Essential oil-loaded polymeric nanoparticles as a viable alternative to control storage grain insects -a review

Abstract

The loss of stored grains is becoming a major issue globally because of insect infestation. The extensive usage of chemical insecticides for insect control has caused enormous harm to the worldwide ecology. Hence, it is essential to look for more environmentally sustainable solutions. Several essential oils (EOs) and bioactive chemicals have been adopted as natural insecticides due to their considerable insecticidal activity, diversified mechanism of action, and nontoxicity to other organisms. Meanwhile, despite their potential features, EOs have certain disadvantages, including being extremely volatile, less water-soluble, more rapidly degradable and the cost of production in some cases. Encapsulating EOs as nanoemulsions into polymers has recently been recognized as a potential technique for increasing their stability, selective release, and usefulness in various domains. These EOs and nanoemulsions displayed insect-deterrent behaviour by acting as fumigants, contact repellents, antifeedants, egg development deterrents, and larval agents, in addition to inhibiting chemical messengers such as acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and octopamine and transforming enzyme performance. This review article summarizes recent trends and innovations to define polymeric nano-formulated EOs as environment-friendly substitutes for harmful conventional insecticides. It also provides opportunities for more secure and profitable methods of controlling agricultural insects. Along with this, the insecticidal activity and mechanism of action for various essential oils and essential oil-loaded polymeric nanoparticles on various insects of stored grains are thoroughly discussed.