Optimization and Characterization of Essential Oil Nanoemulsions Using Ultrasound for New Ecofriendly Insecticides

JESSER, EMILIANO; YEGUERMAN, CRISTHIAN; GILI, VALERIA; SANTILLAN, GRACIELA; MURRAY, ANA PAULA; DOMINI, CLAUDIA; WERDIN-GONZÁLEZ, JORGE OMAR

ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering

AMER CHEMICAL SOC

Año: 2020 vol. 8 p. 7981 - 7992

2168-0485

This study developed and evaluated the toxicological effects of newstable nanoemulsions (NEs) of peppermint essential oils (EOs) and palmarosa EO+ linalyl acetate (LA) using ultrasound cavitation. Moreover, the study analyzedthe effect of LA in the stabilization process of palmarosa NEs. Peppermint NEshad sizes of 34 nm and polydispersity index (PDI) values of 0.424, whereaspalmarosa NEs showed sizes of 15 nm and a PDI of 0.078. Peppermint NEs werestable for 30 days and palmarosa NEs for 120 days. The insecticidal effect of NEswas also evaluated against Cx p. pipiens and Plodia interpunctella larvae. In Culexpipiens pipiens, the LC50 values were 31.24 ppm for peppermint NEs and 32.30ppm for palmarosa + LA NEs. In P. interpunctella, the NEs were combined with β-cypermethrin and the LC50 values were 0.12 μg larvae−1 for peppermint NEs and0.23 μg larvae−1 palmarosa + LA NEs. In addition, the NEs showed no toxicityeffect in nontarget organisms such as Artemia salina and Tenebrio molitor. Finally,viability on mammalian cell culture models was evaluated and it was also observedthat NEs did not affect the cell viability after 3 and 7 days of exposure.