Biological activities of Elsholtzia stauntoni essential oil and its major constituents against Tribolium castaneum larvae and Lasioderma serricorne adults.

This study investigated the biological activity of essential oils (EOs) and their main components (caryophyllene and cuminol) against Tribolium castaneum larvae and Lasioderma serricorne adults. EOs were extracted from both flowers and leaves of Elsholtzia stauntoni. The results indicated that the EOs derived from both flowers and leaves, as well as their main components (caryophyllene and cuminol), exhibited contact activities with LD50 values of 35.11, 43.66, 15.44, and 26.05 µg/larva, respectively, against T. castaneum larvae. Moreover, they demonstrated obvious contact toxicities with LD50 values of 14.15, 11.18, 17.81, and 13.91 µg/adult, respectively, against L. serricorne adults. Additionally, EOs from both flowers and leaves exhibited fumigant activities against T. castaneum larvae (LC50 = 24.42 and 62.54 mg/L) and L. serricorne adults (LC50 = 15.26 and 24.29 mg/L). Furthermore, the EOs of flowers and leaves and their main components (caryophyllene and cuminol) remained significantly repellency to T. castaneum larvae and L. serricorne adults within the testing concentration range of 78.63-15.83 nL/cm2 after 12 h of exposure. These findings suggested that the EO from E. stauntoni and its two major components could potentially be developed as a natural insecticide for controlling T. castaneum larvae and L. serricorne adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]