ARS | Publication request: COMPOSITION AND SOME BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF THE ESSENTIAL OIL OF CALLICARPA AMERICANA (L.)

Submitted to: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: February 1, 2000
Publication Date: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Many of the currently used synthetic pesticides are in the process of being phased out or of facing severe limitations on their use. Finding new pesticides from natural sources will not only help replace synthetic pesticides lost to regulatory processes but will help in finding more environmentally benign pesticides that might be even more apt at treating pesticide resistant pests. We have isolated components from a local plant and evaluated them for possible use against weeds, fungi and algae. We have identified 67 compounds in the fraction commonly referred to as the essential oil of the plant American beautyberry. We have also shown that this essential oil is useful against the algae responsible for off-flavor problems in the catfish farming industry while having low toxicity towards plants, fungi, and other algae. Humulene epoxide II (13.9%), alfa-humulene (10.0%), 7-epi-alfa-eudesmol (9.4%), beta-pinene (8.8%), and 1-octen- 3-ol (8.5%) were the major components of the steam distilled essential oil.

Technical Abstract: The essential oil profile of Callicarpa americana was examined. Samples were collected from Lafayette county in north central Mississippi and GC/MS data and retention indices were used to identify 67 oil components. Humulene epoxide II (13.9%), alfa- humulene (10.0%), 7-epi-alfa-eudesmol (9.4%), beta-pinene (8.8%), and 1-octen-3-ol (8.5%) were the major components of the steam distilled oil. The oil was selectively toxic towards the cyanobacterium Oscillatoria perornata compared to O. agardhii and the green algae Selenastrum capricornutum, with complete growth inhibition at 28.5 ug/ml. The oil was only mildly phytotoxic and anti-fungal.