Essential Oils from Two Apiaceae Species as Potential Agents in Organic Crops Protection

• Main Authors: Nadjiya Merad, Vanessa Andreu, Slimane Chaib, Ronaldo de Carvalho Augusto, David Duval, Cédric Bertrand, Yacine Boumghar, André Pichette, Nassim Djabou
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-05-01
• Series: Antibiotics
• Subjects: <i>Eryngium triquetrum</i>; <i>Smyrnium olusatrum</i>; essential oils; chemical composition; crop protection; falcarinol
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/10/6/636

Chemical composition and herbicidal, antifungal, antibacterial and molluscicidal activities of essential oils from Choukzerk, <i>Eryngium triquetrum</i>, and Alexander, <i>Smyrnium olusatrum</i>, from western Algeria were characterized. Capillary GC-FID and GC/MS were used to investigate chemical composition of both essential oils, and the antifungal, antibacterial, molluscicidal and herbicidal activities were determined by % inhibition. Collective essential oil of <i>E. triquetrum</i> was dominated by falcarinol (74.8%) and octane (5.6%). The collective essential oil of <i>S. olusatrum</i> was dominated by furanoeremophilone (31.5%), furanodiene+curzurene (19.3%) and (E)-β-caryophyllene (11%). The <i>E. triquetrum</i> oil was tested and a pure falcarinol (99%) showed virtuous herbicidal and antibacterial activities against potato blackleg disease, <i>Pectobacterium atrosepticum</i>, and Gram-negative soil bacterium, <i>Pseudomonas cichorii</i> (85 and 100% inhibition, respectively), and high ecotoxic activity against brine shrimp, <i>Artemia salina</i>, and the freshwater snail, <i>Biomphalaria glabrata</i>, with an IC₅₀ of 0.35 µg/mL and 0.61 µg/mL, respectively. Essential oil of <i>S. olusatrum</i> showed interesting antibacterial and ecotoxic activity and good herbicidal activity against watercress seeds, <i>Lepidium sativum</i> (74% inhibition of photosynthesis, 80% mortality on growth test on model watercress), while the furanoeremophilone isolated from the oil (99% pure) showed moderate herbicidal activity. Both oils showed excellent antifungal activity against <i>Fusarium</i>. Both oils and especially falcarinol demonstrated good potential as new biocontrol agents in organic crop protection.