, Mérida state, Venezuela at 2500 m.a.s.l. Both species were identified by Dr. Pablo Melendez based on identification keys described by Humboldt et al.[20] Voucher specimens (A. jahnii, LT02 and A. pichinchensis, PM 614) were deposited in the Luis Ruiz Terán Herbarium of the Faculty of Pharmacy and Bioanalysis, University of Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela.

Extraction of essential oils

Fresh leaves (A. jahnii, 1470 g) and (A. pichinchensis, 1700 g) were cut into small pieces and submitted to hydrodistillation for 4 h, using a Pyrex glass Clevenger equipment of 5 ml capacity. The oils were dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and stored in small amber colored covered jar at 4°C to be used in activity assays, being careful that storage time does not exceed 4 months.

Obtaining aqueous and methanolic extracts

Ground and dry botanical material (50 g) was subjected to extraction by maceration (500 ml) in methanol and water, separately, for 10 days at room temperature. These extracts were filtered through No. 1 Whatman paper, and dried in a rotary evaporator under reduced pressure at a temperature below 50°C. The concentrated extracts were stored in sealed glass vials at 4°C until its use in testing.

Adulticide test in pots

Tests were performed using the method described by Cárdenas et al.[17] Circular Whatman No. 1 filter papers with 6 cm of diameter, were used. They were saturated homogeneously with 200 μl of methanolic and aqueous extract and essential oil. Saturated filter papers were placed in  Petri dish More Detailses and allowed to dry overnight at room temperature. Concentrations of 100, 50, and 10 mg/mL were used for the extracts and 10, 1, and 0.1 mg/mL for the essential oil. Dried filter papers were placed at the bottom of the gypsum pots, making sure that borders of the paper remained adhered to the pot. Ten females were placed in each pot with a Castro grabber. Then, a 50% w/v sucrose solution was placed on the nylon covering the gypsum pots as food for the sandflies, and they were placed in plastic bags with 80–90% RH at room temperature. A total of six replications were carried out for the extracts, as well as for the essential oil, using a total of 40 females per sample. Control groups were also included in the experiment using filter papers moistened with either methanol, distilled water or mineral oil. Mortality was recorded at 1, 24, 48 and 72 h of exposure.

Data analysis

Adjustment for mortality was made using Abbot's formula. The LD was determined at 50, 90, 95 and 99 by means of a BioStat 2008 analysis (5.2.5 edition). Variation between oils was compared using the ANOVA analysis. P≤ 0.05 were considered significant. Tests with mortalities >20% in control groups were repeated.

  Results Top

A. jahnii and A. pichinchensis aqueous and methanol extracts, as well as their essential oils, were assayed to establish the insecticide activity using a total of 960 L. migonei females under laboratory conditions. For A. jahnii essential oil, a 100% of sandflies mortality was observed at 48 h of exposure to 10 mg/mL concentration while 1 mg/mL of essential oil caused 100% of mortality at 72 h and 0.1 mg/mL only 17.5% of mortality [Figure 1]. Essential oil of A. pichinchensis showed similar results causing a mortality of 100% at 48 h of exposure to 10 mg/mL while 1 mg/mL of concentration showed mortality of 100% at 72 h of exposure and 0.1 mg/mL just caused 20% of mortality [Figure 1]. Effectiveness in both essential oils is dose-dependent since mortality increased according to concentration and time of exposure. Methanol and aqueous extracts showed no activity at any doses assayed in relation to the control.

Figure 1: Insecticide activity of Ageratina jahnii and Ageratina pichinchensis essential oils at different concentrations

Click here to view

A major insecticide activity was observed for A. pichinchensis essential oil at 1 mg/mL (80% mortality) and 10 mg/mL (87.5% mortality) after 24 h of exposure while 97.5% and 100% was observed at 48 h. Comparing these results to A. jahnii essential oil at same concentrations only 30% and 55% of mortality was observed at 24 h while 80% and 100% of mortality was observed at 48 h of exposure. Statistical analysis showed significant differences at 24 h for both samples (P = 0.0001 <0.05) and 48 h (P = 0.0106 < 0.05) at 1 mg/mL. After 72 h of assay, both essential oils showed 100% of mortality just at the highest dose assayed (10 mg/mL) while at 0.1 mg/mL no toxicity was observed against L. migonei [Figure 1].

Lethal doses values for both samples at 48 h of exposure were also determined. A. jahnii essential oil showed values of LD50 = 0.39 mg/mL, LD90 = 1.57 mg/mL, LD95 = 2.31 mg/mL and LD99 = 4.80 mg/mL, while for A. pichinchensis essential oil were LD50 = 0.31 mg/mL, LD90 = 0.99 mg/mL, LD95 = 1.38 mg/mL and LD99 = 2.55 mg/mL [Table 1]. These results indicate a major toxicity of A. pichinchensis essential oil against L. migonei.

Table 1: Lethal dose of A. jahnii and A. pichinchensis essential oil against L. migonei at 48 h exposure

Click here to view

  Discussion Top

Commercial insecticides are mainly composed by chemicals such as organochloride, organophosphate, carbamate and synthetic pyrethroids, however, sandflies have developed resistance to these and have also caused a negative environmental impact,[21] thus, the necessity of searching for natural insecticides obtained from plants that are less harmful to nature and represent a more efficient alternative to the biological control of Leishmania vectors.[22] Essential oils extracted from Pseudognaphalium caeruleocanum (Asteraceae) and Cinnamomun zeylanicum (Lauraceae), have been reported as possible natural repellents against L. migonei stings.[23] In addition, Monticalia greenmaniana (Asteraceae) essential oil demonstrated a high efficacy as adulticide with LD50 values of 0.005 mg/mL and LD98 of 0.0066 mg/mL at 1 h of exposure.[17]Antonia ovata (Loganiaceae) and Derris amazonica (Papilionaceae) aqueous extracts showed activity against Lutzomyia longipalpis with LD50 of 233 mg/mL and 212 mg/mL after 48 h of exposure.[24] Furthermore, Tagetes minuta (Asteraceae), Acalypha fruticosa (Euphorbiaceae), and Tarchonanthus camphoratus (Compositae) methanolic extracts showed LD50 values of 1.6 mg/mL, 8.95 mg/mL, and 49.9 mg/mL, respectively, against adult females of Phlebotomus duboscqui.[25]

The present results have revealed A. jahnii and A. pichinchensis (Asteraceae) as plants with potential adulticide effect against L. migonei. Hydrodistillated essential oils from these two species showed 100% of sandflies mortality at concentration of 10 mg/mL in 48 h. It is very difficult to correlate the adulticide effect observed in this investigation to a single compound, since extracts and essential oils are composed by several chemical components that might act synergistically, however, it is interesting to mention several differences on the chemical composition of these essential oils, since A. pichinchensis essential oil exhibited a higher insecticide activity comparing to A. jahnii essential oil.

Previous investigation has reported that A. pichinchensis is mainly composed by monoterpene, sesquiterpene and chromene type components being 8,9-epoxythymyl isobutyrate (20.2%), germacrene D (19.8%), thymyl isobutyrate (10.8%), eupatoriochromene (6.5%), encecalol (5.9%), and neryl isobutyrate (4.4%) in major concentrations.[14] Chromene derivatives are known to have insecticide activity; 6-acethyl-2,2-dimethyl-7-methoxy-2H-1-chromene is active against Oncopeltus fasciatus while 2,2-dimethyl-7-methoxy-2H-1-chromene and 2,2-dimethyl-6,7-dimethoxy-2H-1-chromene have been reported for its inhibitory activity of insect hormones.[26] On the other hand, A. jahnii essential oil hold a different composition represented mainly by monoterpenes, being β- myrcene (37.6%), α-pinene (17.1%), pentacosane (9.2%), limonene (8.8%) and germacrene D (4.6%) the main components.[14] Insecticide activity have been reported for limonene against fourth instar larvae C. quinquefasciatus with LC50 of 32.52 ppm at 48 h of exposure, as well as myrcene topically applied over Dendroctonus rufipennis adults at concentration of 20 ppm showed over 60% of toxicity.[27],[28]

In case of essential oils, mechanism of action is difficult to establish due to the complex mixture of compounds, however, toxicity by contact might be a reasonable way of action. Although organochloride insecticides perform a similar mechanism, natural insecticides offer a more environmental friendly solution for plague control.[22] Finally, it is important to mention that present results are showing two new botanical species with bioactive properties against insects, opening possibilities to a more suitable control of vectors that causes different diseases.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr. Pablo Meléndez for the identification of the plant material and to CDCHT-ULA for the financial support, project code FA-514-12-08-ED.

Financial support and sponsorship

CDCHT-ULA for the financial support, project code FA-514-12-08-ED.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

 

  References Top
1.Briceño B, Morillo G. Abbreviated catalogue of flowering plants from the Venezuelan highlands. Part I: Dicotydedonous (Magnoliopsida). Acta Botanica Venezuelica 2002;25:1-75.  Back to cited text no. 1
    2.Herz W. Chemistry of the Oxylobinae. Biochem Syst Ecol 2003;31:963-93.  Back to cited text no. 2
    3.Bohlmann F, Fiedler L. Neuenerolidol-derivate a us Ageratina aschenborniana. Phytochemistry 1978;17:566-7.  Back to cited text no. 3
    4.González AG, Arteaga JM, Fraga BM, Hernandez MG. Diterpenos, triterpenos y flavonas de Eupatorium jahnii. An Quím 1978;75:128-30.  Back to cited text no. 4
    5.Rios MY, Aguilar-Guadarrama AB, Navarro V. Two new benzofuranes from Eupatorium aschenbornianum and their antimicrobial activity. Planta Med 2003;69:967-70.  Back to cited text no. 5
    6.Tamayo G, Jakupovic J, Bohlmann F, Castro V, King RM. Ent-clerodane derivatives and other constituents from representatives of the subgenus Ageratina. Phytochemistry 1989;28:139-41.  Back to cited text no. 6
    7.Triana J, Bahsas A, Delgado P, Jaimes R, Trejo CO. Ent-norlabdanes and other constituents of four Venezuelan species previously classified in the genius Eupatorium. J Nat Prod 1995;58:744-7.  Back to cited text no. 7
    8.Morales A, Rosquete C. Terpenoides de la Ageratina stevioides (Steyermark) R. M. King and H. Robinson. Rev Latinoam Quím 1990;21:29-32.  Back to cited text no. 8
    9.Morales A, Rosquete C. Flavonoides de la Ageratina stevioides (Steyermark) R. M. King and Robinson. Rev Latinoam Quím 1988;19:47-9.  Back to cited text no. 9
    10.González AG, Arteaga JM, Bretón JM, Fraga BM. Five new labdane diterpene oxides from Eupatorium jahnii. Phytochemistry 1977;16:107-10.  Back to cited text no. 10
    11.Romero-Cerecero O, Rojas G, Navarro V, Herrera-Arellano A, Zamilpa-Alvarez A, Tortoriello J. Effectiveness and tolerability of a standardized extract from Ageratina pichinchensis on patients with tinea pedis: An explorative pilot study controlled with ketoconazole. Planta Med 2006;72:1257-61.  Back to cited text no. 11
    12.Romero-Cerecero O, Zamilpa A, Jiménez-Ferrer JE, Rojas-Bribiesca G, Román-Ramos R, Tortoriello J. Double-blind clinical trial for evaluating the effectiveness and tolerability of Ageratina pichinchensis extract on patients with mild to moderate onychomycosis. A comparative study with ciclopirox. Planta Med 2008;74:1430-5.  Back to cited text no. 12
    13.Romero-Cerecero O, Román-Ramos R, Zamilpa A, Jiménez-Ferrer JE, Rojas-Bribiesca G, Tortoriello J. Clinical trial to compare the effectiveness of two concentrations of the Ageratina pichinchensis extract in the topical treatment of onychomycosis. J Ethnopharmacol 2009;126:74-8.  Back to cited text no. 13
    14.Torres L, Rojas J, Morales A, Rojas L, Lucena M, Buitrago A. Chemical composition and evaluation of antibacterial activity of essential oils of Ageratina jahnii and Ageratina pichinchensis collected in Mérida, Venezuela. Bol Latinoam Caribe Plantas Med Aromat 2013;12:92-8.  Back to cited text no. 14
    15.Mohan DR, Ramaswamy M. Evaluation of larvicidal activity of the extract of a weed plant, Ageratina adenophora, against two important species of mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus. Afr J Biotechnol 2007;6:631-8.  Back to cited text no. 15
    16.Young D, Duncan M. Guide to the identification and geographic distribution of Lutzomyia sandflies in México, the West Indies, Central and South America (Diptera: Psychodidae). Mem Am Entomol 1994;54:779-881.  Back to cited text no. 16
    17.Cárdenas J, Rojas J, Rondón M, Nieves E. Adulticide effect of Monticalia greenmaniana (Asteraceae) against Lutzomyia migonei (Diptera: Psychodidae). Parasitol Res 2012;111:787-94.  Back to cited text no. 17
    18.Maciel MV, Morais SM, Bevilaqua CM, Amóra SS. Extratos vegetais usados no controle de dípteros vetores de zoonoses. Rev Bras Plantas Med 2010;12:105-12.  Back to cited text no. 18
    19.Killick-Kendrick R, Leaney AJ, Ready PD. The establishment, maintenance and productivity of a laboratory colony of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae). J Med Entomol 1977;13:429-40.  Back to cited text no. 19
    20.Humboldt A, Bonpland A, Kunth K. Nova genera at species plantarum. Lutetiae parisorum: Sumtibus Librariae Graeco-Latino-Germanico. 4th ed. p. 1815-25. Available from: http://www.dx.doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.640. [Last acceseed on 2017 Mar 14].  Back to cited text no. 20
    21.Sharma U, Singh S. Insect vectors of Leishmania: Distribution, physiology and their control. J Vector Borne Dis 2008;45:255-72.  Back to cited text no. 21
    22.Warburg A, Faiman R. Research priorities for the control of phlebotomine sand flies. J Vector Ecol 2011;36 Suppl 1:S10-6.  Back to cited text no. 22
    23.Nieves E, Fernández J, Lias J, Rondón M, Briceño B. Actividad repelente de aceites esenciales contra las picaduras de Lutzomyia migonei(Diptera: Psychodidae). Rev Biol Trop 2010;58:1549-60.  Back to cited text no. 23
    24.Luitgards-Moura JF, Castellon Bermudez EG, Rocha AF, Tsouris P, Rosa-Freitas MG. Preliminary assays indicate that Antonia ovata (Loganiaceae) and Derris amazonica (Papilionaceae), ichthyotoxic plants used for fishing in Roraima, Brazil, have an insecticide effect on Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae). Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2002;97:737-42.  Back to cited text no. 24
    25.Ireri LN, Kongoro J, Ngure P, Mutai CH, Langat B, Tonui W, et al. The potencial of extracts of Tagetes minuta L. (Asteraceae), Acalypha fruticosa Forssk (Euphorbiaceae) and Tarchonanthus camphorates L. (Compositae) against Phlebotomus duboscqi Neveu Lemaire (Diptera: Psychodidae), the vector for Leishmania major Yakimoff and Schokhor. J Vector Borne Dis 2010;47:168-74.  Back to cited text no. 25
    26.Proksch P, Rodríguez E. Chromenes and benzofurans of the Asteraceae, their chemistry and biological significance. Phytochemistry 1983;22:2335-48.  Back to cited text no. 26
    27.Ibrahim MA, Kainulainen P, Aflatuni A, Tiilikkala K, Holopainen JK. Insecticidal, repellent, antimicrobial activity and phytotoxicity of essential oils: With special reference to limonene and its suitability for the control of insect psets. Agric Food Sci Finl 2001;10:243-59.  Back to cited text no. 27
    28.Park IK, Kim JN, Lee YS, Lee SG, Ahn YJ, Shin SC. Toxicity of plant essential oils and their components against Lycoriella ingenua (Diptera: Sciaridae). J Econ Entomol 2008;101:139-44.  Back to cited text no. 28
    
  [Figure 1]
 
 
  [Table 1]
  Top

留言 (0)

沒有登入
gif