Journal of Entomological Research
SCOPUSWeb of Science
  • Year: 2025
  • Volume: 49
  • Issue: 2

Biological activity of essential oil from leaves of false pepper (Schinus molle L.)

1University of Blida 1, Algeria

Echahid Cheikh Larbi Tebessi University, Water and Environment Laboratory, Tebessa, Algeria

*Corresponding authors’ E-mail : fouzia.djebbar@univ-tebessa.dz

Online Published on 15 July, 2025.

Abstract

Present study was designed to determine the chemical profile and also to evaluate the antioxidant capacity as well as the insecticidal and antimicrobial activity of Schinus molle EO. The major chemical compounds found in leaf EO were elemol (9.028%), β-phellandrene (12.104%) and α-phellandrene (16.613%). The remarkable antioxidant activity using FRAP and DPPH radicals were obtained with Schinus molle essential oil (142.52 μg/mL and 65.86 μg/mL, respectively). The inhibition growth was observed significantly for the yeast and bacterial strains. Toxicological-tests carried out by fumigation applications against mosquitoes (C. longiareolata) and stored product pest (S. granarius) revealed that this EO exhibited an insecticidal activity depending on the applied concentrations. The current investigation provides important clues for identifying alternative sources of bioactive compounds.

Keywords

Antimicrobial activity, Antioxidant property, Essential oil, Insecticidal activity, Schinus molle