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Natural Products as Insecticidal Agents
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Natural Products as Insecticidal Agents

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2025 | Viewed by 4079

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Hélcio Silva Dos Santos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Chemistry Course, Vale do Acaraú State University, Sobral, CE, Brazil
Interests: natural products; essential oils; larvicidal activity; spectroscopic analysis; terpenes
Dr. Emmanuel Silva Marinho

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Graduate Program in Natural Sciences, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
Interests: natural product chemistry; organic physical chemistry
Dr. Márcia Machado Marinho

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Chemistry Course, Vale do Acaraú State University, Sobral, CE, Brazil
Interests: pharmaceutical chemistry; computational chemistry; bioinformatics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Pesticides have contributed to the increase in agricultural production; however, their incorrect use has led to the selection of resistant pests, among many other issues. Recently, interest in natural substances that pose less risk to human health and the environment has grown. Many plants and their secondary metabolites have demonstrated promising insecticidal activity and should be studied for use as alternative forms of pest control.

Researchers are cordially invited to contribute original research articles or review articles that will promote further research activities in the field and improve our understanding of insecticidal agents in natural products. The range of topics for submission includes, but is not limited to, the following: natural compounds; insecticidal agents; the environment; agricultural production; and insects.

Dr. Hélcio Silva Dos Santos
Dr. Emmanuel Silva Marinho
Dr. Márcia Machado Marinho
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • natural compounds
  • insecticidal agents
  • environment
  • agricultural production
  • insects

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 42729 KiB  
Article
Nanostructure Lipid Carrier of Curcumin Co-Delivered with Linalool and Geraniol Monoterpenes as Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor of Culex pipiens
by Ibrahim Taha Radwan, Nirvina Abdel Raouf Ghazawy, Abeer Mousa Alkhaibari, Hattan S. Gattan, Mohammed H. Alruhaili, Abdelfattah Selim, Mostafa E. Salem, Eman Alaaeldin AbdelFattah and Heba M. Hamama
Molecules 2024, 29(1), 271; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29010271 - 4 Jan 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2183
Abstract
(1) Background: A molecular hybridization docking approach was employed to develop and detect a new category of naturally activated compounds against Culex pipiens as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors via designing a one-pot multicomponent nano-delivery system. (2) Methods: A nanostructure lipid carrier (NLC), as a second [...] Read more.
(1) Background: A molecular hybridization docking approach was employed to develop and detect a new category of naturally activated compounds against Culex pipiens as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors via designing a one-pot multicomponent nano-delivery system. (2) Methods: A nanostructure lipid carrier (NLC), as a second generation of solid lipid nanoparticles, was used as a carrier to deliver the active components of curcumin (Cur), geraniol (G), and linalool (L) in one nanoformulation after studying their applicability in replacing the co-crystallized ligand imidacloprid. (3) Results: The prepared nanostructure showed spherical-shaped, polydisperse particles ranging in size from 50 nm to 300 nm, as found using a transmission electron microscope. Additionally, dynamic light scattering confirmed an average size of 169 nm and a highly stable dispersed solution, as indicated by the zeta potential (−38 mV). The prepared NLC-Cur-LG displayed competitive, high-malignancy insecticidal activity against fourth instar C. pipiens with an elevated rate of death of 0.649 µg/mL. The treatment, due to the prepared nanostructure, affects oxidative stress enzymes, e.g., hydrogen peroxide (4 ppm), superoxide dismutase (SOD) (0.03 OD/mg), and protein carbonyl (0.08 OD/mg), and there are observable upward and downward fluctuations when using different concentrations of NLC-Cur-LG, suggesting significant problems in its foreseeable insecticidal activity. The acetylcholinesterase activity was assessed by an enzyme inhibition assay, and strengthened inhibition occurred due to the encapsulated NLCs (IC50 = 1.95 µg/mL). An investigation of the gene expression by Western blotting, due to treatment with NLC-Cur-LG, revealed a severe reduction of nearly a quarter of what was seen in the untreated group. As a preliminary safety step, the nanoformulation’s toxicity against normal cell lines was tested, and a reassuring result was obtained of IC50 = 158.1 µg/mL for the normal lung fibroblast cell line. (4) Conclusions: the synthesized nanoformulation, NLC-Cur-LG, is a useful insecticide in field conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products as Insecticidal Agents)
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17 pages, 4807 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Abamectin on Locusta Migratoria Neurosecretory Cells and Mid Gut, Using Ultrastructure Examination, Oxidative Stress Study, and In-Silico Molecular Docking
by Nirvina Abdel Raouf Ghazawy, Amira Afify, Ibrahim Taha Radwan, Hanaa Ghabban, Abeer Mousa Alkhaibari, Hattan S. Gattan, Mohammed H. Alruhaili, Abdelfattah Selim and Mona M. Ali Saad
Molecules 2023, 28(19), 6956; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28196956 - 6 Oct 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1261
Abstract
(1) Background: Few studies have been carried out to appraise abamectin toxicity toward Locusta migratoria nymphs. (2) Methods: This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of abamectin as an insecticide through examining the changes and damage caused by this drug, in both [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Few studies have been carried out to appraise abamectin toxicity toward Locusta migratoria nymphs. (2) Methods: This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of abamectin as an insecticide through examining the changes and damage caused by this drug, in both neurosecretory cells and midgut, using L. migratoria nymphs as a model of the cytotoxic effect. Histopathological change in the brain was examined in both normal and abamectin-treated fifth-instar nymphs. Neurosecretory cells (NSCs) were also examined where there were loosely disintegrated cells or vacuolated cytoplasm. (3) Results: The results showed distinct histological changes in the gastrointestinal tract of L. migratoria nymphs treated with abamectin, with significant cellular damage and disorganization, i.e., characteristic symptoms of cell necrosis, a destroyed epithelium, enlarged cells, and reduced nuclei. The observed biochemical changes included an elevation in all measured oxidative stress parameters compared to untreated controls. The malondialdehyde activities (MDAs) of the treated nymphs had a five- to six-fold increase, with a ten-fold increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD), nine-fold increase in glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and four-fold increase in nitric oxide (NO). (4) Conclusions: To further investigate the theoretical method of action, a molecular docking simulation was performed, examining the possibility that abamectin is an inhibitor of the fatty acid-binding protein Lm-FABP (2FLJ) and that it binds with two successive electrostatic hydrogen bonds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products as Insecticidal Agents)
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Review

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16 pages, 1275 KiB  
Review
Silver Nanoparticles as a Potent Nanopesticide: Toxic Effects and Action Mechanisms on Pest Insects of Agricultural Importance—A Review
by Daniel Martínez-Cisterna, Olga Rubilar, Gonzalo Tortella, Lingyun Chen, Manuel Chacón-Fuentes, Marcelo Lizama, Pablo Parra and Leonardo Bardehle
Molecules 2024, 29(23), 5520; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29235520 - 22 Nov 2024
Viewed by 10
Abstract
Nanotechnology has been a promising plant protection discipline in recent years, attributed to the unique physicochemical properties exhibited at the nanoscale. In this context, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been effective in various applications, including medical, industrial, and agronomic, and during the last few [...] Read more.
Nanotechnology has been a promising plant protection discipline in recent years, attributed to the unique physicochemical properties exhibited at the nanoscale. In this context, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been effective in various applications, including medical, industrial, and agronomic, and during the last few years, the control of insect pests has raised great interest. The present review mainly provides updated information about the use of AgNPs elaborated by different synthesis methods, such as biological (plants, microorganisms), physical, and chemical, and their effect against various insect species of agricultural importance belonging to the order Diptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, and Hemiptera. The physiological and toxic effects of applying AgNPs are reported and characterized by developmental problems, mortality, weight reduction, interference with enzymatic activity, and anomalies in the life cycle. Moreover, in the final section, the action mechanisms through which AgNPs act on insects are also discussed, highlighting mechanisms such as alteration of transmembrane permeability, interruption of DNA replication, alteration of protein synthesis, and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products as Insecticidal Agents)
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