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Cotticelli A, Matera R, Piscopo N, Bosco A, Claps S, Del Serrone P, Zoratti A, Castaldo E, Veneziano V, Rufrano D, Neglia G, Buono F. Efficacy and Safety of Neem Oil for the Topical Treatment of Bloodsucking Lice Linognathus stenopsis in Goats under Field Conditions. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2541. [PMID: 37570349 PMCID: PMC10417451 DOI: 10.3390/ani13152541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of neem oil on caprine pediculosis and on kids' growth performances. The neem (Azadirachta indica) belongs to the Meliaceae family, and in Eastern countries it is mainly considered for the insecticidal activities of the kernel oil. The neem seeds contain bioactive principles, such as azadirachtin A, salannin, nimbin, and nimbolide. The trial was carried out on 24 kids, 120 days old, maintained in open yards. Animals were divided in 4 homogeneous groups (n = 6 animals/group) based on age, louse count, body condition score (BCS) and live body weight: Control Group (C, saline NaCl, 0.9%), Neem Group 1 (NO-100, 100 mL of neem oil per 10 kg), Neem Group 2 (NO-200, 200 mL/10 kg), Neem Group 3 (NO-300, 300 mL/10 kg). The treatments were performed by spraying the insecticide on the goat's body. The study lasted 56 days, and weekly, the kids underwent louse count, BCS and body weight determination, and FAMACHA score. Data were analyzed by ANOVA for repeated measures. The species of lice identified was Linognathus stenopsis. Kids belonging to NO-200 and NO-300 showed a stronger reduction of louse count throughout the study (>95%). The daily weight gain recorded was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in NO-300 than C. No differences were found for BCS and FAMACHA scores. The results of this trial showed that the administration of neem oil to control caprine pediculosis caused by sucking lice represents an alternative to synthetic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Cotticelli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, Italy; (A.C.); (R.M.); (N.P.); (A.B.); (V.V.); (G.N.); (F.B.)
| | - Roberta Matera
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, Italy; (A.C.); (R.M.); (N.P.); (A.B.); (V.V.); (G.N.); (F.B.)
| | - Nadia Piscopo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, Italy; (A.C.); (R.M.); (N.P.); (A.B.); (V.V.); (G.N.); (F.B.)
| | - Antonio Bosco
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, Italy; (A.C.); (R.M.); (N.P.); (A.B.); (V.V.); (G.N.); (F.B.)
| | - Salvatore Claps
- CREA Research Centre for Animal Production and Aquaculture, Bella Muro, 85051 Bella, Italy; (S.C.); (D.R.)
| | - Paola Del Serrone
- CREA Research Centre for Animal Production and Aquaculture, Via Salaria 31, Monterotondo, 00016 Rome, Italy;
| | - Aloma Zoratti
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Animal Science, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy;
| | - Elisa Castaldo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, Italy; (A.C.); (R.M.); (N.P.); (A.B.); (V.V.); (G.N.); (F.B.)
| | - Vincenzo Veneziano
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, Italy; (A.C.); (R.M.); (N.P.); (A.B.); (V.V.); (G.N.); (F.B.)
| | - Domenico Rufrano
- CREA Research Centre for Animal Production and Aquaculture, Bella Muro, 85051 Bella, Italy; (S.C.); (D.R.)
| | - Gianluca Neglia
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, Italy; (A.C.); (R.M.); (N.P.); (A.B.); (V.V.); (G.N.); (F.B.)
| | - Francesco Buono
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, Italy; (A.C.); (R.M.); (N.P.); (A.B.); (V.V.); (G.N.); (F.B.)
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A Narrative Review of the Facts and Perspectives on Agricultural Fertilization in Europe, with a Focus on Italy. HORTICULTURAE 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae7060158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Fertilizers stand at the base of current agricultural practices, providing the nutrient sustainment required for growing plants. Most fertilizers are synthetic chemicals, whose exploitation at very high levels poses a risk to cultivated land and the whole environment. They have several drawbacks including soil degradation, water pollution, and human food safety. Currently, the urgent need to counterbalance these negative environmental impacts has opened the way for the use of natural and renewable products that may help to restore soil structure, microorganism communities, nutrient elements, and, in some cases, to positively enhance carbon soil sequestration. Here, we endeavor to reinforce the vision that effective strategies designed to mitigate negative anthropic and climate change impacts should combine, in appropriate proportions, solutions addressed to a lower and less energy intensive production of chemicals and to a more inclusive exploitation of renewable natural products as biological soil amendments. After drawing an overview of the agricultural energy demand and consumption of fertilizers in Europe in the last few years (with a particular focus on Italy), this narrative review will deal with the current and prospective use of compost, biochar, and neem cake, which are suitable natural products with well-known potential and still-to-be-discovered features, to benefit sustainable agriculture and be adopted as circular economic solutions.
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New solutions using natural products. INSECT-BORNE DISEASES IN THE 21ST CENTURY 2020. [PMCID: PMC7442118 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-818706-7.00007-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Most antibiotics are derived from natural products, like penicillin, as well as recent insecticides, like pyrethroids. Secondary metabolites are produced by plants as ecological chemical mediators, and can therefore possess intrinsic physiological properties against other organisms. These benefits are far from being fully explored. In particular, attention is here focused on the multipurpose neem tree (Azadirachta indica), reporting several experiments of applications in the field of seed oil and neem cake. The latter product seems to be promising because of the low cost, the possible production on a large scale, and the selection of effects in favor of beneficial organisms. Neem cake is able to act on different sites, as required by integrated pest management. Several utilizations of neem products are reported and their potentiality evidenced. Some considerations in this chapter may appear distant from the title of the book, but only by applying the general natural rules can the reason of the single phenomenon be understood. Other studies on resistance mechanisms of Plasmodium are enabling new possible methods of control always based on natural products activity.
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Benelli G, Buttazzoni L, Canale A, D'Andrea A, Del Serrone P, Delrio G, Foxi C, Mariani S, Savini G, Vadivalagan C, Murugan K, Toniolo C, Nicoletti M, Serafini M. Bluetongue outbreaks: Looking for effective control strategies against Culicoides vectors. Res Vet Sci 2017; 115:263-270. [PMID: 28577491 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2017.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2017] [Revised: 05/18/2017] [Accepted: 05/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Several arthropod-borne diseases are now rising with increasing impact and risks for public health, due to environmental changes and resistance to pesticides currently marketed. In addition to community surveillance programs and a careful management of herds, a next-generation of effective products is urgently needed to control the spread of these diseases, with special reference to arboviral ones. Natural product research can afford alternative solutions. Recently, a re-emerging of bluetongue disease is ongoing in Italy. Bluetongue is a viral disease that affects ruminants and is spread through the bite of bloodsucking insects, especially Culicoides species. In this review, we focused on the importance of vector control programs for prevention or bluetongue outbreaks, outlining the lack of effective tools in the fight against Culicoides vectors. Then, we analyzed a field case study in Sardinia (Italy) concerning the utilization of the neem cake (Azadirachta indica), to control young instar populations of Culicoides biting midges, the vectors of bluetongue virus. Neem cake is a cheap and eco-friendly by-product obtained from the extraction of neem oil. Overall, we propose that the employ of neem extraction by-products as aqueous formulations in muddy sites close to livestock grazing areas may represent an effective tool in the fight against the spread of bluetongue virus in the Mediterranean areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Benelli
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Luca Buttazzoni
- Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l'Analisi dell'Economia Agraria, CREA, Centro di Ricerca per la Zootecnia e l'Acquacoltura, CREA ZA, Sede di Monterotondo, Via Salaria 31, 00015 Monterotondo Rome, Italy
| | - Angelo Canale
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Armando D'Andrea
- C. R. ENEA Casaccia, UTEE, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123, S. M. Galeria, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Del Serrone
- Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l'Analisi dell'Economia Agraria, CREA, Centro di Ricerca per la Zootecnia e l'Acquacoltura, CREA ZA, Sede di Monterotondo, Via Salaria 31, 00015 Monterotondo Rome, Italy
| | - Gavino Delrio
- Dipartimento di Agraria, Sezione di Patologia Vegetale ed Entomologia, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Via Enrico de Nicola, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Cipriano Foxi
- Dipartimento di Agraria, Sezione di Patologia Vegetale ed Entomologia, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Via Enrico de Nicola, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Susanna Mariani
- C. R. ENEA Casaccia, UTEE, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123, S. M. Galeria, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Savini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", Via Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Chithravel Vadivalagan
- Division of Entomology, School of Life Sciences, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 641046, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Kadarkarai Murugan
- Division of Entomology, School of Life Sciences, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 641046, Tamil Nadu, India; Thiruvalluvar University (State University), Serkkadu, Vellore 632 115, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Chiara Toniolo
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Marcello Nicoletti
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Mauro Serafini
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
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Francine TN, Prosper Cabral BN, Constant Anatole P, Bruno MM, Pauline N, Jeanne NY. Larvicidal activities of hydro-ethanolic extracts of three Cameroonian medicinal plants against Aedes albopictus. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apjtb.2016.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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Benelli G, Chandramohan B, Murugan K, Madhiyazhagan P, Kovendan K, Panneerselvam C, Dinesh D, Govindarajan M, Higuchi A, Toniolo C, Canale A, Nicoletti M. Neem cake as a promising larvicide and adulticide against the rural malaria vector Anopheles culicifacies (Diptera: Culicidae): a HPTLC fingerprinting approach. Nat Prod Res 2016; 31:1185-1190. [PMID: 27552943 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2016.1222390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Mosquitoes are insects of huge public health importance, since they act as vectors for important pathogens and parasites. Here, we focused on the possibility of using the neem cake in the fight against mosquito vectors. The neem cake chemical composition significantly changes among producers, as evidenced by our HPTLC (High performance thin layer chromatography) analyses of different marketed products. Neem cake extracts were tested to evaluate the ovicidal, larvicidal and adulticidal activity against the rural malaria vector Anopheles culicifacies. Ovicidal activity of both types of extracts was statistically significant, and 150 ppm completely inhibited egg hatching. LC50 values were extremely low against fourth instar larvae, ranging from 1.321 (NM1) to 1.818 ppm (NA2). Adulticidal activity was also high, with LC50 ranging from 3.015 (NM1) to 3.637 ppm (NM2). This study pointed out the utility of neem cake as a source of eco-friendly mosquitocides in Anopheline vector control programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Benelli
- a Insect Behaviour Group, Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment , University of Pisa , Pisa , Italy
| | - Balamurugan Chandramohan
- b Division of Entomology, Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences , Bharathiar University , Coimbatore , India
| | - Kadarkarai Murugan
- b Division of Entomology, Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences , Bharathiar University , Coimbatore , India.,c Department of Biotechnology , Thiruvalluvar University , Vellore , India
| | - Pari Madhiyazhagan
- b Division of Entomology, Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences , Bharathiar University , Coimbatore , India
| | - Kalimuthu Kovendan
- b Division of Entomology, Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences , Bharathiar University , Coimbatore , India
| | | | - Devakumar Dinesh
- b Division of Entomology, Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences , Bharathiar University , Coimbatore , India
| | | | - Akon Higuchi
- f Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering , National Central University , Jhongli , Taiwan
| | - Chiara Toniolo
- g Department of Environmental Biology , Sapienza University of Rome , Rome , Italy
| | - Angelo Canale
- a Insect Behaviour Group, Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment , University of Pisa , Pisa , Italy
| | - Marcello Nicoletti
- g Department of Environmental Biology , Sapienza University of Rome , Rome , Italy
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Benelli G, Canale A, Toniolo C, Higuchi A, Murugan K, Pavela R, Nicoletti M. Neem (Azadirachta indica): towards the ideal insecticide? Nat Prod Res 2016; 31:369-386. [DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2016.1214834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Benelli
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- The BioRobotics Institute, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pontedera, Italy
| | - Angelo Canale
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Chiara Toniolo
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Akon Higuchi
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Central University, Jhongli, Taiwan
| | - Kadarkarai Murugan
- Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, India
- Department of Biotechnology, Thiruvalluvar University, Vellore, India
| | | | - Marcello Nicoletti
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Chandramohan B, Murugan K, Madhiyazhagan P, Kovendan K, Kumar PM, Panneerselvam C, Dinesh D, Subramaniam J, Rajaganesh R, Nicoletti M, Canale A, Benelli G. Neem by-products in the fight against mosquito-borne diseases: Biotoxicity of neem cake fractions towards the rural malaria vector Anopheles culicifacies (Diptera: Culicidae). Asian Pac J Trop Biomed 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apjtb.2015.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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Benelli G, Canale A, Higuchi A, Murugan K, Pavela R, Nicoletti M. The recent outbreaks of Zika virus: Mosquito control faces a further challenge. ASIAN PACIFIC JOURNAL OF TROPICAL DISEASE 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/s2222-1808(15)61025-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Benamar H, Tomassini L, Venditti A, Marouf A, Bennaceur M, Nicoletti M. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids from Solenanthus lanatus DC. with acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. Nat Prod Res 2016; 30:2567-2574. [PMID: 26735939 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2015.1131984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The whole plant ethanolic extract of Solenanthus lanatus was used for the isolation of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. A new pyrrolizidine alkaloid, 7-O-angeloylechinatine N-oxide, 1, was isolated together with three known compounds of the same class (3'-O-acetylheliosupine N-oxide, 2, heliosupine N-oxide, 3, and heliosupine, 4), by bioassay-guided approach. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. All the isolated compounds showed inhibition activity against the AChE, with IC50 0.53-0.60 mM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Houari Benamar
- a Laboratory of Biochemistry and Natural Products, Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Life , University of Oran 1 Ahmed Benbella , Oran , Algeria.,b Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Life , University of Mostaganem Abdelhamid Ibn Badis , Mostaganem , Algeria
| | - Lamberto Tomassini
- c Department of Environmental Biology , University "Sapienza" , Rome , Italy
| | - Alessandro Venditti
- c Department of Environmental Biology , University "Sapienza" , Rome , Italy
| | - Abderrazak Marouf
- a Laboratory of Biochemistry and Natural Products, Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Life , University of Oran 1 Ahmed Benbella , Oran , Algeria.,d Institute of Science and Technology , Department of Natural Sciences and Life , Ctr Univ Naama , Naama , Algeria
| | - Malika Bennaceur
- a Laboratory of Biochemistry and Natural Products, Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Life , University of Oran 1 Ahmed Benbella , Oran , Algeria.,e Laboratory of Research in Arid Areas, Faculty of Biological Sciences , University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene , Algiers , Algeria
| | - Marcello Nicoletti
- c Department of Environmental Biology , University "Sapienza" , Rome , Italy
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Characterization and mosquitocidal potential of neem cake-synthesized silver nanoparticles: genotoxicity and impact on predation efficiency of mosquito natural enemies. Parasitol Res 2015; 115:1015-25. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-015-4829-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2015] [Accepted: 11/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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Murugan K, Labeeba MA, Panneerselvam C, Dinesh D, Suresh U, Subramaniam J, Madhiyazhagan P, Hwang JS, Wang L, Nicoletti M, Benelli G. Aristolochia indica green-synthesized silver nanoparticles: A sustainable control tool against the malaria vector Anopheles stephensi? Res Vet Sci 2015; 102:127-35. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2015.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2015] [Revised: 07/03/2015] [Accepted: 08/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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Del Serrone P, Toniolo C, Nicoletti M. Neem ( Azadirachtaindica A. Juss) Oil: A Natural Preservative to Control Meat Spoilage. Foods 2015; 4:3-14. [PMID: 28231186 PMCID: PMC5302226 DOI: 10.3390/foods4010003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2014] [Accepted: 12/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant-derived extracts (PDEs) are a source of biologically-active substances having antimicrobial properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of neem oil (NO) as a preservative of fresh retail meat. The antibacterial activity of NO against Carnobacterium maltaromaticum, Brochothrix thermosphacta, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Lactobacillus curvatus and L. sakei was assessed in a broth model system. The bacterial growth inhibition zone (mm) ranged from 18.83 ± 1.18 to 30.00 ± 1.00, as was found by a disc diffusion test with 100 µL NO. The bacterial percent growth reduction ranged from 30.81 ± 2.08 to 99.70 ± 1.53 in the broth microdilution method at different NO concentrations (1:10 to 1:100,000). Viable bacterial cells were detected in experimentally-contaminated meat up to the second day after NO treatment (100 µL NO per 10 g meat), except for C. maltaromaticum, which was detected up to the sixth day by PCR and nested PCR with propidium monoazide (PMA™) dye. In comparison to the previously published results, C. maltaromaticum, E. coli, L. curvatus and L. sakei appeared more susceptible to NO compared to neem cake extract (NCE) by using a broth model system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Del Serrone
- Agricultural Research Council (CRA), Research Center of Animal Production (CRA-PCM), Via Salaria 31, Monterotondo, RM 00015, Italy.
| | - Chiara Toniolo
- Department of Environmental Biology, University of Rome Sapienza, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome 00161, Italy.
| | - Marcello Nicoletti
- Department of Environmental Biology, University of Rome Sapienza, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome 00161, Italy.
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Benelli G, Murugan K, Panneerselvam C, Madhiyazhagan P, Conti B, Nicoletti M. Old ingredients for a new recipe? Neem cake, a low-cost botanical by-product in the fight against mosquito-borne diseases. Parasitol Res 2015; 114:391-7. [PMID: 25563612 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-014-4286-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2014] [Accepted: 12/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) represent an important threat to millions of people worldwide, since they act as vectors for important pathogens, such as malaria, yellow fever, dengue and West Nile. Control programmes mainly rely on chemical treatments against larvae, indoor residual spraying and insecticide-treated bed nets. In recent years, huge efforts have been carried out to propose new eco-friendly alternatives, with a special focus on the evaluation of plant-borne mosquitocidal compounds. Major examples are neem-based products (Azadirachta indica A. Juss, Meliaceae) that have been proven as really effective against a huge range of pests of medical and veterinary importance, including mosquitoes. Recent research highlighted that neem cake, a cheap by-product from neem oil extraction, is an important source of mosquitocidal metabolites. In this review, we examined (i) the latest achievements about neem cake metabolomics with special reference to nor-terpenoid and related content; (ii) the neem cake ovicidal, larvicidal and pupicidal toxicity against Aedes, Anopheles and Culex mosquito vectors; (iii) its non-target effects against vertebrates; and (iv) its oviposition deterrence effects on mosquito females. Overall, neem cake can be proposed as an eco-friendly and low-cost source of chemicals to build newer and safer control tools against mosquito vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Benelli
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124, Pisa, Italy,
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Benelli G, Bedini S, Cosci F, Toniolo C, Conti B, Nicoletti M. Larvicidal and ovideterrent properties of neem oil and fractions against the filariasis vector Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae): a bioactivity survey across production sites. Parasitol Res 2014; 114:227-36. [PMID: 25327954 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-014-4183-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2014] [Accepted: 10/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Neem seed oil (NSO) of Azadirachta indica (Meliaceae) contains more than 100 determined biologically active compounds, and many formulations deriving from them showed toxicity, antifeedancy and repellence against a number of arthropod pests. However, it is widely known that botanical products can differ in their chemical composition and bioactivity, as function of the production site and production process. We used high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) to investigate differences in chemical constituents of NSOs from three production sites. HPTLC analyses showed several differences in chemical abundance and diversity among NSOs, with special reference to limonoids. Furthermore, the three NSOs and their fractions of increasing polarities [i.e. ethyl acetate (EA) fraction and butanol (BU) fraction] were evaluated for larvicidal toxicity and field oviposition deterrence against the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, currently the most invasive mosquito worldwide. Results from bioactivity experiments showed good toxicity of NSOs and EA fractions against A. albopictus fourth instar larvae (with LC50 values ranging from 142.28 to 209.73 ppm), while little toxicity was exerted by BU fractions. A significant effect of the production site and dosage was also found and is probably linked to differences in abundance of constituents among samples, as highlighted by HPTLC analyses. NSOs and EAs were also able to deter A. albopictus oviposition in the field (effective repellence values ranging from 98.55 to 70.10%), while little effectiveness of BU fractions was found. Concerning ovideterrent activity, no difference due to the production site was found. This is the first report concerning larvicidal toxicity of NSO against A. albopictus and ovideterrence against Culicidae in the field. The chance to use chemicals from the NSO EA fraction seems promising, since they are effective at lower doses, if compared to synthetic products currently marketed, and could be an advantageous alternative to build newer and safer mosquito control tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Benelli
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, via del Borghetto 80, 56124, Pisa, Italy,
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Shedding light on bioactivity of botanical by-products: neem cake compounds deter oviposition of the arbovirus vector Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in the field. Parasitol Res 2013; 113:933-40. [PMID: 24337544 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-013-3725-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2013] [Accepted: 11/27/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Industrial plant-borne by-products can be sources of low-cost chemicals, potentially useful to build eco-friendly control strategies against mosquitoes. Neem cake is a cheap by-product of neem oil extraction obtained by pressing the seeds of Azadirachta indica. Neem products are widely used as insecticides since rarely induce resistance because their multiple mode of action against insect pests and low-toxicity rates have been detected against vertebrates. In this research, we used field bioassays to assess the effective oviposition repellence of neem cake fractions of increasing polarity [n-hexane (A), methanol (B), ethyl acetate (C), n-butanol (D), and aqueous (E) fraction] against Aedes albopictus, currently the most invasive mosquito worldwide. These fractions, already characterized for low nortriterpenoids contents by HPLC analyses, were analyzed for their total content by HPTLC, highlighting striking differences in their chemical composition. Field results showed that B, A, and C tested at 100 ppm exerted higher effective repellence over the control (71.33, 88.59, and 73.49% of ER, respectively), while E and D did not significantly deter A. albopictus oviposition (17.06 and 22.72% of ER, respectively). The highest oviposition activity index was achieved by A (-0.82), followed by C (-0.63), and B (-0.62). Lower OAIs were achieved by D (-0.14) and E (-0.09). On the basis of our results, we believe that A, B, and C are very promising as oviposition deterrents against the arbovirus vector A. albopictus since they are proved as rich in active metabolites, cheap, and really effective at low doses.
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Del Serrone P, Nicoletti M. Antimicrobial activity of a neem cake extract in a broth model meat system. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2013; 10:3282-95. [PMID: 23917814 PMCID: PMC3774438 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph10083282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2013] [Revised: 07/10/2013] [Accepted: 07/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
This work reports on the antimicrobial activity of an ethyl acetate extract of neem (Azadirachta indica) cake (NCE) against bacteria affecting the quality of retail fresh meat in a broth model meat system. NCE (100 µg) was also tested by the agar disc diffusion method. It inhibited the growth of all tested microorganisms. The NCE growth inhibition zone (IZ) ranged 11.33–22.67 mm while the ciprofloxacin (10 µg) IZ ranged from 23.41–32.67 mm. There was no significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) between the antimicrobial activity of NCE and ciprofloxacin vs. C. jejuni and Leuconostoc spp. The NCE antibacterial activity was moreover determined at lower concentrations (1:10–1:100,000) in micro-assays. The percent growth reduction ranged from 61 ± 2.08–92 ± 3.21. The higher bacterial growth reduction was obtained at 10 µg concentration of NCE. Species-specific PCR and multiplex PCR with the DNA dye propidium monoazide were used to directly detect viable bacterial cells from experimentally contaminated meat samples. The numbers of bacterial cells never significantly (p ≤ 0.05) exceeded the inocula concentration used to experimentally contaminate the NCE treated meat. This report represents a screening methodology to evaluate the antimicrobial capability of a herbal extract to preserve meat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Del Serrone
- Agricultural Research Council, Research Centre Animal Production and Genetic Improvement, Via Salaria 31 Km 26, Monterotondo 00015 RM, Italy
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: ; Tel.: +39-06-9009-0260; Fax: +39-06-9009-0223
| | - Marcello Nicoletti
- University of Rome Sapienza, Pia.le Aldo Moro 5, Rome 00185, Italy; E-Mail:
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Mosquito larvicidal activity of alkaloids and limonoids derived from Evodia rutaecarpa unripe fruits against Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae). Parasitol Res 2012; 111:991-6. [PMID: 22526296 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-012-2923-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2012] [Accepted: 04/10/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, uses of environment friendly and biodegradable natural insecticides of plant origin have received renewed attention as agents for vector control. During a screening program for new agrochemicals from Chinese medicinal herbs and local wild plants, the ethanol extract of Evodia rutaecarpa Hook f. et Thomas (Rutaceae) unripe fruits was found to possess larvicidal activity against the mosquitoes. The aim of this research was to determine larvicidal activity of the ethanol extract of E. rutaecarpa unripe fruits and the isolated constituents against the larvae of the Culicidae mosquito Aedes albopictus. The powder, 5 kg of the fruit material, was extracted with 30 l of 95 % ethanol, filtered, and evaporated to dryness in a rotary vacuum evaporator. The crude extract was then partitioned between methanol-water and n-hexane. The n-hexane fraction was evaporated off to given n-hexane extract. The aqueous layer was repartitioned with chloroform to provide chloroform extract after evaporation of the solvent. Further partitioning with ethyl acetate gave a residue after evaporation of the solvent. Bioactivity-directed chromatographic separation of chloroform extract on repeated silica gel columns led to the isolation of three alkaloids (evodiamine, rutaecarpine, and wuchuyuamide I) and two limonoids (evodol and limonin). The structures of the constituent compounds were elucidated based on high-resolution electron impact mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance. Evodiamine, rutaecarpine, and wuchuyuamide I exhibited strong larvicidal activity against the early fourth instar larvae of A. albopictus with LC(50) values of 12.51, 17.02, and 26.16 μg/ml, respectively. Limonin and evodol also possessed larvicidal activity against the Asian tiger mosquitoes with LC(50) values of 32.43 and 52.22 μg/ml, respectively, while the ethanol extract had a LC(50) value of 43.21 μg/ml. The results indicated that the ethanol extract of E. rutaecarpa and the five isolated constituents have a good potential as a source for natural larvicides.
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Nicoletti M, Mariani S, Maccioni O, Coccioletti T, Murugan K. Neem cake: chemical composition and larvicidal activity on Asian tiger mosquito. Parasitol Res 2012; 111:205-13. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-012-2819-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2011] [Accepted: 01/05/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Nicoletti M, Petitto V, Gallo FR, Multari G, Federici E, Palazzino G. The Modern Analytical Determination of Botanicals and Similar Novel Natural Products by the HPTLC Fingerprint Approach. STUDIES IN NATURAL PRODUCTS CHEMISTRY VOLUME 37 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-59514-0.00008-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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A novel herbal formulation against dengue vector mosquitoes Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Parasitol Res 2011; 110:1801-13. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-011-2702-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2011] [Accepted: 10/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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