Planta Med 2015; 81 - PB21
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1545176

Chemical composition of Paeonia anomala essential oil and its insecticidal activity against Aedes aegypti

N Tabanca 1, A Ali 1, UR Bernier 2, G Ozek 3, T Ozek 3, S Shatar 4, A Altansetseg 4, D Batar 5, KHC Baser 3, IA Khan 1
  • 1National Center for Natural Products Research, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677 USA
  • 2USDA, ARS, Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, FL, 32608 USA
  • 3Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Anadolu University, 26470 Eskişehir, Turkey
  • 4Terpenoids Laboratory, Institute of Chemistry, Ulan-Bator, Mongolia
  • 5Laboratory of Genetic Resources, Centre of Biotechnology, Institute of Biology, Ulan-Bator, Mongolia

Mosquitoes are vectors for many pathogens that cause severe human morbidity and mortality. Currently, the development of natural products as repellents and biopesticides is under exploration to protect humans from mosquito-borne illnesses. Through the Deployed War-Fighter Protection (DWFP) Research Program, we have expanded our role in exploration and identification of new natural compounds for mosquito control. In this respect, Paeonia anomala L. (Paeoniaceae) was investigated for the mosquito activity against Aedes aegypti. Air dried roots were subjected to hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. The main constituents of P. anomala root oil were characterized as methyl salicylate and salicylaldehyde. These two major compounds were further screened for their larvicidal activity and repellency using in vitro K & D bioassay system and in vivo “cloth patch” bioassays. Both salicylates showed less repellent activity than DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-methylbenzamide) in both in vitro and in vivo assays. Methyl salicylate and salicylaldehyde showed 100% mortality at 100 ppm against 1 day old Ae. aegypti larvae and further dose response bioassays were conducted.