Composition and Repellent Efficacy of Essential Oil from ... - Iresa

Composition and Repellent Efficacy of Essential Oil from
Laurus nobilis against Adults of the Cigarette Beetle
Lasioderma serricorne (Coleoptera: Anobiidae)
Jouda Mediouni-Ben Jemâa, Nisrine Tersim, Laboratoire de Protection des
Végétaux, INRAT Rue Hedi Karray, 2080, Ariana, Université de Carthage, Tunisia,
and Mohamed Larbi Khouja, Laboratoire d’Ecologie et d’Amélioration Sylvo-
Pastorale, INRGREF, Rue Hedi Karray, 2080, Ariana, Université de Carthage,
Tunisia
__________________________________________________________________________
ABSTRACT
Mediouni-Ben Jemâa, J., Tersim, N., and Khouja, M.L. 2011. Composition and repellent efficacy
of essential oil from Laurus nobilis against adults of the cigarette beetle Lasioderma serricorne
(Coleoptera: Anobiidae). Tunisian Journal of Plant Protection 6: 29-41.
This study reports the chemical composition and the repellent activity of Laurus nobilis (Lauraceae)
essential oil against 7-10 days old adults of the cigarette beetle Lasioderma serricorne. Essential oil
chemical composition was assessed via GC and GC/MS analysis. 1,8-cineole (24.55%), linalool
(17.67%), eugenylmethylether (12.40%), isovaleraldehyde (9.65%) and camphene (7.21%) were the
major compounds. Significant pest repellent activity was demonstrated. Repellent action was highly
dependent upon oil concentration and exposure time. The best repellent efficacy was observed for high
doses and short exposure period. At the dose 0.12 µl/cm 2 , repellency reached 92.5% after 1 h of
exposure. Moreover, the median repellent dose value (RD 50) was 37.84 µl/cm 2 . The results suggested
that L. nobilis essential oil may have potential as a control agent against this stored product beetle.
Keywords: Essential oil, GC-MS, laurel, Lasioderma serricorne, Laurus nobilis, median repellent dose
RD 50
___________________________________________________________________________________
The widespread use of synthetic
insecticides has led to many negative
consequences resulting in increasing
attention being given to natural products
(13, 26). Aromatic plants are among the
most efficient insecticides of botanical
origin and essential oils often constitute
Corresponding author: Jouda Mediouni- Ben Jemâa
Email: joudamediouni@lycos.com
Accepted for publication 9 July 2011
the bioactive fraction of plant extracts
(47, 52). Several investigations have been
conducted on plant extract, especially on
essential oils, to study their biological
activity against stored seeds pest insects:
eugenol (30), olive oils (31), and various
essential oils (29). In stored-product
insect pest control, essential oils may
have numerous types of effects (43): they
may have a fumigant activity (51), they
may penetrate inside the insect body as
contact insecticides (55), they may act as
anti-feedants (25), they may affect some
Tunisian Journal of Plant Protection 29 Vol. 6, No. 1, 2011

iological parameters such as growth rate,
life span and reproduction (48, 44, 50) or
they may act as repellents (41, 49).
Repellents are defined as substances that
act locally or at a distance, deterring an
arthropod from flying to, landing on or
biting human or animal skin (or a surface
in general) (8, 11). Usually, insect
repellents work by providing a vapor
barrier deterring the arthropod from
coming into contact with the surface (9).
Among them, essential oils, complex
mixtures of volatile compounds isolated
from a large number of plants, have been
found to have these properties against
various haematophagous arthropods,
some of them being the basis of
commercial repellent formulations (15).
Mediterranean laurel Laurus nobilis
(Lauraceae) is an evergreen shrub up to
2.15 m height and commonly named bay
laurel (2). It is native to the Southern
Mediterranean region and widely
cultivated in Europe and the USA as an
ornamental plant (22). Bay leaf is widely
used as a dried herb and gives a very
fragrant and aromatic essential oil; it is
used as a valuable spice and flavoring
agent in the culinary and food industries
and as an additive in cosmetics (12).
Moreover, it is also widely used in folk
medicine to treat gastrointestinal
problems, rheumatism, diuretic, urinary
problems and stones (1). In Tunisia, bay
laurel is a common species called "Rand".
It grows at the edges of rivers, on
mountains and on wet cliffs. It also grows
in the humid and sub-humid bioclimatic
areas, especially in Ain Draham, Tabarka,
and Cap-Bon (46).
The biological activities of L.
nobilis have been extensively
investigated. Kivçak and Mert (35)
indicated that L. nobilis could be used as
botanical biopesticide in postharvest crop
protection. In this context, Papachristos
and Stamopoulos (43) reported that L.
nobilis essential oil has a repellent action,
reduces fecundity, decreases egg
hatchability, increases larval mortality
and adversely influences offspring to
female of bean weevil Acanthoscelides
obtectus. Correspondingly,
Andronikashvili and Reichmuth (3), Saim
and Meloan (49) indicated that L. nobilis
essential oil had good repellency against
the rust-red flour beetle Tribolium
castaneum. In addition, Cosimi et al. (14)
reported that L. nobilis essential oil had
repellency against Sitophilus zeamais,
Cryptolestes ferrugineus, and Tenebrio
molitor.
On the other hand, fumigant toxic
and oviposition-deterring activities of L.
nobilis essential oil were studied against
the carmine spider mite, Tetranychus
cinnabarinus (54). Similarly, Macchioni
et al. (38) indicated that L. nobilis
essential oil presented an acaricidal
activity against Psoroptes cuniculi.
Besides, the antifungal and antibacterial
activities of L. nobilis oil were assayed.
De Corato et al. (16) reported the
antifungal activity of laurel oil against the
three plant pathogenic fungi Botrytis
cinerea, Monilinia laxa and Penicillium
digitatum. Furthermore, the antibacterial
activity of the various extracts has been
assayed using the gram positive bacteria,
Saphylococcus aureus ATTCC 25923 and
Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, and
the gram negative bacteria, Escherichia
coli ATCC 25922 and Pseudomonas
aeruginosa ATCC 27853 (39).
Additionally, Derwich et al. (17) showed
that L. nobilis essential oil was very
effective in vitro against three bacterial
strains: S. aureus, S. intermedius and
Klebsiella pneumonia. Recently,
Hassiotis (23) indicated that L. nobilis,
Tunisian Journal of Plant Protection 30 Vol. 6, No. 1, 2011

abundant in the Mediterranean region,
can influence the development of two
mycorrhizal species, Glomus deserticola
and G. intraradices.
The cigarette beetle, Lasioderma
serricorne is a cosmopolitan and
polyphagous stored product pest. L.
serricorne is known to develop on a
variety of grain-based products, spices,
and tobacco, and infest these
commodities during storage and
manufacturing (18). This beetle is among
the main stored-product pests in Tunisia
and North Africa (27).
The cigarette beetle is one of the
most ubiquitous of all stored-product
insects. It occurs throughout the tropical
and subtropical regions of the world. It
occurs commonly in warm buildings
throughout the temperate regions. It
breeds on a wide variety of commodities,
including both plant and animal materials
(7, 24, 37), and is one of several beetle
pests that commonly infest warehouses
and retail stores (5).
Effective management of the
problem requires good sanitation,
inspection of incoming goods, frequent
rotation of stock, monitoring for the pest,
removal of infested stock, and judicious
application of biorational or conventional
chemical insecticides. Historically,
retailers and pest control operators have
relied heavily on chemical pesticides (6).
Nevertheless, the increasing awareness of
risk to environmental quality and human
health has made necessary to seek safer
methods. In this context, research over
the last two or three decades has
produced a variety of traps that are
effective in detecting the pest (4, 34). The
present work aims to investigate essential
oil composition of L. nobilis and to
evaluate its repellent efficacy against
adults of L. serricorne.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Insect rearing. The cigarette beetle
L. serricorne was reared on wheat flour.
A rearing colony was initiated in the
Laboratory of Plant Protection
(Entomology Section) at the Institut
National de la Recherche Agronomique
de Tunisie, Tunisia. The rearing
conditions were darkness in 25 ± 1°C and
65% ± 5% relative humidity. Adult
insects, 7-10 days old were used for
repellency tests. This age was chosen
because insects are more sensitive to oil
treatment.
Plant material. L. nobilis leaves
were collected in February 2010 from the
nursery of the experimental station of
Institut National de la Recherche en
Génie Rural, Eau et Forêt at Ariana,
Tunis, Tunisia. The harvested material
was air-dried at room temperature (20-
25°C) for one week and then stored in
cloth bags.
Essential oil extraction and
chemical analysis. Essential oil was
extracted by hydrodistillation of dried
leaves (100 g of each sample in 500 ml of
distilled water) using a modified
Clevenger-type apparatus for 4 h. The
oils were dried over anhydrous sodium
sulphate and stored in sealed glass vials at
4-5°C prior to analysis. Yield was
averaged over four experiments and
calculated according to dry weight of the
plant materials. Chemical analyses were
performed at the Laboratory of
Bioprocesses, Centre de Biotechnologie
de Sfax, Tunisia.
The essential oils were analyzed
using an Agilent-Technologies 6890 N
Network GC system equipped with a
flame ionization detector and HP-5MS
capillary column (30 m × 0.25 mm, film
thickness 0.25 µm; Agilent-Technologies,
Little Falls, CA, USA). The injector and
Tunisian Journal of Plant Protection 31 Vol. 6, No. 1, 2011

detector temperatures were set at 220°C
and 290°C, respectively. The column
temperature was programmed from 80°C
to 220°C at a rate of 4°C/min, with the
lower and upper temperatures being held
for 3 and 10 min, respectively. The flow
rate of the carrier gas (Helium) was 1.0
ml/min. A sample of 1.0 µl was injected,
using split mode (split ratio, 1:100). All
quantifications were carried out using a
built-in data-handling program provided
by the manufacturer of the gas
chromatograph. The composition was
reported as a relative percentage of the
total peak area. The identification of the
essential oils constituents was based on a
comparison of their retention times to nalkanes,
compared to published data and
spectra of authentic compounds.
Compounds were further identified and
authenticated using their mass spectra
compared to the Wiley version 7.0
library. Major compounds (≥ 5%) and
other predominant components (0.5-5%)
were marked in bold form.
The retention time of a solute is
taken as the elapsed time between the
time of injection of a solute and the time
of elution of the peak maximum of that
solute. It is a unique characteristic of the
solute and can be used for identification
purposes while Kovats retention index
(Kovats index or retention index) is a
concept used in gas chromatography to
convert retention times into systemindependent
constants (36). The Kovats
retention index of a certain chemical
compound is its retention time
normalized to the retention times of
adjacently eluting n-alkanes. While
retention times vary with the individual
chromatographic system (e.g. with
regards to column length, film thickness,
diameter, carrier gas velocity and
pressure, void time), the derived Kovats
Tunisian Journal of Plant Protection 32
retention indices are quite independent of
these parameters and allow comparing
values measured by different analytical
laboratories under varying conditions.
Tables of Kovats retention indices can
help identify components by comparing
experimentally rimentally found Kovats retention
indices with known values (36). The
value of Kovats retention index is usually
represented by I in mathematical
expressions. Its applicability is restricted
to organic compounds compounds. For isothermal
chromatography, the Kovats retention
index is given by the equation equation:
where:
I = Kovats retention index,
n = the number of carbon atoms in
the smaller alkane,
N = the number of carbon atoms in
the larger alkane,
tr' ' = the adjusted retention time.
For temperature programmed
chromatography, the Kovats retention
index is given by the equation equation:
where:
I = Kovats retention index,
n = the number of carbon atoms in
the smaller alkane,
N = the number of carbon atoms in
the larger alkane,
z = the difference of the number of
carbon atoms in the smaller and larger
alkane,
tr = the retention time.
Repellency bioassay bioassay.
Filter paper tests tests. Repellency assays
of L. nobilis essential oils were carried
according to the experimental method
described by Jilani and Saxena (28).
Whatman filter papers (diameter 8 cm)
Vol. 6, No. 1, 2011

were cut in half. Test solutions were
prepared by dissolving 2, 4, 5 and 6 µl of
L. nobilis essential oil in 1 ml acetone.
Doses were converted to give equivalent
concentrations of respectively 0.04, 0.08,
0.1 and 0.12 µl/cm 2 . Each solution was
applied to half a filter-paper disc as
uniformly as possible with a micropipette.
The other half of the filter paper was
treated with acetone alone as a control.
The treated and control half discs were air
dried under a fan to evaporate the solvent
completely. Treated and untreated halves
were attached to their opposites using
adhesive tape and placed in Petri dishes.
Twenty adult (7-10 days old) beetles of
mixed sex (ratio 1:1) were released at the
centre of each filter paper disc. The
dishes were then covered and sealed with
Parafilm. Four replications were used for
each concentration. Observations on the
number of insects present on both the
treated and untreated halves were
recorded after 1, 3, 5 and 24 h for each
tested concentration. Four trials were
made for each concentration.
Percentage repellency (PR) and
median repellent dose (RD50) of L.
nobilis essential oil. Numbers of L.
serricorne present on the treated and
untreated portions of the experimental
paper halves were recorded after various
periods of exposure. Percentage
repellency (PR) was calculated according
to Nerio et al. (42) as follows:
PR = [(Nc – Nt)/(Nc + Nt)] × 100
where Nc was the number of insects
on the untreated area after the exposure
interval and Nt was the number of insects
on the treated area after the exposure
interval. Four replications were used for
each concentration. Probit analysis (20)
was used to calculate the median repellent
dose (RD50) (dose that repelled 50% of
the exposed insects) at 24 h of exposure.
Results are presented as the mean of
percentage repellency ± the standard
error.
Data analysis.
Chi-square (χ 2 ) test was applied to
test for homogeneity ratio (1:1) in order
to assess the repellent activity of L.
nobilis essential oil (53). To assess the
impact of oil concentration and exposure
time on repellent action, data underwent
two-way ANOVA, converting percentage
data into angular values; the averages
were separated by LSD tests (53).
RESULTS
Chemical composition. The
composition and main constituents of
essential oils are shown in Table 1. GC
and GC/MS analysis of L. nobilis
essential oil leaves permitted to identify
fifty one compounds. A total of 87.84%
from the constituents of L. nobilis leaves
essential oil were identified (Table 1).
The oil yield was 0.584% on the basis of
dry matter weight.
In detail, the essential oil of L.
nobilis showed high percentages of 1,8-
cineole (24.55%), linalool (17.67%),
eugenylmethylether (12.40%),
isovaleraldehyde (9.65%) and camphene
(7.21%), while lower percentages were
that of β-phellandrene (3.85%), camphor
(2.66%), α-pinene (2.52%) and eugenol
(2.18%).
Tunisian Journal of Plant Protection 33 Vol. 6, No. 1, 2011

Table 1. Chemical composition (%) of essential oil from Laurus nobilis leaves
Nº Component RT KI %
1 Isohexane 2.06 636 0.35
2 Pentane 2.14 663 0.47
3 Isovaleraldehyde 2.27 701 9.65
4 Cyclopentane 2.5 716 0.11
5 Heptanen 3.29 766 0.03
6 α-thujene 8.65 921 0.22
7 α-pinene 8.88 930 2.52
8 Camphene 9.27 945 0.41
9 β-Phellandrene 10.13 977 3.85
10 β-Pinene 10.19 980 1.39
11 β-Myrcene 10.61 995 0.30
12 Δ3-Carene 11.16 1010 0.11
13 α-Terpinene 11.38 1014 0.11
14 1,8-Cineole 12.05 1029 24.55
15 β-Ocimene 12.07 1030 0.04
16 γ-Terpinene 12.68 1045 0.26
17 Trans-Sabinene hydrate 12.96 1050 0.14
18 2-Norbornanone 13.60 1064 1.20
19 Linalool 14.28 1080 17.67
20 2-cyclohexen-1-ol 14.71 1089 0.08
21 Camphor 15.39 1111 2.66
22 Tepinene-1-ol 16.33 1126 1.47
23 α-terpineol 16.72 1189 1.29
24 2-Pinen-10-ol 16.84 1196 0.14
25 Cis-geraniol 17.70 1229 0.10
26 Linalyl acetate 18.45 1257 0.69
27 α-Fenchyl acetate 19.30 1288 0.40
28 2-undecanone 19.48 1297 0.09
29 Phenol 19.92 1312 0.30
30 Camphene 21.14 1357 7.21
31 Eugenol 21.33 1367 2.18
32 Geraniol acetate 21.86 1386 0.08
33 β-elemene 22.15 1398 0.08
34 Eugenylmethylether 22.67 1415 12.40
35 β-caryophyllene 22.89 1426 0.27
36 α-Guaiene 23.34 1443 0.10
37 α-Caryophyllene 23.74 1459 0.08
38 Cyclodecene 24.08 1471 0.08
39 Naphtalene 24.55 1490 0.27
40 Eremophilene 24.79 1499 0.67
41 β-elemene 25.09 1511 0.17
42 Δ-cadinene 25.41 1526 0.10
43 β- Isopropyl 26.04 1554 0.05
44 Benzene 26.17 1558 0.28
45 Spathulenol 26.80 1587 1.12
46 Veridiflorol 27.09 1599 0.11
47 Δ-Gurjunene 27.36 1612 0.09
48 β-Gurjunene 27.94 1636 0.23
49 Isospathulenol 28.12 1644 0.12
50 2-Naphthalenemethanol 28.43 1658 0.50
51 Ledene 28.51 1661 0.70
Total 87.84
Tunisian Journal of Plant Protection 34 Vol. 6, No. 1, 2011

Major compounds and other
predominant components were marked in
bold form to be visualized; RT, KI were
respectively Retention Time and Kováts
retention Index calculated on a HP-5MS
capillary column (30 m × 0.25 mm × 0.25
µm).
Repellency. Chi-square analysis
indicated that L. nobilis essential oil
showed significant pest repellent activity
to L. serricorne adults. The oil was
repellent even at low concentrations (2
µl) as the hypothesis of the ratio 1:1 was
rejected (Table 2). The best repellent
efficacy was observed for high doses and
short exposure period (1 and 3 h). Best
results were obtained for the
concentration 0.12 µl/cm 2 after 1, 3 and 5
h of exposure (Table 2). Thus, L. nobilis
oil has potential for use against this
stored-product insect as a repellent.
L. nobilis essential oil was repellent
to the cigarette beetle species (Tables 3
and 4). The lowest concentration (0.04
µl/cm 2 ) of the oil led to percentage
repellency of 52.5% against adults L.
serricorne, after 1 h of exposure.
Meanwhile, at 0.1 µl/cm 2 , L. nobilis
essential oil achieved respectively 80,
72.5, 50 and 17.5% repellency after 1, 3,
5 and 24 h exposure (Table 3). At the
highest concentration (0.12 µl/cm 2 ),
repellency was arranged between 92.5
and 60% for respectively 1 and 24 h of
exposure (Table 3).
A repellent activity was exhibited by
laurel oil at all tested concentrations, but
especially after the shorter exposure time
(1 and 3 h of exposure). Significant
statistical differences were observed
between oil concentrations at all tested
exposure times (Table 3). Similarly, for
each tested concentration, significant
differences were obtained between
exposure times (Table 3).
Probit analysis showed that L.
serricorne was susceptible to L. nobilis
essential oil. The corresponding RD50 was
37.84 µl/cm 2 (Table 4).
DISCUSSION
Results reported in this work
showed that L. nobilis essential oil
composition was characterized by the
presence of 1,8-cineole (24.55%), linalool
(17.67%), eugenylmethylether (12.40%),
isovaleraldehyde (9.65%) and camphene
(7.21%), as major compounds. Moreover,
β-phellandrene (3.85%), camphor
(2.66%), α-pinene (2.52%) and eugenol
(2.18%) were also present as predominant
components in laurel oil.
The chemical composition of bay
laurel essential oils from different origins
has been studied by different researchers.
In all cases, 1,8-cineole was the major
component with percentages ranging
between 31.4 and 56% (34). Other
compounds were present in appreciable
amounts including linalool, transsabinene
hydrate, a-terpinyl-acetate,
methyl eugenol, sabinene and eugenol
(21). Benzene compounds (eugenol,
methyl eugenol and elemicin), present in
percentages ranging between 1 and 12%,
are responsible for the spicy aroma of bay
leaves and are extremely important
factors determining the sensory quality of
bay leaves (45).
In repellency bioassays, L. nobilis
essential oil tested gave encouraging
results against adults of L. serricorne.
The oil showed strong repellent efficacy
that was highly dependent upon the
concentration and exposure time.
Tunisian Journal of Plant Protection 35 Vol. 6, No. 1, 2011

Dose
(µl/
cm 2 )
0.04
0.08
0.1
0.12
Table 2. Filter paper repellency assay using Laurus nobilis essential oil after different exposure times against Lasioderma serricorne adults
Number of beetles on each half after each exposure time
Trial
1 h
Tr Un χ2 χ2r Tr
3 h
Un χ2
χ2
r
5 h
Tr Un χ2 χ2r Tr
24 h
Un χ2 χ2r
1 3 17 9.85 22.05 6 14 3.25 6.0 9 11 0.25 0.0 10 10 0 2.45
2 5 15 5.05 ** 8 12 0.85 5 10 10 0 5 12 8 0.85 NS
3 7 13 1.85
9 11 0.25 * 11 9 0.25 NS 14 6 3.25
4 4 16 7.25
6 14 3.25
9 11 0.25
11 9 0.25
1 3 17 9.85 33.8 5 15 5.05 16. 7 13 1.85 1.2 8 12 0.85 0.45
2 4 16 7.25 ** 7 13 1.85 2 9 11 0.25 5 9 11 0.25 NS
3 5 15 5.05
4 16 7.25 * 8 12 0.85 NS 10 10 0
4 2 18 12.85
6 14 3.25
11 9 0.25
10 10 0
1 2 18 12.85 51.2 3 17 9.85 42. 5 15 5.05 20 7 13 1.85 1.8
2 3 17 9.85 ** 4 16 7.25 05 6 14 3.25 * 9 11 0.25 NS
3 2 18 12.85
2 18 12.85 ** 5 15 5.05
8 12 0.85
4 1 19 16.25
2 18 12.85 4 16 7.25
10 10 0
1 1 19 16.25 68.45 1 19 16.25 64. 2 18 12.85 42. 4 16 7.25 28.8
2 2 18 12.85 ** 2 18 12.85 8 4 16 7.25 05 5 15 5.05 *
3 0 20 20.05
1 19 16.25 ** 3 17 9.85 ** 4 16 7.25
4 0 20 20.05
0 20 20.05 2 18 12.85
3 17 9.85
Data tested by χ 2 -test for homogeneity of 1:1 ratio;
** Means for treated (Tr) and untreated (Un) halves significantly different at P < 0.01;
* Means significantly different at P < 0.05;
NS: Difference between means not significant (P < 0.05)
Tunisian Journal of Plant Protection 36 Vol. 6, No. 1, 2011

Table 3. Percentage repellency (mean ± SE) of Laurus nobilis essential oil against Lasioderma serricorne adults
after various periods of exposure
Period of
Dose (µl/cm
Exposure (h)
2 )
0.04 0.08 0.1 0.12
1 52.5 ± 0.75 d, A 65 ± 0.70 c, A 80 ± 0.90 b, A 92.5 ± 1.1 a, A
3 27.5 ± 0.25 d, B 45 ± 0.51 c, B 72.5 ± 0.81 b, B 90 ± 0.95 a, A
5 2.5 ± 0.01 d, C 12.5 ± 0.15 c, C 50 ± 0.50 b, C 72.5 ± 0.83 a, B
24 -15.5 ± 0.13 d, D 7.5 ± 0,09 c, D 17.5 ± 0.25 b, D 60 ± 0.6 a, C
Comparison made between mean values from the same column (by letters in uppercase) revealed exposure time
impact on insect repellency.
Comparison made between mean values from the same row (by letters in lowercase) indicated oil concentration
impact on insect repellency.
Values followed by the same letter are not significantly different according to LSD test at P ≤ 0.05.
Table 4. RD50 value of Laurus nobilis essential oil against Lasioderma serricorne
adults after 24 h of exposure
RD50 a,b Slope ± SEM Degree of freedom χ2
37.84
(24.17-82.11)
2.30 ± 0.4 5 11.3
a
Units RD50 = µl/ cm 2 , applied for 24 h at 25°C.
b
95% lower and upper confidence limits are shown in parenthesis.
Despite its economic importance,
little work has been done to manage L.
serricorne by using medicinal plants
although their excellent pharmacological
actions (40). Bullington (10) observed
that vapor toxicity of neem oil was
efficient on L. serricorne. Moreover,
Foeniculum vulgare essential oil gave
significant mortality against L. serricorne
adults at the dose 0.105 mg/cm 2 (32). In
addition, essential oils from horseradish
(Cocholeria aroracia), and mustard
(Brassica juncea) used at the dose of 3.5
mg/cm 2 were effective against L.
serricorne adults (33). The present work
reported first investigations on the
repellent activity of L. nobilis essential oil
against L. serricorne as stored product
pest.
Results of our study compare
favorably with other investigations in
which L. nobilis essential oil produced
significant activity against pest insects. In
this context, Erler et al. (19) reported
repellent activity of L. nobilis essential oil
against the adult females of Culex
pipiens. Besides, Cosimi et al. (14)
demonstrated the repellency of this oil
against three stored beetles Sitophilus
zeamais, Cryptolestes ferrugineus and
Tenebrio molitor. Additionally,
Papachristos and Stampoulos (43)
showed that essential oil from L. nobilis
presented a repellent activity against
Acanthoscelides obtectus.
Our results clearly demonstrate the
diversity of chemical composition of
Tunisian laurel essential oil and its
insecticidal proprieties against L.
serricorne as a major pest of stored
products. Further work is required in
order to investigate other insecticidal
activities such as contact, fumigant and
anti-feedant actions against stored pest
insects.
Tunisian Journal of Plant Protection 37 Vol. 6, No. 1, 2011

__________________________________________________________________________
RESUME
Mediouni-Ben Jemâa J., Tersim N. et Khouja M.L. 2011. Composition et efficacité répulsive de
l’huile essentielle de Laurus nobilis contre les adultes du lasioderme du tabac Lasioderma
serricorne (Coleoptera: Anobiidae). Tunisian Journal of Plant Protection 6: 29-41.
Cette étude rapporte la composition chimique et l’activité répulsive de l’huile essentielle du Laurus
nobilis (Lauraceae) contre des adultes de 7-10 jours d’âge du lasioderme du tabac Lasioderma
serricorne. La composition chimique de l’huile essentielle a été évaluée par des analyses
chromatographiques (CPG et CPG/MS). Les composés majeurs de cette huile sont 1,8-cinéole
(24,55%), linalool (17,67%), eugenylméthylether (12,40%), isovaleraldéhyde (9,65%) et le camphene
(7,21%). Une activité répulsive significative a été démontrée. L’action répulsive dépend de façon très
significative de la concentration d’huile et du temps d’exposition. La meilleure efficacité répulsive a
été observée pour les doses les plus élevées et les courtes périodes d’exposition. Pour la dose 0,12
µl/cm 2 , l’effet répulsif atteint 2,5% après 1 h d’exposition. De plus, la dose médiane répulsive (DR 50)
était de 37,84 µl/cm 2 . Ces résultats suggèrent que l’huile essentielle du L. nobilis pourrait avoir un
potentiel comme agent de lutte contre ce coléoptère des produits stockés.
Mots clés: CPG-SM, dose médiane répulsive RD 50, huile essentielle, Lasioderma serricorne, laurier,
Laurus nobilis
__________________________________________________________________________
ﻣ
. ﺟﺧ ﻲﺑﻌﻟا ﻣو ﺳﺗ ﻳﻧو ةدﺟ ،ﻋﺎﺟ ﺑ-ﻲﻧﻳﻣ
ةرﺎﻟا ءﺎﻟ ﻎﻟﺎﻟا رﻟا ءازإ Laurus nobilis رﺎﻐﻟا/
ﻧﻟ
يﻌﻟا ﻳﻟ ةدرﺎﻟا ﻟﺎﻌﻟاو آﻟا . 2011
(Coleoptera: Lasioderma serricorne
Tunisian Journal of Plant Protection 6: 29-41.
. Anobiidae)
Laurus nobilis رﺎﻐﻟا/
ﻧﻟ يﻌﻟا ﻳﻟ ةدرﺎﻟا ﻟﺎﻌﻟاو ﺎﻟا آﻟا ﺳارﺑ ﻌﻟا اه ها
آﻟا ﻳﺗ ﺗ . Lasioderma serricorne ةرﺎﻟا ءﺎﻟ ( مﺎﻳأ 10 -7)
ﻐﻟﺎﻟا تاﻟا ءازإ (Lauraceae)
1,8-cineole ﻲه ﻳﻟا اﻬﻟ ﺳﺎﺳﻷا ﺻﺎﻌﻟا نإ . (GC/MS) ﻓاﻏﺗﺎﻣوﻟا ﻟﺎﻟا لﺎﻌﺳﺎﺑ ﻳﻟ ﺎﻟا
(9.65%) isovaleraldehyde و (12.40%) eugenylmethylether و (17.67%) linalool و (24.55%)
آﺑ ةﺑ ﺗﻣ ةدرﺎﻟا ﻟﺎﻌﻟا ﻧﺎآو.
ﻳﻟا اﻬﻟ ﻳﻌﻣ ةدرﺎ ﻟﺎﻌﻓ ﺗ ﺗ . (7.21%) camphene و
0.
12 ﻋﺟ ﻋو . ةﻟا ضﻌﻟا ةﻣو ﻌﺗﻟا تﺎﻋﻟا ﻋ ةدرﺎ ﻟﺎﻌﻓ ﻀﻓأ ﺣﻟ . ضّﻌﻟا
ةﻣو ﻳﻟا
2
ﺳﻟا ﻋﻟا ﻐﺑ ،ﻟذ ﻰﻟإ ﻓﺎإ . ضﻌﻟا ﻣ ﻋﺎﺳ ﻌﺑ % 92.
5 دﻟ ﻳﻟا ﻟا ﻐﺑ ، ﺳ/
ﻟوﻣ
2
ﺳآ ﻌﻳ نأ ﻳ ﻧﻟ يﻌﻟا ﻳﻟا نأ ﺎﻬﻋ ﻟا ﺎﻟا ﺗ . ﺳ/
ﻟوﻣ
37.84 (RD50) ةدرﺎﻟا
. ﻧوﻟا داﻟا ءﺎﺧ ﻓﺎﻟ
Lasioderma ،GC/MS
،رﺎﻐﻟا/
ﻧﻟا ،يﻌﻟا ﻳﻟا ، RD50 ةدرﺎﻟا ﺳﻟا ﻋﻟا : ﺣﺎﻣ تﺎآ
Laurus nobilis ،serricorne
__________________________________________________________________________
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Tunisian Journal of Plant Protection 42 Vol. 6, No. 1, 2011