Insecticidal Activity, GC/MS Analysis, and in silico Studies of Juniperus phoenicea Essentail Oil against Aphis spiraecola

Abstract

In the context of sustainable agriculture, bioinsecticides are employed to protect crops against pests while simultaneously minimizing their detrimental impact on ecosystems. The objective of our study was to investigate the chemical composition of the essential oil obtained from Juniperus phoenicea leaves using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Additionally, we aimed to explore the insecticidal abilities of the oil against Aphis spiraecola. This study identified and characterized a total of 48 compounds, primarily belonging to the class of monoterpene hydrocarbon compounds (49.58%). The most abundant compound within this class was α-pinene, accounting for (33.73%) of the total compounds. Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons constituted (23.82%) of the compounds, with σ-cadinene being the major compound at (6.06%). Oxygenated monoterpene compounds made up (21.89%) of the total, with camphor being the predominant compound at (6.18%). Lastly, oxygenated sesquiterpenes accounted for (3.10%) of the compounds. The essential oil isolated from J. phoenicea showed promising insecticidal activity against Aphis spiraecola with a LD₅₀ value of 0.8 µL. Furthermore, the in silico investigations were specifically centered on the enzyme acetylcholinesterase as the primary target for the major compounds. Our findings indicate that J. phoenicea oil exhibits promising insecticidal properties. It has the potential to provide a resolution for harmonizing agricultural ecosystems and ensuring sustainability.