Isolation of a larvicidal compound from Piper solmsianum C.DC. (Piperaceae)

Abstract

The Aedes aegypti mosquito is one of the major vectors of arboviruses. These diseases have re-emerged and the insecticides used nowadays are toxic to mammals and environment and have only been effective in the short-term. In this context, natural products are an alternative. The genus Piper has many active compounds against arthropods, including neolignans. The present study evaluated the larvicidal potential of the n-hexanic extract of Piper solmsianum and eupomatenoid-6, identified by GC-MS and NMR techniques, from this extract against Ae. aegypti. The crude extract (100 μg/mL) killed 80% and 98.3% of larvae in the first and third day, respectively. Eupomatenoid-6 exhibited LD₅₀ of 19.33 μM and LD₉₀ of 28.68 μM and was then assayed in human fibroblast cells (MRC5), showing an IC₅₀ of 39.30 μM with estimated LD₅₀ of 42.26 mmol/kg. Our results indicate eupomatenoid-6 as a potent insecticide with relatively low toxicity for mammals.