Biological activities of essential oil of Chenopodium ambrosioides against storage pests and its effect on puberty attainment in Japanese quail

The antifungal activity of essential oil of Chenopodium ambrosioides has been tested against some pests causing biodeterioration of stored food commodities. The oil exhibited a strong antifungal activity against Aspergillus flavus at its minimum inhibitory concentration of 300 ppm and a pronounced insect repellent activity against Tribolium castaneum and Sitophilus oryzae. The oil exhibited a broad range of antifungal spectrum without any adverse effect on body weight, food consumption, water intake, puberty attainment and egg laying of Japanese quail. The study thus indicates the possible application of Chenopodium oil as an ideal botanical pesticide of food commodities without harming animal system after consumption.