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Essential Oil as a Source of Bioactive Constituents for the Control of Insect Pests of Economic Importance in Tunisia

Jouda Mediouni Ben Jemâa

Essential oils from medicinal and aromatic plants are known as a source of secondary metabolites. They act as antimicrobial, antispasmodic, antiviral and anti-insect agents. In addition, essential oils of several species have been recently qualified as replacement alternatives to synthetic pesticides. Tunisia is located in the Mediterranean basin area, a temperate zone characterized by the greatest diversity on the planet since we find around 25,000 species and a very high percentage of these are endemic. The present mini-review comprises an investigation on major and predominant bioactive components and insecticidal potential of various species of Eucalyptus and Artemisia grown in Tunisia. The aim of this mini-review is to bring together most of the available scientific research in Tunisia conducted on insecticidal potential of the genera Eucalyptus and Artemisia, which is currently documented across various publications. Through this mini-review, I hope to attract the attention on the most bioactive essential oils as a source of bioactive constituents. This review has been compiled using references from major work on essential oil and their bioactive components against Tunisian strains of major stored product insect pests. Results revealed that the different species either from Eucalyptus or Artemisia genera have a vast range of insecticidal activities including fumigant, contact and repellent effects. Some very important components have been discovered from these genera, notably 1,8 cineole, and α-pinene from Eucalyptus and β-thujone and Camphor from Artemisia. Various species of Eucalyptus and Artemisia seems to hold great potential for in-depth investigation for various insecticidal activities, especially their effects on the stored product insect pests.