Larvicidal activity of essential oil from Pimpinella anisum and its major component, trans-anethole, against Euproctis chrysorrhoea

Abstract

The essential oil isolated from anise (Pimpinella anisum L.) and its previously identified major component, trans-anethole (commercially available), were tested for their larvicidal activity via topical administration to fourth instar larvae of the brown-tail moth, Euproctis chrysorrhoea L. Both test materials showed larvicidal activities in a dose-dependent manner. The oil and component produced 89.0% and 100% larval mortality, respectively, at 96 h at a concentration of 0.5%. The LC50 values of the essential oil and the component trans-anethole were 1266 and 1400 ppm, respectively, when 80 μl was applied per larva. The results obtained indicate that both materials may have utility in controlling E. chrysorrhoea, and they should be of value in the search for new natural larvicidal compounds.