Acantholippia deserticola essential oil as a natural pesticide againstagricultural plagues woolly whitefly [Aleurothrixus floccosus (Maskell)],Chilean false red mite (Brevipalpus chilensis Baker) and two-spotted mite(Tetranychus urticae Koch) / Aceite esencial de Acantholippia deserticola como pesticida natural contra plagas agrícolas como mosquita blanca algodonosa [Aleurothrixus floccosus (Maskell)], falsa arañita de la vid (Brevipalpus chilensis Baker) y arañita bimaculada (Tetranychus urticae Koch)

Different concentrations of essential oil obtained from Acantholippia deserticola (Phil.ex F. Phil.) Moldenke were assessed against Chilean agricultural pests like Aleurothrixus floccosus (Maskell), Brevipalpus chilensis Baker, and Tetranychus urticae Koch. Thebioassays were carried out under laboratory conditions and both direct and residual applications were done through Potter precision spraytower test. The oil was obtained by steam distillation containing a rich fraction of alpha and beta-thujones (88.4 percent) and it shows marked toxic effects against pests. Indeed, a mortality of 82 percent and 89 percent was observed in both B. chilensis and T. urticae after 48 h whereas in A. floccosus over 97 percent of mortality was seen after 7 days. These results open the possibility to use essential oil from Acantholippia deserticola as natural pesticide.

Se evaluó el efecto a diferentes concentraciones de una solución de aceite esencial de Acantholippia deserticola sobre plagas agrícolas en Chile, tales como Aleurothrixus floccosus (Maskell), Brevipalpus chilensis Baker y Tetranychus urticae Koch. Los bioensayos fueron realizados mediante una torre de Potter en condiciones de laboratorio y las aplicaciones fueron directas y residuales. El aceite se obtuvo por hidrodestilación, el cual contenía una gran cantidad de alfa and beta-tuyonas (88.4 por ciento), mostrando marcados efectos tóxicos para A. floccosus, con un 97 por ciento de mortalidad después de 7 d y, para B. chilensis, y T. urticae, con una mortalidad de 82 por ciento y 89 por ciento respectivamente, después de 48 h. Estos resultados abren la posibilidad de usar aceite esencial de Acantholippia deserticola como pesticida natural.

Antidepressant and anxiolytic-like effects of essential oil from Acantholippia deserticola Phil in female rats / Efecto ansiolítico y antidepresivo del aceite esencial de Acantholippia deserticola Phil en ratas hembras

Acantholippia deserticola (Phil.ex F. Phil.) Moldenke is a Verbenaceae that has long been used in traditional medicine in Tarapacá (Chile) as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory and aphrodisiac agent. Sincé alpha - and beta -thujone were identified as the main constituents (88.4 percent) of the essential oil from this plant, we investigated its biological properties. The results show that the essential oil from Acantholippia deserticola decreased locomotive and rearing activity compared to control group rats, including those treated with diazepam, but the essential oil had no effects on head movements or grooming. The essential oil also had significant anxiolytic and antidepressant effects. This essential oil, therefore, has sedative, anxiolytic and antidepressant actions on the rat central nervous system.

Acantholippia deserticola es una Verbenaceae de uso en la medicina tradicional como analgésico, antiinflamatorio y afrodisíaco en la región de Tarapacá, Chile. En el aceite esencial se ha identificado alfa - and beta -tuyonas como principales constituyentes (88.4 por ciento) de esta planta, que ha llevado a investigar sus propiedades biológicas. Los resultados muestran que el aceite esencial de Acantholippia deserticola disminuye la locomoción y el levantamiento en dos patas, en comparación con el grupo control, incluido el tratado por el diazepam, pero el aceite esencial no tuvo efecto sobre la sacudida de cabeza y el acicalamiento. En ambas pruebas, se observa un efecto significativo del aceite esencial en los efectos ansiolíticos y antidepresivos, lo que indica que el aceite esencial tiene actividad sedante, ansiolítica y antidepresiva en el sistema nervioso central.

Antioxidant activity of 50 percent aqueous: ethanol extract from Acantholippia deserticola

The antioxidant properties oí Acantholippia deserticola, a herb used in traditional northern Chilean medicine was studied using free radical - generating systems. The 50 percent aqueous - ethanol extract oí Acantholippia deserticola protected against non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation in microsomal membranes of rat, induced by an Fe++ - ascorbate system and measured spectrophotometrically by the TBARS test, and had strong free radical scavenging capacities on stable ABTS and DPPH radicáis. The results shows that the IC50 valué of the 50 percent aqueous - ethanolic extract oí A.deserticola is 18 ± 0.5 μg/mL in DPPH radical - scavenging, 15 ± 0.8 μg/mL in lipid peroxidation , Total Antioxidant Activity (TAA) is 0.95 mM of Trolox per mg/mL of extract. The total phenolics content of extract is 725 ± 12 mg of gallic acid equivalent per g of dried extract. The results indicate that the 50 percent aqueous - ethanol extract oí Acantholippia deserticola clearly has antioxidant properties.