Volatile chemical composition and bioactivities from Colombian Kyllinga pumila Michx (Cyperaceae) essential oil

Abstract

The essential oil from the fresh leaves of Kyllinga pumila (Michx) was obtained by hydrodistillation and characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Twenty-eight volatile compounds were identified, major constituents of the oil were Methyl E,E-10,11-epoxyfarnesoate (43.8%), β-elemene (12.5%), Z-caryophyllene (11.3%), germacrene D (7.1%) and E-caryophyllene (5.6%). Repellent and fumigant activities of the oil against Tribolium castaneum Herbst (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), were done using the area preference method. Additionally, we studied their antioxidant and phytotoxic effects. Essential oils exhibited a dose-dependent repellent activity, with values 90% at the applied concentration (0.01%), for both two and four hour’s exposure. Essential oil from K. pumila showed 92% mortality at 500 µL L^-1 air against T. castaneum on 24 hours of exposure. The value LC₅₀ was 153.4 µL L^-1.  With moderate selective phytotoxic effects on L. perenne root growth (±70% inhibition). Kyllinga pumila shows high antioxidant potential (91.5%), an effect that is comparable with ascorbic acid (92.9%) used as a standard. The results indicated that K. pumila essential oil could be a promising alternative to new natural antioxidants, repellents, and biocides.