Chemical composition and insecticidal activities of the essential oil of aster ageratoides flowering aerial parts

Water-distilled essential oil from Aster ageratoides Turcz. (Compositae) flowering aerial parts was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for the first time. Forty-three compounds, accounting for 96.4 % of the oil, were identified. The main compounds found were α- terpineol (10.8 %), β-caryophyllene (10.3 %), linalool (7.2%), D-limonene (6.9%), spathulenol (6.5%), bornyl acetate (5.8%), and bicyclosesquiphellandrene (5.6%). The essential oil of A. ageratoides flowering aerial parts possessed contact toxicity against two grain storage insects Sitophilus zeamais and Tribolium castaneum adults with LD50 values of 27.16 μg adult-1 and 8.09 μg adult-1, respectively. The essential oil also exhibited fumigant toxicity against S. zeamais and T. castaneum adults with LC50 values of 13.73 mg L-1 and 12.14 mg L-1, respectively. The essential oil shows potential to be developed as possible natural fumigant/insecticide for control of stored product insects.