Composition of essential oil of Chinese Chenopodium ambrosioides and insecticidal activity against maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais

BACKGROUND: In a screening programme for new agrochemicals from Chinese medicinal herbs, Chenopodium ambrosioides L. was found to possess strong fumigant activity against the maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais (Motsch.). Essential oil of C. ambrosioides was obtained by hydrodistillation, and the constituents were determined by GC‐MS analysis. The active compounds were isolated and identified by bioassay‐directed fractionation. RESULTS: Five active compounds [(Z)‐ascaridole, 2‐carene, ρ‐cymene, isoascaridole and α‐terpinene] were isolated and identified from the essential oil from Chinese C. ambrosioides. The LC50 values (fumigation) of the crude essential oils and the active compound (Z)‐ascaridole against S. zeamais adults were 3.08 and 0.84 mg L−1 air respectively. The LD50 values (contact toxicity) of the crude essential oil and (Z)‐ascaridole against S. zeamais adults were 2.12 and 0.86 µg g−1 body weight respectively. CONCLUSION: The findings suggested that the essential oil of Chenopodium ambrosioides and its main active constituent, (Z)‐ascaridole, may be explored as a natural potential fumigant. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry