Fumigant toxicity of Oriental sweetgum (Liquidambar orientalis) and valerian (Valeriana wallichii) essential oils and their components, including their acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity, against Japanese termites (Reticulitermes speratus).
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the fumigant toxicity of valerian essential oil and its components against Japanese termites and assess their acetylcholinesterase inhibition activity.
Results Summary
Valerian oil showed high fumigant toxicity against Japanese termites after 7 days of exposure, with certain constituents like hydrocinnamyl alcohol and trans-cinnamyl alcohol being major contributors. Only cis-ocimene exhibited strong acetylcholinesterase inhibition activity.
Population
Japanese termites (Reticulitermes speratus)
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
7 days
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
oriental sweetgum (Liquidambar orientalis) essential oil | increase | fumigant toxicity | Japanese termite (Reticulitermes speratus) | - | showed toxicity | #1 |
valerian (Valeriana wallichii) essential oil | increase | fumigant toxicity | Japanese termite (Reticulitermes speratus) | - | was high | #2 |
benzyl alcohol | increase | fumigant toxicity | Japanese termite (Reticulitermes speratus) | - | showed toxicity | #3 |
acetophenone | increase | fumigant toxicity | Japanese termite (Reticulitermes speratus) | - | showed toxicity | #4 |
1-phenyl-1-ethanol | increase | fumigant toxicity | Japanese termite (Reticulitermes speratus) | - | showed toxicity | #5 |
hydrocinnamyl alcohol | increase | fumigant toxicity | Japanese termite (Reticulitermes speratus) | - | showed toxicity | #6 |
trans-cinnamyl aldehyde | increase | fumigant toxicity | Japanese termite (Reticulitermes speratus) | - | showed toxicity | #7 |
trans-cinnamyl alcohol | increase | fumigant toxicity | Japanese termite (Reticulitermes speratus) | - | showed toxicity | #8 |
cis-asarone | increase | fumigant toxicity | Japanese termite (Reticulitermes speratus) | - | showed toxicity | #9 |
styrene | increase | fumigant toxicity | Japanese termite (Reticulitermes speratus) | - | showed toxicity | #10 |
cis-ocimene | increase | fumigant toxicity | Japanese termite (Reticulitermes speratus) | - | showed toxicity | #11 |
hydrocinnamyl alcohol | increase | fumigant antitermitic toxicity | - | - | were found to be the major contributors | #12 |
trans-cinnamyl alcohol | increase | fumigant antitermitic toxicity | - | - | were found to be the major contributors | #13 |
cis-ocimene | increase | acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition activity | - | IC50 value of 0.131 mg/mL | showed strong AChE inhibition activity | #14 |
This study investigated the fumigant toxicity of oriental sweetgum (Liquidambar orientalis) and valerian (Valeriana wallichii) essential oils and their components against the Japanese termite (Reticulitermes speratus). The fumigant toxicity of oriental sweetgum and valerian oil differed significantly according to exposure time. Oriental sweetgum showed toxicity at short exposure times (2 days), and the toxicity of valerian oil was high 7 days after treatment. The main constituents of oriental sweetgum and valerian oils were tested individually for their fumigant toxicity against Japanese termites. Among the test compounds, benzyl alcohol, acetophenone, 1-phenyl-1-ethanol, hydrocinnamyl alcohol, trans-cinnamyl aldehyde, trans-cinnamyl alcohol, cis-asarone, styrene, and cis-ocimene showed toxicity against Japanese termites 7 days after treatment. Hydrocinnamyl alcohol and trans-cinnamyl alcohol were found to be the major contributors to the fumigant antitermitic toxicity of oriental sweetgum oil. The acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition activity of two oils and their constituents was tested to determine their mode of action. Only cis-ocimene showed strong AChE inhibition activity with an IC50 value of 0.131 mg/mL. Further studies are warranted to determine the potential of these essential oils and their constituents as fumigants for termite control.