226
R. Tesser et al.
prepared from Neem seed extract was best in spreadability, stability and bioefficacy
point of view [226].
Plant oils such as coconut, soybean, corn, palm, palm kernel oils and their oleochemicals are used to produce inert ingredients such as surfactants, wetting agents,
dispersing agents, emulsifying agents, adjuvants, solvents and carrier/diluents for
pesticide formulations. In general, the preparation of pesticide formulations will
include two main components, i.e. the active ingredients and inert ingredients. Active
ingredients mean the chemical or chemicals in a product responsible for the desired
effect, which is capable of preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating insects,
fungi, weeds, rodents or other pests. Meanwhile, inert ingredients also called supplements are inactive ingredients that have no pesticidal action. There are various
types of inert ingredients normally found in pesticide formulation, for example,
emulsifiers, organic solvents, dispersing agents and wetting agents [185].
8.3.3.2 EOs as Green Pesticides
Among the various possible future uses of EOs, it is worth to mention their application
in the field of traditional pesticides substitution [113]. The use of essential oils or
their components in the replacement of pesticides, considering their volatility, is
characterized by a limited persistence under field conditions. Moreover, several EOs
have an exemption under regulatory protocols as they are usually extracted from
aromatic plants, in particular, those used in perfumes and foods industry as flavours
and fragrances and flavourings, respectively, and more recently in natural medicine
approaches.
Even if a long tradition involved EOs in the protection of stored commodities,
especially in the Mediterranean region and in Southern Asia, in the early 2000s a
renewed interest emerged when insecticidal activities against a wide range of pests
have been demonstrated [94, 95]. The key aspect on which this interest is based,
consists in their no-toxicity to mammals, birds and fish [204] and in the moderate toxicity, with very few exceptions, of their constituents like purified terpenoids
[113]. The placement of EOs under the category of ‘green pesticides’ is, therefore,
justified and different studies reported interesting results in this perspective. For
example, Kordali et al. [111], reported that oils from plants like Artemesia vulgaris,
Melaleuca leucadendron, Pelargonium roseum, are very effective against various
insects and fungal pathogens. Another study conducted by Tripathi et al. [211] has
demonstrated that the constituents of volatile oil (Mentha species) are highly effective against Callosobruchus maculatus and Tribolium castanum, the common stored
grain pests. In a more general view, EOs derived from eucalyptus and lemongrass
have shown interesting properties as animal repellents, anti-feedants, insecticides,
miticides, fungicides and antimicrobial products [113].
R. Tesser et al.
prepared from Neem seed extract was best in spreadability, stability and bioefficacy
point of view [226].
Plant oils such as coconut, soybean, corn, palm, palm kernel oils and their oleochemicals are used to produce inert ingredients such as surfactants, wetting agents,
dispersing agents, emulsifying agents, adjuvants, solvents and carrier/diluents for
pesticide formulations. In general, the preparation of pesticide formulations will
include two main components, i.e. the active ingredients and inert ingredients. Active
ingredients mean the chemical or chemicals in a product responsible for the desired
effect, which is capable of preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating insects,
fungi, weeds, rodents or other pests. Meanwhile, inert ingredients also called supplements are inactive ingredients that have no pesticidal action. There are various
types of inert ingredients normally found in pesticide formulation, for example,
emulsifiers, organic solvents, dispersing agents and wetting agents [185].
8.3.3.2 EOs as Green Pesticides
Among the various possible future uses of EOs, it is worth to mention their application
in the field of traditional pesticides substitution [113]. The use of essential oils or
their components in the replacement of pesticides, considering their volatility, is
characterized by a limited persistence under field conditions. Moreover, several EOs
have an exemption under regulatory protocols as they are usually extracted from
aromatic plants, in particular, those used in perfumes and foods industry as flavours
and fragrances and flavourings, respectively, and more recently in natural medicine
approaches.
Even if a long tradition involved EOs in the protection of stored commodities,
especially in the Mediterranean region and in Southern Asia, in the early 2000s a
renewed interest emerged when insecticidal activities against a wide range of pests
have been demonstrated [94, 95]. The key aspect on which this interest is based,
consists in their no-toxicity to mammals, birds and fish [204] and in the moderate toxicity, with very few exceptions, of their constituents like purified terpenoids
[113]. The placement of EOs under the category of ‘green pesticides’ is, therefore,
justified and different studies reported interesting results in this perspective. For
example, Kordali et al. [111], reported that oils from plants like Artemesia vulgaris,
Melaleuca leucadendron, Pelargonium roseum, are very effective against various
insects and fungal pathogens. Another study conducted by Tripathi et al. [211] has
demonstrated that the constituents of volatile oil (Mentha species) are highly effective against Callosobruchus maculatus and Tribolium castanum, the common stored
grain pests. In a more general view, EOs derived from eucalyptus and lemongrass
have shown interesting properties as animal repellents, anti-feedants, insecticides,
miticides, fungicides and antimicrobial products [113].