Evaluating the insecticidal efficacy of geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) essential oil and its nanoemulsion form against three stored products pests and molecular docking simulations
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The geranium essential oil (GEO) has potential as insecticide. It's volatility and low stability limit its use, which can be overcome by nanoemulsion. This study aimed to formulate and characterize a nanoemulsion (GEO-N) of the GEO and examine insecticidal activity against Tribolium castaneum , Sitophilus granarius , Oryzaephilus surinamensis . The components of the GEO were determined as citronellol (30.76 %), geraniol (14.57 %), citronellyl formate (9.67 %) using GC-MS analysis. The GEO-N (1.5:0.3:0.15:98.05 (w/w) GEO:Tween 80:Ethanol:water) was synthesized using an ultrasonic homogenizer. The GEO-N has uniform spherical shape and size of 100 nm–200 nm, its droplet particle size, ζ-potential value, and polydispersity index were 178.2 nm, −15.3 mV, and 0.205, respectively. A concentration of 500 mg/L of GEO-N caused 53.33 %, 20.00 %, and 80 % mortality in T. castaneum , S. granarius , and O. surinamensis , respectively, after 7 days. A concentration of 1000 mg/L of GEO-N resulted in 100 %, 70 %, and 100 % mortality in T. castaneum , S. granarius , and O. surinamensis , respectively, after 7 days. Molecular docking studies have highlighted the interactions of cyclohexanol and 5-methyl-2-(1-methylethyl)-, (1.alpha.,2.alpha.,5.alpha.)- compounds with T. castaneum proteins (PDB ID: 5CQG , 7LT2 , and 6V3T ).These compounds were identified as promising candidates for use as an ointment applied to the insect cuticle as insecticide.
Institutions: Atatürk University, Sivas Cumhuriyet Üniversitesi
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,190
Award: G3558319263
OpenAlex ID: W4411369572