Insecticidal Potential of α-Pinene and β-Caryophyllene against Myzus persicae and Their Impacts on Gene Expression

Myzus persicae(M.persicae)is now considered a threat to agricultural crops due to economic losses.Numerous synthetic insecticides applied every year against M.persicae,are reported to be unsafe for environment,humans,and beneficial insects.Furthermore,several species of Myzus have been found to develop resistance due to over application of these insecticides.Therefore,it is required to find some novel insecticide that would be safe for the environment as well as for humans.In the current study,two major pure constituentsα-pinene andβ-caryophyllene were evaluated for their insecticidal potential against M.persicae using a fumigant toxicity assay.Furthermore,impact ofα-pinene andβ-caryophyllene on expression of five different genes,e.g.,HSP 60,FPPS I,OSD,TOL and ANT responsible for reproduction,dispersion,and growth of M.persicae has also been investigated.To perform fumigant toxicity assay,five different concentrations(3.5,4,4.5,5 and 6μL L−1)ofα-pinene andβ-caryophyllene were prepared.Lethal concentration(LC)was calculated,and gene expression studies were executed through qRT PCR at LC30 ofα-pinene andβ-caryophyllene.Both constituents demonstrated excellent fumigant toxicity effects against M.persicae at all five concentrations.However,α-pinene shows significantly better results(98%)as compared toβ-caryophyllene(80%)after 72 h at 6μL L−1 of dose.The highest upregulation in expression was demonstrated at LC30 dose ofα-pinene in five in three out of five genes understudy(TOL,ANT,and FPPS I).Conversely,two genes HSP 60 and OSD demonstrated downregulation at LC30 dose ofβ-caryophyllene.Conclusively,our results highlighted the promising insecticidal potential of both compoundsα-pinene andβ-caryophylleneby interfering with the reproduction and development related processes in M.persicae,allowing us to recommend the phytoconstituents under investigation as an ecofriendly alternative to synthetic insecticides.

Anti-inflammatory effects ofα-humulene andβ-caryophyllene on pterygium fibroblasts

AIM:To investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of the sesquiterpenesα-humulene andβ-caryophyllene on pterygium fibroblasts.METHODS:Primary cultures of pterygium fibroblasts were established.Third passage pterygium fibroblasts were exposed toα-humulene andβ-caryophyllene separately and together.The cell viability was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide(MTT)assay at 12,24,48,and 72h after exposure.The levels of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-6,IL-8,tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-αand IL-10 in the conditioned culture medium were assessed by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)at 12,24 and 48h after exposure.Data were statistically analyzed using Friedman repeated measures analysis of variances on ranks.RESULTS:The 25μmol/Lβ-caryophyllene induced significant decrease in the IL-6 production by pterygium fibroblasts 48h after the exposure(P=0.041).The levels of IL-1β,IL-8,IL-10,and TNF-αwere very low and had no statistically significant variations af ter exposure toα-humulene,β-caryophyllene,or both compounds together.CONCLUSION:The exposure to 25μmol/L ofβ-caryophyllene significantly reduce the production of IL-6 by pterygium fibroblasts after 48h.This sesquiterpene may be a potential alternative adjuvant agent for the treatment of pterygium.

Local Peripheral Effects of <i>β</i>-Caryophyllene through CB₂Receptors in Neuropathic Pain in Mice

β-Caryophyllene (BCP) is known as a common constitute of the essential oils of numerous food plants and primary component in Cannabis. In this study, we investigated the effect of local intraplantar (i.pl.) injection of BCP on mechanical hypersensitivity induced by partial sciatic nerve ligation (PSNL) in mice. Relative to sham operation controls, mice with the PSNL displayed a maximum level of hyperresponsiveness to von Frey metallic filament on post-operative day 7. PSNL-induced allodynia was seen in the ipsilateral side of nerve ligation, but not in the contralateral side. The i.pl. injection of BCP into the ipsilateral hindpaw to PSNL attenuated mechanical allodynia in a dose-dependent manner. BCP injection into the contralateral hindpaw did not produce anti-allodynic effects, suggesting a local peripheral anti-allodynic effect of BCP. Anti-allodynic effects induced by i.pl. injection of BCP were prevented by pretreatment with the cannabinoid (CB2) receptor antagonist AM630, but not by the CB1 receptor antagonist AM251. These data suggest that i.pl. injection of BCP could produce anti-allodynia by activating peripheral CB2 receptors, but not CB1 receptors in a mouse model of neuropathic pain. Taken together, these results suggest that peripheral CB2 receptors may contribute to the effectiveness of BCP in the treatment of neuropathic pain disorders.

Omethoate-Induced Changes of (+)-δ-Cadinene Synthase Activity and Gossypol Content in Cotton Seedlings

The gene expression and activity of （＋）-δ-cadinene synthase during cotton development and in response to stress, as well as the spatial and temporal pattern of sesquiterpene biosynthesis, constitute one of chemical defense mechanisms in cotton plants. In order to explore the effects of omethoate on the cotton defense in relation to （＋）-δ-cadinene synthase and gossypol, effects of omethoate treatments on activity of （＋）-δ-cadinene synthase and gossypol content in cotton seedlings were investigated. Cotton seedlings treated with 400 mg L-1 omethoate exhibited a significant decrease in the specific activity of （＋）-δ-cadinene synthase from 12 to 120 h after treating when compared to the untreated control; significantly lower （＋）-δ-cadinene synthase activity was also observed in cotton seedlings treated with 200 mg L-1 omethoate from 72 to 120 h after treating; but for cotton seedlings treated with 100 mg L-1 omethoate, from 12 to 120 h after treating, no significant changes were observed for activity of （＋）-δ-cadinene synthase. The gossypol content in cotton seedlings treated with 100, 200 or 400 mg L-1 omethoate for different time periods showed no significant changes compared to that of the control. These results indicated that the activity of （＋）-δ-cadinene synthase in cotton seedlings in responses to exposure of omethoate at three concentrations for different time periods followed dose- and time-dependent responses to omethoate exposure. With omethoate as a chemical stress factor for cotton seedlings, the cotton defense in relation to the activity of （＋）-δ-cadinene synthase in cotton seedlings may be affected by omethoate application.

Chemo-Divergence in Essential Oil Composition among Thirty One Core Collections of <i>Ocimum sanctum</i>L. Grown under Sub-Tropical Region of Jammu, India

Evaluation of thirty one core collections of Ocimum sanctum L. synonyms O. tenuiflorum L. collected from different ecological regions representing contrasting environment of India was carried out. All the collections were grown under sub-tropical region of Jammu, India. Study revealed wide range of variability in quantitive and qualitative attributes of oil. Essential oil content ranged between 0.16% ± 0.01% - 0.55% ± 0.08% showing the presence of fifteen constituents. Methyl eugenol (1.54% - 93.16%) and Eugenol (0.06% - 70.41%), were the major constituent. The other major constituent of the oil was β-Caryophyllene (4.60% - 33.77%) which was detected in almost all the collections. Borneol, Copane, α Caryophyllene were other constituents detected in almost all the accessions. α selinene was detected in traces in only three accessions (OS-01, OS-03, OS-50) and β-selinene was detected in four accessions (OS-01, OS-03, OS-50, OS-72. Accession OS-70 collected from Patna, showed distinct chemical profile having β-Elemene (32.81%), β-Cary- ophyllene (16.37%), Germacrene-D (18.05%), β-Ocimene (17.69%) and Copane (5.738%). Being distinct in oil profiling, Patna collection was designated as distinct chemotype. Collections OS-50 from Gwalior from Central India and OS-59 from Rajkot Western India have been identified as methyl eugenol (93.16%) and eugenol (70.41%) rich geno- types. The data collected provided useful information with respect to composition of essential oil among core collection evaluated representing various agro-climatic zones.

Chemical Composition and Antibacterial Activity of Essential Oils from <i>Struchium sparganophora</i>Linn. Ktze Asteraceae

Struchium sparganophora Linn. Ktze Asteraceae is a culinary herb that is consumed in the Western part of Nigeria and has wide medicinal uses in traditional medicine. The present study was carried out to determine the chemical composition of the oils from its leaf and stem and their antibacterial activity. Essential oils were collected from the leaf and stem of Struchium sparganophora by hydrodistillation and analysed by GC and GC-MS. The antimicrobial activity was tested against Gram negative (G-ve) and Gram positive (G + ve) microorganisms obtained from the Medical Microbiology Unit, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Nigeria. Forty-six compounds were identified in the leaf representing 95.3% of the total oil while fifty-five compounds were identified in the stem representing 93.5% of the oil. β-caryophyllene, Germacrene A, a-humulene and Germacrene D represented the major components in both oils. Antibacterial activity of the oils against certain strains of bacteria showed that the different concentrations of the oils (100 – 10,000 ppm) from the leaf had activity ranging from 9.0 ± 1.0 to 14.3 ± 2.55 mm while that from the stem had activity ranging from 18.5 ± 2.2 to 20.0 ± 0.0 mm for both G-ve.and G + ve microorganisms respectively.

Terpene-Rich Medicinal Plant Spices for Flavoring of Processed Tropical Food

Tropical medicinal plant spices have remained underutilized in commercial food processing because of the inadequate chemical characterization of their terpene compositions. The activity of medicinal plants used in flavoring is due to their terpene contents. Terpene contents of Aframomum danielli seeds, Xylopia aethiopica fruits, Syzygium aromaticum leaves, Piper guineense seeds, and Monodora myristica seeds were determined using headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. P. guineense is rich in terpinene and terpinolene (2.5 g per 100 g), S. aromaticum has caryophyllene (0.68 g per 100 g);A. danielli is rich in ocimene (1.65 g per 100 g);X. aethiopica is rich in ocimene (2.94 g per 100 g);M. mystristica is rich in delta carene (0.49 g per 100 g). Combinations of the five medicinal plant spices are being applied as flavorings in packaged tropical food.

Chemical compositions of the essential oil and calculation the biophysicochemical coefficients of the components of Hymenocrater longiflorus Benth. of Iran

The volatile constituents of the essential oil of Hymenocrater longiflorus Benth. growing wild in Kurdistan-Iran were investigated using the GC and GC/MS techniques. Fifteen compounds, representing twenty (97.03%) of the total oil were identified. The main components were: α- Pinene (22.47%), β-Caryophyllene (18.05%), β- Eudesmol (14.92%), α-Copaene (9.84%), γ-Elemene (6.79%), δ-Cadine-ne (6.13%), (–)Bornyl acetate (5.61%), α-Amorphene (3.84%), α-Fen- chyl acetate (2.35%) and β-Pinene (2.07%). Some of the physicochemical properties like the logarithm of calculated Octanol-Water partitioning coefficients (log Kow), total biodegradation and (TBd in mol/h and gr./h), water solubility (Sw, mg.L-1 at 25oC) and median lethal concentration 50 (LC50) were calculated for the 15 com- ponents of Hymenocrater longiflorus Benth.

Chemical Compositions of the Leaf Essential Oils of <i>Aralia spinosa</i>from Three Habitats in Northern Alabama

Aralia spinosa leaves were collected from three different habitats in north Alabama. The leaf essential oils were collected by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography / mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The most abundant components of A. spinosa essential oils were the sesquiterpenes germacrene D (28.0% - 37.3%), (E)-caryophyllene (8.2% - 15.7%), and α-humulene (1.9% - 4.9%);the monoterpene myrcene (up to 15.1%), and the fatty-acid-derivative (2E)-hexenal (trace to 28.9%). Fatty-acid derivatives and monoterpene hydrocarbons were more abundant in samples from suburban Huntsville than those from “natural” habitats (Monte Sano Mountain, Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge), while sesquiterpene hydrocarbons were more abundant in the natural/wild samples.