Insecticidal activity and repellency of Salvia rosmarinus Spenn. (Lamiales: Lamiaceae) essential oil against two major stored-product beetles

Abstract

This study, conducted in 2025 at the laboratory of sustainable management of natural resources in arid and semi-arid areas, Naâma, Algeria, aimed to evaluate the chemical composition, contact toxicity, and repellency of Salvia rosmarinus Spenn. (Lamiales: Lamiaceae) essential oil (SREO) from Algeria against two major stored-grain pests, Lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius, 1792) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) and Red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst, 1797) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). GC/MS analysis identified 1,8-cineole (43.63%), camphor (23.13%), α-pinene (8.75%), and β-pinene (6.43%) as the dominant compounds. In contact bioassays, SREO induced concentration-dependent mortality, with LC50 values of 16.2 µL/mL for R. dominica and 28.5 µL/mL for T. castaneum. Repellency assays showed strong concentration- and time-dependent avoidance, reaching 76.5% and 74.5% repellency at 16 µL/mL for R. dominica and T. castaneum, respectively classifying SREO as Class IV repellent. The higher susceptibility of R. dominica underscores species-specific responses. These results highlight SREO as a promising botanical agent for eco-friendly management of stored-product insects.

Keywords

• Essential oil
• insecticidal effect
• repellent activity
• rosemary
• stored insect pests

Salvia rosmarinus Spenn. (Lamiales: Lamiaceae) esansiyel yağının iki önemli depo zararlısına karşı öldürücü ve uzaklaştırıcı etkisi

Abstract

Cezayir'in Naâma kentinde, kurak ve yarı kurak bölgelerdeki Doğal Kaynakların Sürdürülebilir Yönetimi laboratuvarında 2025 yılında yürütülen bu çalışma, Cezayir'den elde edilen Salvia rosmarinus Spenn. (Lamiales: Lamiaceae) uçucu yağının (SREO) iki önemli depo tahıl zararlısı olan Ekin Kambur biti, Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius, 1792) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) ve Un biti, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst, 1797) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) üzerindeki etkisi değerlendirilmiştir. GC/MS analizi, 1,8-cineole (43,63%), kafur (23,13%), α-pinene (8,75%) ve β-pinene (6,43%) bileşiklerinin baskın bileşikler olduğunu belirlemiştir. Kontakt etki denemelerinde, SREO konsantrasyona bağlı ölüme neden olmuş ve LC50 değerleri R. dominica için 16,2 µL/mL ve T. castaneum için 28,5 µL/mL olarak belirlenmiştir. Uzaklaştırıcı etki testleri, R. dominica ve T. castaneum için sırasıyla 16 µL/mL'de %76,5 ve %74,5 uzaklaştırıcı etki oranlarına ulaşarak, SREO Sınıf IV kovucu olarak sınıflandırarak, doza ve zamana bağlı güçlü bir uzaklaştırıcı etki göstermiştir. Rhyzopertha dominica türe özgü tepkileri bakımından daha yüksek duyarlılık gösterdiği belirlenmiştir. Bu sonuçlar, SREO'nun depolanmış ürün böceklerinin çevre dostu yönetimi için umut verici bir bitkisel kökenli ajan olduğunu göstermektedir.

Keywords

• Uçucu yağ
• böcek öldürücü etki
• uzaklaştırıcı etki
• biberiye
• depo zararlısı böcekler

References

1. Abbott, W. S., 1925. A method of computing the effectiveness of an insecticide. Journal of Economic Entomology, 18 (2): 265-267.
2. Abdelgaleil, S. A. M., M. I. E. Mohamed, M. S. Shawir & H. K. Abou-Taleb, 2016. Chemical composition, insecticidal and biochemical effects of essential oils of different plant species from Northern Egypt on the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae L. Journal of Pest Science, 89 (1): 219-229.
3. Abrol, D. P. & U. Shankar, 2014. “Pesticides, Food Safety and Integrated Pest Management, 167-199”. In: Integrated Pest Management (Eds. D. Pimentel & R. Peshin). Springer, Dordrecht, 474 pp.
4. Aguilar, F., H. Autrup, S. Barlow, L. Castle, R. Crebelli, W. Dekant, K. H. Engel, N. Gontard, D. Gott & S. Grilli, 2008. Use of rosemary extracts as a food additive - Scientific opinion of the panel on food additives, flavourings, processing aids and materials in contact with food. EFSA Journal, 721: 1-29.
5. Aulicky, R., T. Vendl, O. Douda, R. Pavela & V. Stejskal, 2025. Insecticidal activity of rosemary essential oil against primary and secondary storage beetles in the presence and absence of grain. Journal of Stored Products Research, 111 (2025): 102498 (1-7).
6. Aziz, E., R. Batool, W. Akhtar, T. Shah, A. Malik, M. A. Shah, S. Iqbal, A. Rauf, G. Zengin, A. Bouyahya, M. Rebezov, N. Dutta, M. Usman Khan, M. Khayrullin, M. Babaeva, A. Goncharov, M. A. Shariati & M. Thiruvengadam, 2022. Rosemary species: A review of phytochemicals, bioactivities and industrial applications. South African Journal of Botany, 151 (Part B): 3-18.
7. Bajalan, I., R. Rouzbahani, A. G. Pirbalouti & F. Maggi, 2017. Antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the essential oils obtained from seven Iranian populations of Rosmarinus officinalis. Industrial Crops and Products, 107: 305-311.
8. Canhilal, R., 2016. The use of entomopathogens in controlling insect pests of stored products. Scientific Papers Series A: Agronomy, 59: 235-240.

9. Caputo, L., M. Trotta, A. Romaniello & V. De Feo, 2018. Chemical composition and phytotoxic activity of Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil. Natural Product Communications, 13 (10): 1301-1306.
10. Ez-Zriouli, R., H. El Yacoubi, H. Imtara, A. El-Hessni, A. Mesfioui, M. Tarayrah & A. Rochdi, 2022. Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oils from Mentha pulegium and Rosmarinus officinalis against multidrug-resistant microbes and their acute toxicity study. Open Chemistry, 20 (1): 694-702.
11. Gao, M., L. Feng, T. Jiang, J. Zhu, L. Fu, D. Yuan & J. Li, 2014. The use of rosemary extract in combination with nisin to extend the shelf life of pompano (Trachinotus ovatus) fillet during chilled storage. Food Control, 37 (1): 1-8.
12. González-Trujano, M. E., E. I. Peña, A. L. Martínez, J. Moreno, P. Guevara-Fefer, M. Déciga-Campos & F. J. López-Muñoz, 2007. Evaluation of the antinociceptive effect of Rosmarinus officinalis L. using three different experimental models in rodents. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 111 (3): 476-482.
13. Guru, P. N., D. Mridula, A. S. Dukare, B. M. Ghodki, A. U. Paschapur, I. Samal, M. Nikhil Raj, V. K. Padala, M. Rajashekhar & A. R. N. S. Subbanna, 2022. A comprehensive review on advances in storage pest management: Current scenario and future prospects. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 6: 993341 (1-21).
14. Haubruge, É. & M. Amichot, 1998. Les mécanismes responsables de la résistance aux insecticides chez les insectes et les acariens. BASE, 2 (3): 161-174. (in French with abstract in English)
15. Isman, M. B., 2019. Botanical insecticides in the twenty-first century - Fulfilling their promise? Annual Review of Entomology, 65 (1): 233-249.
16. Lavoir, A. V., T. Michel, J. L. Poëssel & M. Siegwart, 2022. “Challenges in Developing Botanical Biopesticides for Pest Control, 161-170”. In: Extended Biocontrol (Eds. X. Fauvergue, A. Rusch, M. Barret, M. Bardin, E. Jacquin-Joly, T. Malausa & C. Lannou). Springer, Dordrecht, 327 pp.
17. Mazzonetto, F., 2003. Efeito de pós de origem vegetal sobre Acanthoscelides obtectus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) em feijão armazenado. Neotropical Entomology, 32 (1): 145-149. (in Português with abstract in English)
18. McDonald, L. L., R. H. Guy & R. D. Speirs, 1970. Preliminary Evaluation of New Candidate Materials as Toxicants, Repellents and Attractants Against Stored Product Insects. Marketing Research Report No. 882, USDA, Washington, DC, USA, 8 pp.
19. Moutassem, D., T. Boubellouta & Y. Bellik, 2024. Insecticidal activity of Thymus pallescens and Cymbopogon citratus essential oils against Sitophilus zeamais and Tribolium castaneum. Scientific Reports, 14 (1): 13951 (1-12).
20. Mssillou, I., A. Agour, A. Allali, H. Saghrouchni, M. Bourhia, A. El Moussaoui, A. M. Salamatullah, A. Alzahrani, M. A. Aboul-Soud, J. P. Giesy & B. Lyoussi, 2022. Antioxidant, antimicrobial, and insecticidal properties of a chemically characterized essential oil from the leaves of Dittrichia viscosa L. Molecules, 27 (7): 2282 (1-15).
21. Naimi, I., H. Bouamama & T. Ba M’hamed, 2025. Chemical composition, repellency, and insecticidal activity of Pinus halepensis leaf essential oil from Morocco on adults of Rhyzopertha dominica and Tribolium castaneum. Plants, 14v (3): 407 (1-12).
22. Olmedo, R. H., V. Nepote & N. R. Grosso, 2013. Preservation of sensory and chemical properties in flavoured cheese prepared with cream cheese base using oregano and rosemary essential oils. LWT - Food Science and Technology, 53 (2): 409-417.
23. Park, J. H., Y. J. Jeon, C. H. Lee, N. Chung & H. S. Lee, 2017. Insecticidal toxicities of carvacrol and thymol derived from Thymus vulgaris against Pochazia shantungensis, a newly recorded pest. Scientific Reports, 7 (1): 40902 (1-7).
24. Paulraj, M. G. & K. Sahayaraj, 2002. “Efficacy of Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk and Ocimum sanctum (L.) Leaves Extracts and Powders Against Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in Groundnut, 80-84”. In: Vistas of Entomology Research for the New Millennium (Eds. K. P. Sanjayan, V. Mahalingam & M. C. Muralirangan) Gill Research Institute, Chennai, India, 800 pp.
25. Pavela, R. & G. Benelli, 2016. Essential oils as ecofriendly biopesticides? Challenges and constraints. Trends in Plant Science, 21 (12): 1000-1007.
26. Robertson, J. L., N. E. Savin, N. E. Savin & H. K. Preisler, 2007. Bioassays with Arthropods (2nd Ed.). CRC Press, Boca Raton, 224 pp.
27. Stultz, C. & F. Dorman, 2020. Characterization of 9 gas chromatography columns by Kovats and Lee retention indices for dioxin analysis. Journal of Chromatography A, 1614 (2020): 460701 (1-12).
28. Tapondjou, A. L., C. Adler, D. A. Fontem, H. Bouda & C. Reichmuth, 2005. Bioactivities of cymol and essential oils of Cupressus sempervirens and Eucalyptus saligna against Sitophilus zeamais (Motsch.) and Tribolium confusum du Val. Journal of Stored Products Research, 41 (1): 91-102.
29. Toews, M. D. & B. Subramanyam, 2003. Contribution of contact toxicity and wheat condition to mortality of stored-product insects exposed to spinosad. Pest Management Science, 59 (5): 538-544.
30. Wanna, R. & H. Bozdoğan, 2024. Activity of Rosmarinus officinalis (Lamiales: Lamiaceae) essential oil and its main constituent, 1,8-cineole, against Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Journal of Entomological Science, 60 (1): 86-106.
31. Wijerathna, S. S., A. G. W. U. Perera & S. D. M. Chinthaka, 2023. Chemical composition and biological efficacy of Acorus calamus (L.) rhizome essential oil on Sitophilus oryzae (L.), Rhyzopertha dominica (F.), and Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) as stored-grain protectants. Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology, 54 (2023): 102931 (1-15).
32. Yahla, S., B. Gordo, N. Aissaoui, K. Msaada, O. Messaoudi, M. Gherib & A. I. Amrouche, 2025. Exploring Teucrium aureo-candidum essential oil as a promising alternative to triclosan for targeting enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase: Chemical composition, antibacterial activity, and molecular docking study. Chemistry & Biodiversity, 22 (3): e202401945 (1-10).
33. Zeghib, F., F. Tine-Djebbar, A. Zeghib, K. Bachari, K. Sifi & N. Soltani, 2020. Chemical composition and larvicidal activity of Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil against West Nile vector mosquito Culex pipiens (L.). Journal of Essential Oil Bearing Plants, 23 (6): 1463-1474.