Chemical Composition of Dysphania ambrosioides from Hydroponics and Soil and Its Activity Against Sitophilus zeamais

The activity and chemical composition of volatile oils and crude extracts from hydrodistillations of aerial parts of Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants, Amaranthaceae, grown in hydroponic systems and soil were investigated. The insecticidal and repellent activities of D. ambrosioides against Sitophilus zeamais were also explored due to its current use in pest control. The volatile oil of D. ambrosioides from plants grown in hydroponics and soil was extracted and characterized by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The major volatile compounds from the hydroponic plant material (yield = 0.54%) were trans-chrysanthenyl acetate (35.38%) and alpha-terpinene (49.05%), while those from the plants grown in soil (yield = 1.07%) were isoterpinolene (34.22%) and oc-terpinene (43.40%). Both residual waters were used to obtain crude extracts, which were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and contained rutinoside and some of its derivatives as major constituents. The study revealed repellency of 28% (1 h) and 55.5% (24 h) by volatile oils from hydroponic plants and 30% by the crude extracts after 1 h and for up to 24 h. Regarding the insecticidal activity by the grain mass treated method, both volatile oils presented satisfactory activity up to 120 h, with a response index above 90% after 48 h. The gain mass loss was lower for both oils, reducing ca. 50% of mass loss. Therefore, D. ambrosioides volatile oils and crude extracts from hydroponics and soil are both candidates for the development of bioinsecticides against S. zeamais.

Automated summary

The activity and chemical composition of volatile oils and crude extracts from hydrodistillations of Dysphania ambrosioides were investigated. The study found that the volatile oils showed insecticidal and repellent activities against Sitophilus zeamais, with trans-chrysanthenyl acetate and alpha-terpinene being the major compounds. The crude extracts contained rutinoside and its derivatives as major constituents. The research suggests that both the volatile oils and crude extracts from hydroponic and soil-grown D. ambrosioides are potential candidates for the development of bioinsecticides against S. zeamais.