Phytochemical Screening and Evaluation of Pesticidal Efficacy in the Oleoresins of Globba sessiliflora Sims and In Silico Study.

Globba sessiliflora Sims is an aromatic rhizomatous herb of family Zingiberaceae which is endemic to Peninsular India. This study first reports the phytochemical profile and pesticidal potential of oleoresins obtained from the aerial and rhizome parts of Globba sessiliflora Sims. The oleoresins were prepared by the cold percolation method and were analyzed by a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method. Both the oleoresins varied greatly in composition, the major compounds identified in aerial part oleoresin (GSAO) were methyl linoleate, methyl palmitate, and phytol, while the major compounds present in rhizome part oleoresin (GSRO) were γ-sitosterol, 8 (17),12-labdadiene-15, 16-dial, methyl linoleate, and methyl palmitate. In order to evaluate the biological activities, the oleoresins were tested under laboratory conditions for nematicidal action and inhibition of egg hatching potential against root knot nematode, where GSRO was more effective. Insecticidal activity was performed against mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi and castor hairy caterpillar, Selepa celtis. In case of mustard aphid, GSRO (LC50 = 154.8 ppm) was more effective than GSAO (LC50 = 263.0 ppm), while GSAO (LC50 = 346.7.0 ppm) was more effective against castor hairy caterpillar than GSRO (LC50 = 398.1 ppm). The herbicidal activity was performed in the receptor species Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus, and the oleoresins showed different intensities for seed germination inhibition and coleoptile and radical length inhibition. Molecular docking studies were conducted to screen the in vitro activities and through molecular docking, it was found that the major oleoresins components were able to interact with the binding pocket of HPPD and AChE with γ-sitosterol showing the best binding affinity.

Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Hedychium coccineum Buch.-Ham. ex Sm. Essential Oils from Kumaun Hills of Uttarakhand.

Hedychium coccineum Buch. Ham. ex Sm. is a perennial rhizomatous herb belonging to the family Zingiberaceae. The aim of the present study was to compare the chemical composition and biological activities of H. coccineum rhizome essential oil (HCCRO) and H. coccineum aerial part essential oil (HCCAO). The plant material was subjected to hydro-distillation using Clevenger's apparatus in order to obtain volatile oil and analyzed for its chemical constituents using GC-MS. The comparative study of the rhizome and aerial part essential oils of H. coccineum displayed that (E)-nerolidol (15.9%), bornyl acetate (13.95%), davanone B (10.9%), spathulenol (8.9%), and 1, 8-cineol (8.5%) contributed majorly to the HCCRO, while 7-hydroxyfarnesen (15.5%), α-farnesene (11.1%), α-pinene (10.9%), spathulenol (7.7%), and ß-pinene (6.8%) were present as major constituents in the HCCAO. Both the essential oils were studied for their biological activities, such as nematicidal, insecticidal, herbicidal, antifungal, and antibacterial activities. The essential oils exhibited significant nematicidal activity against Meloidogyne incognita, insecticidal activity against Spodoptera litura, and moderate herbicidal activity against R. raphanistrum sub sp. sativus, and good antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum and Curvularialunata. Essential oils were also tested for antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi. Both oils showed good to moderate activity against the tested pathogens. The significant nematicidal, insecticidal, herbicidal, antifungal, and antibacterial activities of both the essential oils might be helpful for the development of environmentally friendly pesticides that could be an alternative to synthetic pesticides in the future.

Essential oil composition and biological activities determination of Mosla dianthera (Buch.-Ham. ex Roxb.) Maxim. and its major isolated component, carvone

Abstract This study was aimed to explore the chemical composition and biological activities of essential oil from aerial part of Mosla dianthera along with its major isolated compound, carvone. The hydro-distilled essential oil was analysed by GC-MS and biological activities were investigated in terms of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, herbicidal, antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-feedant properties. GC-MS analysis led to the identification of forty-nine components contributing 96.2% of essential oil with carvone (41.9%) as the most abundant constituent. The oil and carvone showed good to moderate antioxidant potentials determined by radical scavenging, reducing power and metal chelating activities. Carvone showed good anti-inflammatory activity (78.0%) compared to essential oil (74.2%). Both essential oil and carvone exhibited excellent herbicidal activity against Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus seeds. The essential oil and carvone showed significant anti-bacterial efficacy against Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli. It was observed that essential oil showed strong antifungal property than carvone against Alternaria alternata and Curvularia lunata. Both the samples exhibited anti-feedant activity in a dose dependent manner against third instar larvae of Spilosoma obliqua. Results obtained revealed the possible applications of essential oil and carvone as a bioactive source of natural antioxidants, excellent herbicide and an effective substance for antifungal and antifeedant activities.

Comparative Study of Morphology and Developmental Biology of Two Agriculturally Important Whitefly Species Bemisia tabaci (Asia II 5) and Trialeurodes vaporariorum from North-Western Himalayan Region of India

Abstract: Bemisia tabaci (Asia II 5) and Trialeurodes vaporariorum are the two devastating species of whiteflies infesting a wide range of vegetable crops in the North-Western Himalayan region. Therefore, the present investigation deals with a comparative study of the morphology and developmental biology of these two whitefly species. The total developmental period from egg to adult was 22.82 and 23.40 days for B. tabaci (Asia II 5) and T. vaporariorum, respectively, which did not differ significantly. The adult longevity, fecundity, and adult emergence in T. vaporariorum is quite higher than B. tabaci (Asia II 5) which were observed as 10.40 days, 118.00 eggs/female, 90.69 per cent and 6.80 days, 73.33 eggs/female, 86.59 per cent, respectively. Similarly, the egg hatching and the survival rate is higher in T. vaporariorum than in B. tabaci (Asia II 5) (95.11, 81.44 per cent and 91.68, 78.09 per cent). Morphological characters such as marginal setae, abdominal setae, vasiform orifice, lingula, and antennae, which were reliable characters for the identification of both whitefly species and diagnostics of the two whiteflies, were explicated in a comparative discussion.