Planta Med 2015; 81 - PM_128
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1565505

Insecticidal plant extracts from the Greek biodiversity: Biological activity and phytochemical characterization

A Termentzi 1, V Ahluwalia 2, N Tsafantakis 2, P Milonas 3, A Michaelakis 3, D Papachristos 3, H Karasali 1, N Aligiannis 2, N Fokialakis 2, AL Skaltsounis 2
  • 1Department of Pesticides Control and Phytopharmacy, Benaki Phytopathological Institute, 14561, St. Delta 8, Kifissia, Greece
  • 2Laboratory of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15771, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, Athens, Greece
  • 3Department of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, Benaki Phytopathological Institute, 14561, St. Delta 8, Kifissia, Greece

Plant-derived extracts and compounds have been suggested as potential alternative insecticides. The large biodiversity, followed by incredible chemodiversity, even for species of the same family, creates a pool of bioactive ingredients, very little explored by now. Opposite to the synthetic ones, biopesticides are generally considered safer, posing fewer risks to the environment, with minimal impacts on animal and human health. Furthemore, natural compounds often act at multiple target sites, reducing the potential for resistance.

In the present study, 25 extracts from plants of the Greek biodiversity, belonging to 15 different families were tested concerning their insecticidal activity against representative species of coleoptera, diptera and lepidoptera. The selection of these plant extracts was based on bibliographic search concerning potential active inscecticidal secondary metabolites: plants with known content of possible bioactive ingredients, as well as relative species were selected for this biological screening. Contact and feeding bioassays on selected insect species were performed in the laboratory at constant temperatures. Both positive and negative controls were included in the experimental design for the bioassays.

Results showed that certain plants from Thymelaceae family (e.g. Daphne sp. & Thymelaea hirsuta) have an important insecticidal potency. Thus, a detailed phytochemical analysis was performed for selected extracts and their content was characterized by HPLC-HR-MS/MS. Also, specific compounds were isolated and their structure was elucidated by 1&2D NMR experiments. The phytochemical investigation revealed the presence of coumarins, coumarin glycosides, lignans and daphnane diterpenoids. Also flavonoids, bisflavonoids and other phenolic derivatives were detected. These findings enhance the possibility that specific natural compounds could serve as lead potentials for the development of naturally-derived insecticides.