Journal of Stored Products Research 39 (2003) 293–303

Insecticidal activities of aromatic plant extracts and essential

oils against Sitophilus oryzae and Callosobruchus chinensis
Soon-Il Kima, Jung-Yeon Roha, Do-Hyoung Kima,
Han-Seung Leeb, Young-Joon Ahna,*
a
School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Suwon 441-744, Republic of Korea
b
Hansol Porem CO., Ltd., Hansol Building, Kangnam-Ku, Seoul 135-080, Republic of Korea
Accepted 27 December 2001

Abstract

Methanol extracts from 30 aromatic medicinal plant species and five essential oils were tested for their
insecticidal activities against adults of Sitophilus oryzae (L.) and Callosobruchus chinensis (L.), using direct
contact application and fumigation methods. Responses varied with plant material, insect species, and
exposure time. In a test with a filter paper diffusion method at 3.5 mg/cm2, potent insecticidal activity
against both species was produced by an extract from Cinnamomum cassia bark, cinnamon (C. cassia) oil,
horseradish (Cocholeria aroracia) oil, and mustard (Brassica juncea) oil within 1 day after treatment. Over
90% mortality at 3 or 4 days after treatment was achieved using extracts of Acorus calamus var. angustatus
rhizome, Acorus gramineus rhizome, Illicium verum fruit, and Foeniculum vulgare fruit. An extract from
Cinnamomum sieboldii root bark gave 100% mortality at 2 days after treatment. At 0.7 mg/cm2, extracts
from C. cassia, C. sieboldii, and F. vulgare as well as cinnamon oil, horseradish oil and mustard oil were
highly effective against both species. In a fumigation test with S. oryzae adults, the oils described were much
more effective in closed containers than in open ones, indicating that the insecticidal activity of the oils was
attributable to fumigant action. The plant extracts and essential oils described could be useful for managing
field populations of S. oryzae and C. chinensis. r 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Natural insecticide; Natural fumigant; Aromatic medicinal plants; Essential oil; Sitophilus oryzae;
Callosobruchus chinensis

*Corresponding author. Tel.: +82-31-290-2462; fax: +82-31-296-1650.

E-mail address: yjahn@snu.ac.kr (Y.-J. Ahn).

0022-474X/02/$ - see front matter r 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: S 0 0 2 2 - 4 7 4 X ( 0 2 ) 0 0 0 1 7 - 6
294 S.-I. Kim et al. / Journal of Stored Products Research 39 (2003) 293–303

1. Introduction

Control of stored-product insect populations is primarily dependent upon continued

applications of liquid and gaseous insecticides (White and Leesch, 1995). Although effective,
their repeated use for several decades has disrupted biological control system by natural enemies
and led to outbreaks of insect pests, widespread development of resistance, undesirable effects on
non-target organisms, and environmental and human health concerns (Champ and Dyte, 1977;
Subramanyam and Hagstrum, 1995; White and Leesch, 1995). Fumigants such as methyl bromide
and phosphine are still the most effective for the protection from insect infestation of stored food,
feedstuffs, and other agricultural commodities. EPA (2001) has proposed elimination of the
production of methyl bromide by 2005 because of its ozone depletion potential. Additionally,
some stored-product insects are found to have developed resistance to methyl bromide and
phosphine (Champ and Dyte, 1977; Subramanyam and Hagstrum, 1995). These problems have
highlighted the need for the development of new types of selective insect-control alternatives with
fumigant action.
Plants may provide potential alternatives to currently used insect-control agents because they
constitute a rich source of bioactive chemicals (Wink, 1993). Since these are often active against a
limited number of species including specific target insects, are often biodegradable to non-toxic
products, and are potentially suitable for use in integrated pest management, they could lead to
the development of new classes of safer insect-control agents. Much effort has, therefore, been
focused on plant-derived materials for potentially useful products as commercial insect-control
agents. Little work has been done to manage stored-product insects by using aromatic medicinal
plants despite their excellent pharmacological actions (Tang and Eisenbrand, 1992; Namba, 1993;
Kim, 1996).
This paper describes a laboratory study to assess the potential of plant extracts and essential
oils for use as commercial insecticides. Insecticidal activities of methanol extracts from 30
aromatic medicinal plant species and five essential oils were assessed against adults of the rice
weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.), and the adzuki bean weevil, Callosobruchus chinensis (L.). The mode
of action of three essential oils was also investigated.

2. Materials and methods

2.1. Insects tested

Cultures of S. oryzae and C. chinensis were maintained in the laboratory without exposure to
any insecticide on rice grain and adzuki bean, respectively, in plastic containers (26
30
20 cm)
at 28711C, 50–60% r.h., and a 16:8 light:dark photoperiod.

2.2. Plants and sample preparation

A total of 30 aromatic medicinal plant species were selected (Namba, 1993; Kim, 1996) and
purchased from Boeun medicinal herb shop, Kyungdong Market, Seoul, Korea (Table 1). With
the exception of Chaenomeles sinensis, the plants were dried in an oven at 401C for 2 days and
 S.-I. Kim et al. / Journal of Stored Products Research 39 (2003) 293–303 295

Table 1
Plant species and essential oils tested
Family name Test material Tissue collecteda Yield (%)b
Apiaceae Angelica dahurica Bentham et Hooker Ro 17.7
Apiaceae Cnidium officinale Makino Rh 10.0
Apiaceae Foeniculum vulgare Gaertner Fr 4.9
Araceae Acorus calamus var. angustatus Besser Rh 10.1
Araceae Acorus gramineus Solander Rh 9.5
Betulaceae Betula platyphylla var. japonica Hara Ba 5.2
Compositae Artemisia princeps var. orientalis (Pampanini) Hara Wp 6.6
Compositae Inula helenium Linne Ro 16.3
Cruciferae Brassica juncea (L.) Czern et Cosson Eo F
Cruciferae Cocholeria aroracia Linne Eo F
Dioscoreaceae Dioscorea batatas Decaisne Rh 2.4
Fabaceae Gleditsia horrida Makino Fr 17.3
Fabaceae Glycyrrhiza glabra Linne Ro 21.9
Lamiaceae Agastache rugosa (Fischer et Meyer) O. Kuntze Wp 9.5
Lamiaceae Schizonepeta tenuifolia Briquet Wp 8.1
Lamiaceae Thymus mandschuricus Ronniger Wp 28.0
Lauraceae Cinnamomum cassia Blume Ba 5.1
Lauraceae Cinnamomum cassia Blume Eo F
Lauraceae Cinnamomum sieboldii Meissner Rb 6.3
Liliaceae Allium scorodoprasm Linne Eo F
Magnoliaceae Illicium verum Hooker fil. Fr 26.1
Magnoliaceae Magnolia obovata Thunberg Ba 5.8
Myrtaceae Eugenia caryophyllata Thunberg Fb 37.8
Paeoniaceae Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews Rb 18.6
Piperaceae Piper nigrum Linne Fr 10.1
Polygonaceae Rheum coreanum Nakai Rh 41.6
Primulaceae Lysimachia davurica Ledebour Wp 9.0
Rosaceae Chaenomeles sinensis Koehne Fr 60.8
Rutaceae Evodia rutaecarpa Hooker fil. et Thomas Fr 9.5
Rutaceae Zanthoxylum piperitum de Candolle Fr 20.7
Rutaceae Zanthoxylum schinifolium Siebold et Zuccarini Fr 16.2
Solanaceae Capsicum annuum Linne Eo F
Stemonaceae Stemona japonica Miquel Ro 15.2
Thymelaeaceae Aquillaria agallocha Roxburgh Hw 6.6
Valerianaceae Nardostachys chinensis Batalin Rh 12.9
a
Eo, essential oil; Fb, flower bud; Fr, fruit; Hw, heartwood; Rb, root bark; Rh, rhizome; Ro, root; and Wp, whole
plant.
b
C. sinensis (dry weight of methanol extract/fresh weight of fruit)
100; and the other plants, (dry weight of
methanol extract/dry weight of test plant)
100.

finely powdered using a blender. Each sample (50 g) was extracted twice with 300 ml of methanol
at room temperature for 2 days and filtered (Whatman No. 2). Slices (200 g) of fresh Chaenomeles
fruits were ground by a blender and extracted twice with 900 ml of methanol. The combined
filtrate was concentrated to dryness by rotary evaporation at 401C. The yield of each methanol
extraction is given in Table 1. Garlic (Allium scorodoprasm) oil, hot pepper (Capsicum annum) oil,
296 S.-I. Kim et al. / Journal of Stored Products Research 39 (2003) 293–303

horseradish (Cocholeria aroracia) oil, and mustard (Brassica juncea) oil were supplied by Oxy Co.
(Inchon, Korea). Cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia) oil was purchased from Sigma (St. Louis, MO,
USA).

2.3. Bioassay

The insecticidal activity of plant extracts and essential oils used was determined by direct
contact application. A dose of 50 mg of a plant extract did not cause any problem with solubility
in 100 ml of methanol or acetone and allowed detection of minor active phytochemicals (Ahn et al.,
1995). A dose of 50 mg of each test material in 100 ml of methanol was applied to filter papers
(Whatman No. 2, 4.25 cm diameter), which gave 3.5 mg/cm2. If a test material exhibited over 80%
mortality, a titration study was performed at 0.7 mg/cm2. Controls received 100 ml of methanol.
After drying under a fume hood for 2 min, each filter paper was placed in the bottom of a
polyethylene cup (5 cm diameter
3.5 cm), and then 20 adults of each of S. oryzae and C.
chinensis were placed in each cup which was covered with a lid.
In a separate experiment, susceptibility of S. oryzae adults to fumigant action of cinnamon oil,
horseradish oil, and mustard oil was investigated according to the method of Kim and Ahn
(2001). Groups of 20 weevil adults were placed in diet cups (3.6 cm diameter
4 cm) covered with
60-mesh cloth. A filter paper (Whatman No. 2, 4.25 cm diameter) treated with a test oil in 100 ml of
methanol was placed in the bottom of a polyethylene cup (4.7 cm diameter
8.4 cm) and a diet
cup containing weevils was put into the polyethylene cup, this prevented direct contact of the
weevils with the oil. Each polyethylene cup was then either sealed with a lid (method A) or left
unsealed (method B). In an experiment investigating direct contact of the weevils with test oils,
each treated filter paper was placed in the bottom of a polyethylene cup, and test insects were
placed in the cup which was either sealed with a lid (method C) or left unsealed (method D). The
insects were exposed for 1 day. Controls received 100 ml of methanol.
Treated insects were held at 28711C, 50–60% r.h., and a 16:8 light:dark photoperiod.
Mortalities were determined at 1, 2, 3, and 4 days after treatment. Test insects were considered
dead if appendages did not move when prodded with a fine brush. All treatments were replicated
three times.

2.4. Statistical analysis

The percentage mortality was determined and transformed to arcsine square-root values for
analysis of variance (ANOVA). Treatment means were compared and separated by Scheffe’s test
at P ¼ 0:05 (SAS, 1990). Means (7SE) of untransformed data are reported.

3. Results

3.1. Contact activity with treated filter paper

The toxicity of plant extracts and essential oils to S. oryzae adults exposed to direct contact with
the chemicals is recorded in Table 2. Significant differences in toxicity of test materials to the
 S.-I. Kim et al. / Journal of Stored Products Research 39 (2003) 293–303 297

Table 2
Insecticidal activities of plant extracts and essential oils against S. oryzae adults, using the filter paper diffusion method,
exposed to 3.5 mg/cm2
Test materiala Mortality (%) mean7SEb
Days after treatment
1 2 3 4
Acorus calamus var. angustatus 1373.3 6075.8 10070.0
Acorus gramineus 1373.3 4773.3 10070.0
Agastache rugosa 3373.3 5373.3 10070.0
Allium scorodoprasm oil 070.0 773.3 2373.3 5378.8
Angelica dahurica 070.0 070.0 773.3 3773.3
Aquillaria agallocha 070.0 070.0 070.0 2373.3
Artemisia princeps var. orientalis 1070.0 1070.0 1070.0 2773.3
Brassica juncea oil 10070.0
Cinnamomum cassia 10070.0
Cinnamomum cassia oil 10070.0
Cinnamomum sieboldii 8070.0 10070.0
Cnidium officinale 070.0 070.0 070.0 4373.3
Cocholeria aroracia oil 10070.0
Dioscorea batatas 070.0 070.0 070.0 2075.8
Eugenia caryophyllata 2075.8 3773.3 6773.3 9376.7
Foeniculum vulgare 5376.7 8773.3 10070.0
Illicium verum 070.0 2773.3 5773.3 10070.0
Inula helenium 070.0 070.0 070.0 3776.7
Magnolia obovata 070.0 070.0 070.0 2373.3
Paeonia suffruticosa 070.0 773.3 1773.3 6776.7
Piper nigrum 070.0 070.0 3373.3 5075.8
Schizonepeta tenuifolia. 070.0 070.0 1373.3 3773.3
Thymus mandschuricus 070.0 070.0 773.3 2373.3
Zanthoxylum piperitum 070.0 070.0 773.3 3373.3
Zanthoxylum schinifolium 070.0 070.0 070.0 3773.3
Control 070.0 070.0 070.0 070.0
a
Plants showing o20% mortality at 4 days after treatment are not included.
b
Each datum represents the mean of six replicates, each set up with 20 adults ðn ¼ 120Þ:

adults were observed. Extract from C. cassia (Lauraceae) bark, cinnamon oil, horseradish oil, and
mustard oil acted rapidly causing 100% mortality within 1 day after treatment. An extract from
Cinnamomum sieboldii (Lauraceae) root bark was effective (80% mortality) at 1 day after
treatment and gave 100% mortality at 2 days after treatment. Weevil mortality ranged from 47%
to 87% at 2 days after treatment following exposure to extracts of Foeniculum vulgare (Apiaceae)
fruit, Acorus calamus var. angustatus (Araceae) rhizome, Acorus gramineus (Araceae) rhizome and
Agastache rugosa (Lamiaceae) whole plant but 100% mortality was achieved at 3 days after
treatment. Insecticidal action of extracts from Illicium verum (Magnoliaceae) fruit and Eugenia
caryophyllata (Myrtaceae) flower bud was slower but over 90% mortality was achieved at 4 days
after treatment. Weak or no activity was produced from the other plant-derived materials over a
4-day period. There was no mortality in the untreated controls.
298 S.-I. Kim et al. / Journal of Stored Products Research 39 (2003) 293–303

Table 3
Insecticidal activities of selected plant extracts and essential oils against S. oryzae adults, using the filter paper diffusion
method, exposed to 0.7 mg/cm2
Test material Mortality (%) mean7SEa
Days after treatment
1 2 3 4
Acorus calamus var. angustatus 1075.8 4778.8 10070.0
Acorus gramineus 070.0 2373.3 8373.3 10070.0
Agastache rugosa 070.0 4778.8 5773.3 8773.3
Brassica juncea oil 10070.0
Cinnamomum cassia 8075.8 9373.3 10070.0
Cinnamomum cassia oil 10070.0
Cinnamomum sieboldi 7376.7 8070.0 10070.0
Cocholeria aroracia oil 10070.0
Eugenia caryophyllata 1070.0 2373.3 5373.3 8773.3
Foeniculum vulgare 3778.8 6075.8 9373.3 10070.0
Illicium verum 070.0 070.0 070.0 6376.7
Paeonia suffruticosa 070.0 070.0 1373.3 5376.7
Control 070.0 070.0 070.0 070.0
a
Each datum represents the mean of six replicates, each set up with 20 adults ðn ¼ 120Þ:

Test materials showing over 80% mortality, at 3.5 mg/cm2, against S. oryzae adults were tested
at 0.7 mg/cm2 for their insecticidal activity (Table 3). Cinnamon oil, mustard oil, and horseradish
oil produced 100% mortality within 1 day after treatment. Extracts of A. calamus. var. angustatus,
C. cassia, and C. sieboldii caused 100% mortality at 3 days after treatment and extracts of A.
gramineus and F. vulgare caused 100% mortality at 4 days after treatment. Extracts of A. rugosa
and E. caryophyllata gave 87% mortality at 4 days after treatment against S. oryzae adults.
Table 4 shows the toxic effects of plant extracts and oils used on C. chinensis adults. Responses
varied according to test material and exposure time. At 3.5 mg/cm2, 100% mortality was achieved
within 1 day after treatment with extracts of A. calamus var. angustatus, Thymus mandschuricus
(Lamiaceae) whole plant, C. cassia, C. sieboldii, I. verum, E. caryophyllata, Aquillaria agallocha
(Thymelaeaceae) heartwood, and F. vulgare. Extracts of A. gramineus, Schizonepeta tenuifolia
(Lamiaceae) whole plant, and Zanthoxylum piperitum (Rutaceae) fruit gave 83%, 87%, and 90%
mortality at 2 days after treatment, respectively. Potent insecticidal activity (100% mortality) was
observed, at 1 day after treatment, with cinnamon oil, garlic oil, horseradish oil, and mustard oil.
No mortality was observed in the untreated controls.
Because of the potent insecticidal activity of 12 test materials against C. chinensis adults,
experiments with 0.7 mg/cm2 were carried out (Table 5). Excellent insecticidal activity (>90%
mortality) was observed at 1 day after treatment with extracts of C. cassia, C. sieboldii, I. verum
and F. vulgare as well as cinnamon oil, horseradish oil, garlic oil and mustard oil.
 S.-I. Kim et al. / Journal of Stored Products Research 39 (2003) 293–303 299

Table 4
Insecticidal activities of plant extracts and essential oils against C. chinensis adults, using the filter paper diffusion
method, exposed to 3.5 mg/cm2
Test materiala Mortality (%) mean7SEb Test materiala Mortality (%) mean7SEb
Days after treatment Days after treatment
1 2 1 2
Acorus calamus var. angustatus 10070.0 Eugenia caryophyllata 10070.0
Acorus gramineus 3773.3 8373.3 Foeniculum vulgare 10070.0
Agastache rugosa 6373.3 7373.3 Gleditsia sinensis 3070.0 3773.3
Allium scorodoprasm oil 10070.0 Glycyrrhiza glabra 2773.3 3070.0
Angelica dahurica 1773.3 2070.0 Illicium verum 10070.0
Aquillaria agallocha 10070.0 Inula helenium 2773.3 3075.8
Artemisia princeps var. orientalis 5075.8 5075.8 Lysimachia davurica 3776.7 5075.8
Betula platyphylla var. japonica 1376.7 3075.8 Magnolia ovobata 3373.3 3373.3
Brassica juncea oil 10070.0 Nardostachys chinensis 2373.3 3373.3
Capsicum annuum oil 6378.8 6378.8 Paeonia suffruticosa 5773.3 6376.7
Chaenomeles sinensis 2773.3 2773.3 Schizonepeta tenuifolia 8373.3 8773.3
Cinnamomum cassia 10070.0 Stemona japonica 1373.3 2075.8
Cinnamomum cassia oil 10070.0 Thymus mandschuricus 10070.0
Cinnamomum sieboldii 10070.0 Zanthoxylum piperitum 6075.8 9075.8
Cnidium officinale 1773.3 2373.3 Zanthoxylum schinifolium 4376.7 8075.8
Cocholeria aroracia oil 10070.0 Control 070.0 070.0
Dioscorea batatas 2373.3 3075.8
a
Plants showing o20% mortality at 4 days after treatment are not included.
b
Each datum represents the mean of six replicates, each set up with 20 adults ðn ¼ 120Þ:

3.2. Fumigant activity

Experiments were conducted to determine whether the insecticidal activity of cinnamon oil,
horseradish oil, and mustard oil against S. oryzae adults was attributable to fumigant action.
Four treatment methods (A, B, C, and D) were tested (Table 6). Responses varied with treatment
method. After 1 day exposure there was significant difference ðPo0:05Þ in insecticidal activity of
horseradish oil between sealed (A, 100% mortality) and open containers (B, no mortality) when
weevils were not in contact with treated filter paper. In tests with direct contact, there was also
significant difference in insecticidal activity of the oil in sealed (C, 100% mortality) and open
containers (D, 33% mortality). Also, the oil caused 100% mortality within 4 h after treatment in
sealed containers, whereas no mortality was observed in open containers until 12 h after
treatment. Similar differences in the response of S. oryzae adults to cinnamon oil and mustard oil
in treatments A, B, C, and D were observed. There was no mortality in the untreated controls.

4. Discussion

In this study, 30 aromatic medicinal plant extracts and five essential oils were tested by direct
contact application against adults of S. oryzae and C. chinensis. The insecticidal activity varied
300 S.-I. Kim et al. / Journal of Stored Products Research 39 (2003) 293–303

Table 5
Insecticidal activities of selected plant extracts and essential oils against
C. chinensis adults, using the filter paper diffusion method, exposed to
0.7 mg/cm2
Test material Mortality (%) mean7SEa
Days after treatment
1 2
Acorus calamus var. angustatus 070.0 3776.7
Allium scorodoprasm oil 9773.3 10070.0
Aquillaria agallocha 070.0 070.0
Brassica juncea oil 10070.0
Cinnamomum cassia 10070.0
Cinnamomum cassia oil 10070.0
Cinnamomum sieboldi 10070.0
Cocholeria aroracia oil 10070.0
Foeniculum vulgare 9773.3 10070.0
Eugenia caryophyllata 070.0 6773.3
Illicium verum 9773.3 10070.0
Thymus mandschuricus 070.0 070.0
a
Each datum represents the mean of six replicates, each set up with 20
adults ðn ¼ 120Þ:

Table 6
Suceptibility of S. oryzae adults to three essential oils determined by different application methods, exposed to
0.7 mg/cm2, 24 h
Methoda Mortality (%) mean7SEb
Mustard oil Horseradish oil Cinnamon oil
A, vapour in closed container 10070.0a 10070.0a 10070.0a
B, vapour in open container 070.0c 070.0c 1070.0c
C, direct contact in closed container 10070.0a 10070.0a 10070.0a
D, direct contact in open container 4073.3b 3373.3b 3373.3b
a
Each datum represents the mean of five replicates, each set up with 20 adults ðn ¼ 100Þ:
b
Means within a column followed by the same letter are not significantly different at P ¼ 0:05 (Scheffe’s test).
Mortalities were transformed to arcsine square-root before ANOVA. Means (7SE) of untransformed data are
reported.

with plant-derived material, insect species, and exposure time. Potent insecticidal activity against
adults of the two species was observed in the plants belonging to the families Apiaceae (formerly
Umbelliferae), Araceae, Lauraceae, Magnoliaceae, and Myrtaceae. Jacobson (1989) pointed out
that the most promising botanical insect-control agents are in the families Annonaceae,
Asteraceae, Canellaceae, Lamiaceae (formerly Labiatae), Meliaceae, and Rutaceae.
It has been well recognized that some plant-derived insecticides affect a limited range of pest
insects, have little or no harmful effects on non-target organisms and the environment, act in
 S.-I. Kim et al. / Journal of Stored Products Research 39 (2003) 293–303 301

many ways on various types of pest complex as for example the neem extracts, and may be applied
to the plant in the same way as other agricultural chemicals (Arnason et al., 1989a; Schmutterer,
1990; Hedin et al., 1997). Many plant extracts and essential oils are known to possess ovicidal,
repellent and insecticidal activities against various stored-product insects (Hill and Schoonhoven,
1981; Desmarchelier, 1994). El-Nahal et al. (1989) studied the toxic effect of the A. calamus
essential oil on adults of five stored-product insect species: the declining order of susceptibility was
C. chinensis, Sitophilus granarius (L.) and S. oryzae, with Tribolium confusum (du Val) and
Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) being tolerant to all doses and exposure times. In that study, the
exposure period appeared to be the most important factor affecting the toxic effects of the
vapours of the Acorus oil rather than the dosage. Additionally, some plant-derived materials are
found to be highly effective against insecticide-resistant pest insects (Arnason et al., 1989b; Ahn
et al., 1997). Derivatives of Ginkgo biloba L. (Ginkgoaceae) leaves were found to have potent
insecticidal activity toward three strains of Nilaparvata lugens (Sta( l) resistant to carbofuran,
fenobucarb, and diazinon, respectively (Ahn et al., 1997). In our study, strong insecticidal activity
against adults of S. oryzae and C. chinensis was obtained with extracts from A. calamus var.
angustatus, A. gramineus, C. cassia, C. sieboldii, I. verum, E. caryophyllata and F. vulgare as well as
cinnamon oil, horseradish oil and mustard oil. Among them, C. cassia extract, C. sieboldii extract,
cinnamon oil, horseradish oil, and mustard oil revealed potent insecticidal activity within 1 day
after treatment against S. oryzae adults, whereas insecticidal action of extracts from A. calamus
var. angustatus, A. gramineus, I. verum, E. caryophyllata, and F. vulgare was slower (over 90%
mortality was obtained at 3–4 days after treatment). These plant materials confirm their
usefulness as potent insect-control agents. On the basis of our results, mixtures of plant materials
with rapid and slow action might be very useful in the protection of stored products.
The insecticidal constituents of many plant extracts and essential oils are mainly
monoterpenoids (Coats et al., 1991; Konstantopoulou et al., 1992; Regnault-Roger and
Hamraoui, 1995; Ahn et al., 1998). Due to their high volatility, they have fumigant action and
gaseous action might be of importance for stored-product insects. The monoterpene carvacrol has
broad insecticidal and acaricidal activity against agricultural, stored-product, and medical pests,
and acts as a fumigant (Ahn et al., 1998). In this study, horseradish oil, cinnamon oil, and
mustard oil were much more effective against S. oryzae adults in closed containers than in open
ones: the oils showed 100% mortality within 4 h after treatment in the closed containers, whereas
weak or no mortality was observed in open containers until 12 h after treatment. These results
indicate that the insecticidal mode of action of the oils may be largely attributable to fumigant
action: they may be toxic by penetrating the insect body via the respiratory system.
Results of this and earlier studies indicate that some plant extracts and essential oils might be
useful for managing coleopterous insects in enclosed spaces such as storage bins, glasshouses, or
buildings because of their fumigant action, provided that a carrier producing a slow-released
effect can be selected or developed. Harding (1985) recommended a suitable liquid or solid carrier
such as lacquer, sodium sulfate, or paraffin. A combination of thujone and lacquer (12:88) used as
a paint will keep rodents away from the treated area for between 3 and 5 years (Harding, 1985).
Works are in progress for the investigation of insecticidal constituents against coleopteran stored-
product insects from methanol extracts of the plants and essential oils, insecticidal mode of action
of the constituents and appropriate formulation types for their utilization in grain stores or
enclosed spaces.
302 S.-I. Kim et al. / Journal of Stored Products Research 39 (2003) 293–303

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Ministry of Education for Brain Korea 21 Project and the
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry through the R&D Promotion Center for Agriculture and
Forestry to YJA.

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