Chemical Composition and Broad-Spectrum Insecticidal Activity of the Flower Essential Oil from an Ancient Sicilian Food Plant, Ridolfia segetum

Several species of the family Apiaceae are aromatic herbs that produce essential oils usable on an industrial scale for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food purposes. In particular, some oils, such as green insecticides example, may replace synthetic insecticides, keeping most their efficacy avoiding environmental pollution or human poisoning. present study, we explored insecticidal potential Ridolfia segetum (L.) Moris oil (EO) against three different pests: Culex quinquefasciatus Say, Musca domestica L., Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval). For this purpose, EO was obtained by hydrodistillation flowers its composition achieved gas chromatography/flame ionization detection (GC/FID) chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). This rich in ?-phellandrene (49.3%), ?-phellandrene (9.2%), terpinolene (20.7%), piperitenone oxide (5.9%). Concerning mosquitocidal efficacy, showed noteworthy toxicity C. 3rd instar larvae, with a LC50 = 27.1 µL L?1 LC90 42.5 L?1. Regarding M. domestica, R. found male female flies, calculating LD50 values 10.5 50.8 µg adult?1, respectively. The also toxic to S. achieving LD90 37.9 99.6 larva?1, Overall, flower EO, extracted from traditional Sicilian plant, merits further investigation development insecticide formulations be used real world conditions, pending careful assessment non-target beneficial organisms.