| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4513988 | Industrial Crops and Products | 2012 | 7 Pages |
Essential oils and aqueous extracts were obtained by hydrodistillation of flowers of red and pink variants of Alpinia purpurata (Zingiberaceae), a widely cultivated tropical ornamental plant. GC/MS analyses revealed the presence of 42 essential oil components with α-pinene, β-pinene and β-caryophyllene being the major constituents. Oils from the red and pink variants presented potent larvicidal activities against 4th instar Aedes aegypti with LC50 values of 80.7 and 71.5 ppm, respectively. Aqueous extracts of the two variants were also active against the dengue mosquito larvae (LC50 values of 18.3 and 12.6%, respectively). Oils and aqueous extracts of both variants showed significant oviposition deterrent effects at concentrations of 100 ppm and 20%, respectively. Oil from the red cultivar inhibited significantly the growth of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The study demonstrates that products with valuable biological activities can be produced from flowers of A. purpurata that are not of commercial quality.
► The hydrodistillation products from Alpinia purpurata flowers are biologically active. ► The floral oil and aqueous extract are potent larvicides against the dengue mosquito. ► The oil and extract exhibit oviposition deterrent effects against Aedes aegypti. ► The oil is a strong growth inhibitor of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. ► Active products can be produced from discarded flowers of non-commercial quality.
