Unleashing the Potential: Exploring the Chemical Composition, Insecticidal Prowess, and Antibacterial Power of...

The significance of plant essential oils (EOs) has garnered considerable attention due to their diverse applications and bioactivity. We extracted volatile oil from Artemisia gmelinii through distillation and analyzed its composition using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), identifying 21 volatile compounds, primarily monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, which constitute 86.42% of the oil. The study evaluated the insecticidal activity of A. gmelinii EO against two common storage pests, Lasioderma serricorne and Tribolium castaneum. The EO exhibited significant insecticidal effects with LD₅₀ values of 3.22 µg/adult and LC₅₀ values of 11.2 µg/mL air, and demonstrated superior repellent activity against T. castaneum compared to L. serricorne. The EO also showed effective antibacterial activity against all tested bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with particularly strong effects against S. agalactiae (MIC = 0.93 mg/mL, MBC = 1.88 mg/mL). These findings highlight the potential of A. gmelinii EO as a natural agent for combating food spoilage bacteria and controlling pests, emphasizing the importance of both the EO's overall composition and the specific contributions of its main components.