Mosquito Larvicidal Activity, Antimicrobial Activity, and Chemical Compositions of Essential Oils from Four Species of Myrtaceae from Central Vietnam

Nguyen Thi Giang An; Le Thi Huong; Prabodh Satyal; Thieu Anh Tai; Do Ngoc Dai; Nguyen Huy Hung; Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc; William N Setzer

doi:10.3390/plants9040544

Mosquito Larvicidal Activity, Antimicrobial Activity, and Chemical Compositions of Essential Oils from Four Species of Myrtaceae from Central Vietnam

Plants (Basel). 2020 Apr 22;9(4):544. doi: 10.3390/plants9040544.

Authors

Nguyen Thi Giang An¹, Le Thi Huong¹, Prabodh Satyal², Thieu Anh Tai³, Do Ngoc Dai^{4

5}, Nguyen Huy Hung⁶, Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc⁷, William N Setzer^{2

8}

Affiliations

¹ School of Natural Science Education, Vinh University, 182 Le Duan, Vinh City 43000, Nghe An Province, Vietnam.
² Aromatic Plant Research Center, 230 N 1200 E, Suite 102, Lehi, UT 84043, USA.
³ Department of Pharmacy, Duy Tan University, 03 Quang Trung, Da Nang 50000, Vietnam.
⁴ Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18-Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi 10072, Vietnam.
⁵ Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery, Nghe An College of Economics, 51-Ly Tu Trong, Vinh City 4300, Nghe An Province, Vietnam.
⁶ Center for Advanced Chemistry, Institute of Research and Development, Duy Tan University, 03 Quang Trung, Da Nang 550000, Vietnam.
⁷ Pedagogical Institute of Science, Vinh University, 182 Le Duan, Vinh City 43000, Vietnam.
⁸ Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35899, USA.

Abstract

Mosquitoes are important vectors of several diseases, and control of these insects is imperative for human health. Insecticides have proven useful in controlling mosquito populations, but insecticide resistance and environmental concerns are increasing. Additionally, emerging and re-emerging microbial infections are problematic. Essential oils have been shown to be promising mosquito larvicidal agents as well as antimicrobial agents. In this work, the essential oils from four species of Myrtaceae (Baeckea frutescens, Callistemon citrinus, Melaleuca leucadendra, and Syzygium nervosum) growing wild in central Vietnam have been obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatographic techniques. The essential oils have been screened for mosquito larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, and Culex quinquefasciatus, and for antimicrobial activity against Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. Callistemon citrinus fruit essential oil, rich in α-pinene (35.1%), 1,8-cineole (32.4%), limonene (8.2%), and α-terpineol (5.8%) showed good larvicidal activity with 24-h LC₅₀ = 17.3 μg/mL against both Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus, and good antibacterial activity against E. faecalis (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) = 16 μg/mL) The 48-h larvicidal activities of M. leucadendra leaf essential oil, rich in α-eudesmol (17.6%), guaiol (10.9%), linalool (5.1%), (E)-caryophyllene (7.0%), and bulnesol (3.6%) were particularly notable, with LC₅₀ of 1.4 and 1.8 μg/mL on Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus. Similarly, M. leucadendra bark essential oil, with α-eudesmol (24.1%) and guaiol (11.3%), showed good antibacterial activity against. E. faecalis. Both B. frutescens and C. citrinus leaf essential oils demonstrated anti-Candida activities with MIC values of 16 μg/mL. The results of this investigation suggest that essential oils derived from the Myrtaceae may serve as "green" alternatives for the control of mosquitoes and/or complementary antimicrobial agents.

Keywords: Baeckea frutescens; Callistemon citrinus; Melaleuca leucadendra; Syzygium nervosum.

Grants and funding

none/Duy Tan University