A Review of the Chemistry and Biological Activities of <i>Acmella oleracea</i> (“jambù”, Asteraceae), with a View to the Development of Bioinsecticides and Acaricides
Eleonora Spinozzi,
Marta Ferrati,
Cecilia Baldassarri,
Loredana Cappellacci,
Margherita Marmugi,
Alice Caselli,
Giovanni Benelli,
Filippo Maggi,
Riccardo Petrelli
Affiliations
Eleonora Spinozzi
School of Pharmacy, Chemistry Interdisciplinary Project (ChIP), University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy
Marta Ferrati
School of Pharmacy, Chemistry Interdisciplinary Project (ChIP), University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy
Cecilia Baldassarri
School of Pharmacy, Chemistry Interdisciplinary Project (ChIP), University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy
Loredana Cappellacci
School of Pharmacy, Chemistry Interdisciplinary Project (ChIP), University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy
Margherita Marmugi
Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 856124 Pisa, Italy
Alice Caselli
Centre of Plant Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Piazza Martiri della Libertà 33, 56127 Pisa, Italy
Giovanni Benelli
Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 856124 Pisa, Italy
Filippo Maggi
School of Pharmacy, Chemistry Interdisciplinary Project (ChIP), University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy
Riccardo Petrelli
School of Pharmacy, Chemistry Interdisciplinary Project (ChIP), University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy
Human pathologies, environmental pollution, and resistance phenomena caused by the intensive use of chemical pesticides have shifted the attention of the agrochemical industries towards eco-friendly insecticides and acaricides. Acmella oleracea (L.) R. K. Jansen (jambù) is a plant native to South America, widely distributed and cultivated in many countries due to its numerous pharmacological properties. This review analyzes literature about the plant, its uses, and current knowledge regarding insecticidal and acaricidal activity. Acmella oleracea has proven to be a potential pesticide candidate against several key arthropod pest and vector species. This property is inherent to its essential oil and plant extract, which contain spilanthol, the main representative of N-alkylamides. As a result, there is a scientific basis for the industrial exploitation of jambù in the preparation of green insecticides. However, studies related to its toxicity towards non-target species and those aimed at formulating and developing marketable products are lacking.
