Terpenic Constituents of Essential Oils with Larvicidal Activity against Aedes Aegypti : A QSAR and Docking Molecular Study

• Published in: Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2023-03, Vol.28 (6), p.2454
• Main Authors: Cruz-Castillo, Adrián Ulises, Rodríguez-Valdez, Luz María, Correa-Basurto, José, Nogueda-Torres, Benjamín, Andrade-Ochoa, Sergio, Nevárez-Moorillón, Guadalupe Virginia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetylcholinesterase; Aedes; Aedes aegypti; Animals; Biological activity; Carrier Proteins; Carvacrol; Chikungunya virus; Computer applications; Constituents; Dengue fever; Energy; Essential oils; Genetic algorithms; Insect control; Insecticides; Insecticides - chemistry; Insecticides - pharmacology; Insects; Larva; larvicidal activity; Larvicides; Mechanical properties; molecular modeling; Molecular structure; Monoterpenes; Mosquitoes; Oils & fats; Oils, Volatile - chemistry; Oils, Volatile - pharmacology; Proteins; Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship; Quantum mechanics; Software; Sterols; Structure-activity relationships; Terpenes; terpenic compounds; Tropical diseases; Vector-borne diseases; Zika Virus; Zika Virus Infection
• ISSN: 1420-3049; 1420-3049
• DOI: 10.3390/molecules28062454

is a vector for the arbovirus responsible for yellow fever, Zika and Chikungunya virus. Essential oils and their constituents are known for their larvicidal properties and are strong candidates for mosquito control. This work aimed to develop a quantitative structure-activity study and molecular screening for the search and design of new larvicidal agents. Twenty-five monoterpenes with previously evaluated larvicidal activity were built and optimized using computational tools. QSAR models were constructed through genetic algorithms from the larvicidal activity and the calculation of theoretical descriptors for each molecule. Docking studies on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and sterol carrier protein (SCP-2) were also carried out. Results demonstrate that the epoxide groups in the structure of terpenes hinder larvicidal activity, while lipophilicity plays an important role in enhancing biological activity. Larvicidal activity correlates with the interaction of the sterol-carrier protein. Of the 25 compounds evaluated, carvacrol showed the highest larvicidal activity with an LC of 8.8 µg/mL. The information included in this work contributes to describing the molecular, topological, and quantum mechanical properties related to the larvicidal activity of monoterpenes and their derivatives.