Essential Oil of <i>Ocimum basilicum</i> against <i>Aedes aegypti</i> and <i>Culex quinquefasciatus</i>: Larvicidal Activity of a Nanoemulsion and In Silico Study
Edla Lídia Vasques de Sousa dos Santos,
Jorddy Neves Cruz,
Glauber Vilhena da Costa,
Ester Martins Félix de Sá,
Alicia Karine Pereira da Silva,
Caio Pinho Fernandes,
Anna Eliza Maciel de Faria Mota Oliveira,
Jonatas Lobato Duarte,
Roberto Messias Bezerra,
Josean Fechine Tavares,
Tiago Silva da Costa,
Ricardo Marcelo dos Anjos Ferreira,
Cleydson Breno Rodrigues dos Santos,
Raimundo Nonato Picanço Souto
Affiliations
Edla Lídia Vasques de Sousa dos Santos
Laboratory of Arthropoda, Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Amapá, Macapá 68902-280, AP, Brazil
Jorddy Neves Cruz
Laboratory of Modeling and Computational Chemistry, Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Amapá, Macapá 68902-280, AP, Brazil
Glauber Vilhena da Costa
Laboratory of Modeling and Computational Chemistry, Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Amapá, Macapá 68902-280, AP, Brazil
Ester Martins Félix de Sá
Laboratory of Modeling and Computational Chemistry, Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Amapá, Macapá 68902-280, AP, Brazil
Alicia Karine Pereira da Silva
Laboratory of Modeling and Computational Chemistry, Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Amapá, Macapá 68902-280, AP, Brazil
Caio Pinho Fernandes
Laboratory of Phytopharmaceutical Nanobiotechnology, Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Amapá, Macapá 68902-280, AP, Brazil
Anna Eliza Maciel de Faria Mota Oliveira
Laboratory of Phytopharmaceutical Nanobiotechnology, Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Amapá, Macapá 68902-280, AP, Brazil
Jonatas Lobato Duarte
Laboratory of Phytopharmaceutical Nanobiotechnology, Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Amapá, Macapá 68902-280, AP, Brazil
Roberto Messias Bezerra
Laboratory of Bioprospecting and Atomic Absorption, Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Amapá, Macapá 68902-280, AP, Brazil
Josean Fechine Tavares
Multi-User Analysis and Characterization Laboratory, Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB), João Pessoa 58051-900, PB, Brazil
Tiago Silva da Costa
Laboratory of Arthropoda, Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Amapá, Macapá 68902-280, AP, Brazil
Ricardo Marcelo dos Anjos Ferreira
Laboratory of Arthropoda, Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Amapá, Macapá 68902-280, AP, Brazil
Cleydson Breno Rodrigues dos Santos
Laboratory of Arthropoda, Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Amapá, Macapá 68902-280, AP, Brazil
Raimundo Nonato Picanço Souto
Laboratory of Arthropoda, Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Amapá, Macapá 68902-280, AP, Brazil
Diseases transmitted by vectors such as Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) have been responsible for endemics and epidemics in several countries, causing irreparable damage to human health. For this reason, vector control is one of the main strategies to prevent the contamination and dissemination of these etiological agents. In this study, the essential oil (EO) of Ocimum basilicum was obtained by hydrodistillation, and the compounds were identified by GC/MS. A nanoemulsion was obtained through a low-energy input method and evaluated by photon correlation spectroscopy. Bioassays were performed against 4th instar larvae of A. aegypti and C. quinquefasciatus. Furthermore, additional in silico studies of biological activity prediction and molecular docking for the acetylcholinesterase enzyme and juvenile hormone protein targets were performed with the 53 identified compounds of the EO. The major compounds identified in greater quantity were linalool (32.66%) and anethole (32.48%). The obtained nanoemulsion had an average size diameter between 244.6 and 280.4 nm and a polydispersity index below 0.250 during the entire storage period. The nanoemulsion was tested at concentrations of 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 mg/L and the following activity values were observed: LC50 = 42.15 mg/L and 40.94 mg/L and LC90 = 50.35 mg/L and 48.87 mg/L for A. aegypti (24 h and 48 h); LC50 = 39.64 mg/L and 38.08 mg/L and LC90 = 52.58 mg/L and 54.26 mg/L for C. quinquefasciatus (24 h and 48 h). The in silico results showed better activity values for linalool, anethole, carvone, α-selinene, eugenol, and limonene. The α-selinene compound showed the best binding affinity with the insect acetylcholinesterase enzyme (−9.1 Kcal) in molecular docking, showing the importance of antagonist compounds in elucidating the mechanism of action for the investigated targets. Thus, the studied nanoemulsion was considered active against the tested species, becoming a potential alternative as an ecological bioinsecticide due to bioactivity and simplicity of formulation.
