Electrophysiological, behavioural and biochemical effect of Ocimum basilicum oil and its constituents methyl chavicol and linalool on Musca domestica L.

Ocimum basilicum essential oil (EO) was evaluated for its biological effects on M. domestica. Characterization of O. EO revealed the presence methyl chavicol (70.93%), linalool (9.34%), epi-?-cadinol (3.69 %), eugenol (2.48%), ?-cadinene (1.67%), 1,8-cineole (1.30%) and (E)-?-ocimene (1.11%). The basil constituents elicited a neuronal response in female adults Adult flies showed reduced preference to food source laced with chavicol. Substrates treated at 0.25% resulted an oviposition deterrence over 80%. A large ovicidal effect found (EC50 9.74 mg/dm3) followed by 10.67 13.57 mg/dm3). Adults exposed (LD50 10.01 ?g/adult) were more susceptible contact toxicity than 13.62 ?g/adult LD50 43.12 respectively). also induced detoxifying enzymes Carboxyl esterase (Car E) Glutathione S – transferases (GST).