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

Water-distilled essential oil from the flowering aerial parts of Aster ageratoides Turcz. (Compositae) 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 alpha-terpineol (10.8 %), beta-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 and 8.09 mu g per adult, respectively. The essential oil also exhibited fumigant toxicity against S. zeamais and T castaneum adults with LC50 values of 13.73 and 12.14 mg L-1, respectively. The essential oil showed potential for development as a possible natural fumigant/insecticide for control of insects in stored products.