Artemisia Species as Potential Weapon Against Agents and Agricultural Pests

Joana      D. Felicio; Leyla      B. Soares; Roberto      C. Felicio; Edlayne      Goncalez

doi:10.2174/2211550111201030249

Abstract

Insects, mites, fungi, viruses, and bacteria often cause extensive damage to agriculture. So, there is a need of insecticides, fungicides, antibiotics for use on animal and plant productions. Generally, synthetic substances are utilized as the main control methods. However, the increased residual toxic of these substances in food and the occurrence of resistance by agents have been a serious problem to be solved. As natural substances are relatively less damaging to the mammalian health and environment, they may be good alternatives to the synthetic ones and are of considerable interest and economic importance. Artemisia species have shown potential in use against stored product insects, phytopathogenic and toxigenic fungi, arthropods, and as phytotoxic. The main chemicals constituents isolated from Asteraceae genera are flavonoids, and their essential oils are mainly constituted of camphor, 1,8-cineole, borneol, terpinen-4-ol, bornyl acetate, thujone. This review reports the constituents and biological activities of the Artemisia species and their possible use in animal and plant health.

Keywords: Acaricidal, antifungal, asteraceae, Artemisia, control, essential oil, extract, flavonoids, fumigant, insecticidal, monoterpenes, polyacetylenes, sesquiterpenes, PHYTOPATHOGENIC, TOXIGENIC, carcinogenicity