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. 2025 Aug 5;16(8):811.
doi: 10.3390/insects16080811.

Toxicity and Detoxification Enzyme Inhibition in the Two-Spotted Spider Mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch) by Artemisia annua L. Essential Oil and Its Major Monoterpenoids

Fatemeh Nasr Azadani  1 , Jalal Jalali Sendi  1 , Asgar Ebadollahi  2 , Roya Azizi  1 , William N Setzer  3   4
Affiliations

Toxicity and Detoxification Enzyme Inhibition in the Two-Spotted Spider Mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch) by Artemisia annua L. Essential Oil and Its Major Monoterpenoids

Fatemeh Nasr Azadani et al. Insects. .

Abstract

The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, is one of the polyphagous pests of several crops and forestry, resistant to numerous conventional chemicals. Due to the negative side effects of harmful chemical pesticides, such as environmental pollution, and risks to human health, the introduction of effective and low-risk alternatives is essential. The promising pesticidal effects of essential oils (EOs) isolated from Artemisia annua have been documented in recent studies. In the present study, the acaricidal effects of an A. annua EO, along with its two dominant monoterpenoids, 1,8-cineole and camphor, were investigated against adults of T. urticae. Artemisia annua EO, 1,8-cineole, and camphor, with 24 h-LC50 values of 0.289, 0.533, and 0.64 µL/L air, respectively, had significant toxicity by fumigation against T. urticae adults. Along with lethality, A. annua EO and monoterpenoids had significant inhibitory effects on the activity of detoxifying enzymes, including α- and β-esterases, glutathione S-transferases, and cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase. According to the findings of the present study, A. annua EO and its two dominant monoterpenoids, 1,8-cineole and camphor, with significant toxicity and inhibitory effects on detoxifying enzymes, can be introduced as available, effective, and eco-friendly acaricides in the management of T. urticae.

Keywords: 1,8-cineole; biochemical disturbances; botanical pesticides; camphor; fumigant toxicity.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The mortality (mean ± SE) of Tetranychus urticae adults treated with Artemisia annua essential oil and the monoterpenoids camphor and 1,8-cineole after 24 h (F = 30.07; df = 17, 53; p < 0.0001) and 48 h (F = 56.63; df = 17, 53; p < 0.0001). Columns sharing the same letters are not significantly different according to Tukey’s tests (p ≤ 0.05).
Figure 2
Figure 2
The activity of α-esterases (mean ± SE) of Tetranychus urticae adults treated with Artemisia annua essential oil and the monoterpenoids camphor and 1,8-cineole after 24 (F = 3.09; df = 6, 20; p = 0.0384) and 48 h (F = 3.39; df = 6, 20; p = 0.0279). Treatment columns sharing the same letter are not significantly different according to Tukey’s tests (p ≤ 0.05).
Figure 3
Figure 3
The activity of β-esterases (mean ± SE) of Tetranychus urticae adults treated with Artemisia annua essential oil and the monoterpenoids camphor and 1,8-cineole after 24 (F = 2.51; df = 6, 20; p = 0.0732) and 48 h (F = 4.83; df = 6, 20; p = 0.0072). Treatment columns sharing the same letter are not significantly different according to Tukey’s tests (p ≤ 0.05).
Figure 4
Figure 4
The activity of glutathione S-transferase (GST) (mean ± SE) of Tetranychus urticae adults, in reagent DCNB, treated with Artemisia annua essential oil and the monoterpenoids camphor and 1,8-cineole after 24 (F = 11.2; df = 6, 20; p = 0.0001) and 48 h (F = 108.25; df = 6, 20; p = 0.0001). Treatment columns sharing the same letter are not significantly different according to Tukey’s tests (p ≤ 0.05).
Figure 5
Figure 5
The activity of glutathione S-transferase (GST) (mean ± SE) of Tetranychus urticae adults, in reagent CDNB, treated with Artemisia annua essential oil and the monoterpenoids camphor and 1,8-cineole after 24 (F = 7.58; df = 6, 20; p = 0.0009) and 48 h (F = 22.55; df = 6, 20; p = 0.0001). Treatment columns sharing the same letter are not significantly different according to Tukey’s tests (mean ± SEM) (p ≤ 0.05).
Figure 6
Figure 6
The activity of cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (CYP450) (mean ± SE) of Tetranychus urticae adults treated with Artemisia annua essential oil and the monoterpenoids camphor and 1,8-cineole after 24 (F = 2.82; df = 6, 20; p = 0.0513) and 48 h (F = 10.1; df = 6, 20; p = 0.0002). Treatment columns sharing the same letter are not significantly different according to Tukey’s tests (p ≤ 0.05).
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