Comparative analysis on bioactivity against three stored insects of Ligusticum pteridophyllum Franch. rhizomes essential oil and supercritical fluid (SFE-CO2) extract.

In order to develop more environmentally benignant insecticides, the Ligusticum pteridophyllum Franch. rhizomes essential oil and supercritical fluid (SFE-CO2) extract were obtained by two published techniques, hydrodistillation and SFE-CO2. The chemical components of this two tested samples were identified by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID). Repellent activity and contact toxicity of the obtained samples and myristicin against the adults of Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), Lasioderma serricorne (Coleoptera: Anobiidae), and Liposcelis bostrychophila (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae) were compared. Nineteen components were identified in the SFE-CO2 extract. Twelve components were identified in the L. pteridophyllum rhizomes essential oil. SFE-CO2 extract exhibited higher contact toxicity against T. castaneum, L. serricorne, and L. bostrychophila (LD50 = 69.60 μg/adult, 14.58 μg/adult, and 1.69 μg/cm2, respectively) than that of L. pteridophyllum rhizomes essential oil (LD50 = 87.99 μg/adult, 89.82 μg/adult, and 7.87 μg/cm2, respectively). Besides, myristicin (LD50 = 36.46 μg/adult) showed superior contact toxicity against T. castaneum than that of the L. pteridophyllum rhizomes essential oil and SFE-CO2 extract. It possessed potentially practical significance to develop L. pteridophyllum rhizomes into plant pesticide or repellent agent for these stored insect controls. Graphical abstract .