AlpiniaEssential Oils and Their Major Components againstRhodnius nasutus, a Vector of Chagas Disease

Abstract

Species of the genusAlpiniaare widely used by the population and have many described biological activities, including activity against insects. In this paper, we describe the bioactivity of the essential oil of two species ofAlpiniagenus,A. zerumbetandA. vittata, againstRhodnius nasutus, a vector of Chagas disease. The essential oils of these two species were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-MS. The main constituent ofA. zerumbetessential oil (OLALPZER) was terpinen-4-ol, which represented 19.7% of the total components identified. In the essential oil ofA. vittata(OLALPVIT) the monoterpeneβ-pinene (35.3%) was the main constituent. The essential oils and their main constituents were topically applied onR. nasutusfifth-instar nymphs. In the first 10 min of application, OLALPVIT and OLALPZER at 125 μg/mL provoked 73.3% and 83.3% of mortality, respectively. Terpinen-4-ol at 25 μg/mL andβ-pinene at 44 μg/mL provoked 100% of mortality. The monitoring of resistant insects showed that both essential oils exhibited antifeedant activity. These results suggest the potential use ofA. zerumbetandA. vittataessential oils and their major constituents to controlR. nasutuspopulation.