GC-MS analysis of larvicidal essential oil of Cirsium pendulum Fisch. aerial parts against the Aedes albopictus mosquito

During the screening program for new agrochemicals from local wild plants, the essential oil of Cirsium pendulum Fisch. aerial parts (Compositae) at flowering stage was found to possess strong larvicidal activity against Aedes albopictus. Water-distilled essential oil from C. pendulum aerial parts was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Forty-three compounds, accounting for 97.15% of the oil, were identified and β-eudesmol (9.67%), caryophyllene (8.14%), 1,8-cineole (6.80%) and caryophyllene oxide (6.42%) are the four main components of the essential oil followed by camphor (4.46%), δ-cadinene (4.37%) and spathulenol (4.01%). The essential oil of C. pendulum exhibited larvicidal activity against A. albopictus with a median lethal concentration (LC50) value of 46.77 μg/ml. These findings suggested that the essential oil of C. pendulum has potential to be developed as a new natural larvicide for the control of mosquitoes.