ABSTRACT
The composition of the essential oil (EO) from Cryptocarya alba obtained by hydro distillation of fresh leaves was analyzed using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrosmetry (GC/MS). The insecticidal effect of the oil on the house fly Musca domestica was evaluated by placing flies in a sealed glass jar containing a piece of EO-treated cotton yarn. The dose necessary to kill 50 percent of flies (LC50) in 0.5 and 1 h was determined at 26 +/- 1 °C. The essential oil from Cryptocarya alba showed significant insecticidal properties [33.56 (7.06-159.50) mg/dm3 (0.5 h) and 15.07 (5.29-42.91) mg/dm3 (1 h)]. According to GC and GC/MS analysis a total of 38 compounds were identified. The composition of the Cryptocarya alba essential oil reported in this study is different to that reported in other publications with 4-terpineol (17.48 percent) ; 4- (3,3-dimethyl-but-1-ynyl) -4-hydroxy-2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-2-enone (12.84 percent); 1,8-cineole (7.90 percent); p-cymene (7.11 percent) and sabinene (6.80 percent), accounting for 52.13 percent of the EO. The EO from Cryptocarya alba appears promising as a natural insecticide against houseflies.
La composición del aceite esencial (AE), obtenido por hidrodestilación de hojas frescas de Cryptocarya alba se analizó mediante cromatografía de gases (CG) y cromatografía de gases/espectrometría de masas (CG/EM). La actividad insecticida del aceite contra la mosca doméstica, Musca domestica se evaluó colocando las moscas en un frasco de vidrio sellado con un trozo de hilo de algodón tratado con diferentes cantidades de AE. La dosis necesaria para matar el 50 por ciento de las moscas (LC50) en 0,5 y 1 hora se determinó a 26 +/- 1 oC. El aceite esencial de Cryptocarya alba mostró un buen efecto insecticida [33,56 (7,06-159,50) mg/dm3 (0,5 h) and 15,07 (5,29-42,91) mg/dm3 (1 h)]. La composición del aceite esencial de Cryptocarya alba encontrada en este trabajo es diferente al informado en otras publicaciones, con 4-terpineol (17,48 por ciento); 4-(3,3-dimetil-but-1-inil)-4-hidroxi-2,6,6-trimetilciclohex-2-enona (12.84 por ciento); 1,8-cineole (7,90 por ciento); p-cimeno (7,11 por ciento) y sabineno (6,80 por ciento), lo que representa el 52.13 por ciento del AE. El AE de Cryptocarya alba parece prometedor como un insecticida natural contra la mosca doméstica.