Promising insecticidal effect of Carissa edulis phytochemical loaded nanoemulsion using Ag2O and ZnO NPs: A synergistic combination by ultra-sonication against crop damaging insects

• Published in: South African journal of botany 2023-06, Vol.157, p.566-578
• Main Authors: Fowsiya, J., Muthusamy, Karnan, Alfarhan, Ahmed, Madhumitha, G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carissa edulis; Green nanoparticles; Green synthesis; Insecticidal activity; Nanoemulsion
• ISSN: 0254-6299; 1727-9321
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2023.04.016

•Nanoemulsion based on utilization of green synthesized nanoparticles on caryophyllene was prepapred.•The formulation exhibited significant insecticidal activity against crop damaging insects.•The potential formulation of nanoemulsion was prepared at first time by using ultra sonication method.•Insecticidal activity showed in dose depended manner. The study reported the development of an eco-friendly nanoemulsion based on green synthesized nanoparticles and phytochemicals from Carissa edulis for application as a green insecticide. The bioactive compound, caryophyllene, has been isolated by column chromatography and structural elucidation was carried out by spectroscopic analysis. The green synthesized nanoemulsion was prepared by using Ag2O and ZnO nanoparticles from the ultrasonication method and characterized by Ultraviolet Visible, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Zeta potential, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and Transmission Electron Microscopy analysis. The insecticidal efficacy of an emulsion composed of phytochemicals and nanoparticles against the crop damaging insects namely, C. medinalis, S. incrtulas and S. mauritia was examined and results showed higher and significant effects. Therefore, due to the stability over a long period, the optimized nanoemulsions were formulated and showed good insecticidal activity on insects. The current work proposes that the synthesized nanoemulsion may be possibly beneficial to developing water solubility of poor water-soluble phytochemicals with insecticidal activity. The lack of organic toxic solvents and stability improves this nanoemulsion as a potential insecticidal product. The present work can be helpful to gain a better understanding of the interaction of nanoparticles with phytochemicals in emulsion formulation and its effectiveness towards insects which are capable of being safe insecticides.