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Review
. 2022 Feb 15;12(2):311.
doi: 10.3390/biom12020311.

Status and Prospects of Botanical Biopesticides in Europe and Mediterranean Countries

Fatma Acheuk  1 , Shereen Basiouni  2 , Awad A Shehata  3 , Katie Dick  4 , Haifa Hajri  5 , Salma Lasram  5 , Mete Yilmaz  6 , Mevlüt Emekci  7 , George Tsiamis  8 , Marina Spona-Friedl  9 , Helen May-Simera  10 , Wolfgang Eisenreich  9 , Spyridon Ntougias  11
Affiliations
Review

Status and Prospects of Botanical Biopesticides in Europe and Mediterranean Countries

Fatma Acheuk et al. Biomolecules. .

Abstract

Concerning human and environmental health, safe alternatives to synthetic pesticides are urgently needed. Many of the currently used synthetic pesticides are not authorized for application in organic agriculture. In addition, the developed resistances of various pests against classical pesticides necessitate the urgent demand for efficient and safe products with novel modes of action. Botanical pesticides are assumed to be effective against various crop pests, and they are easily biodegradable and available in high quantities and at a reasonable cost. Many of them may act by diverse yet unexplored mechanisms of action. It is therefore surprising that only few plant species have been developed for commercial usage as biopesticides. This article reviews the status of botanical pesticides, especially in Europe and Mediterranean countries, deepening their active principles and mechanisms of action. Moreover, some constraints and challenges in the development of novel biopesticides are highlighted.

Keywords: Mediterranean region; bioactive substances; botanical fungicides; botanical herbicides; botanical insecticides; mechanism of action.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Structural diversity of bioactive compounds in plant-based pesticides.
Figure 2
Figure 2
General classification of phytochemicals.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Structures of some pesticidal alkaloids.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Structures of some pesticidal phenolics and O-heterocyclic compounds.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Structures of some pesticidal terpenes.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Structures of insecticidal limonoids.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Structures of some pyrethrins.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Structures of some herbicidal β-triketones.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Structures of some pesticidal fatty acids.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Mode of action of plant-based insecticides.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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