CA2348976A1 - Insecticidal composition - Google Patents

Abstract

An insecticidal composition is disclosed that includes Tasmannia stipitata extract in combination with an insecticidally effective oil such as petroleum oil, vegetable oil, and fish oil. The Tasmannia stipitata extract enhances the insecticidal activity of these oils. It is particularly useful against a variety of insect pests that occur on plants such as thrips, aphids, mites, scales and caterpillars. It is also useful against lice and flies.

Description

INSECTICIDAL COMPOSITION
Technical Field The present invention relates to an insecticidal composition including Tasmannia stipitata extract and insecticidally effective oils such as petroleum oils, vegetable oils and/or fish oils. The invention also relates to a method of controlling arthropods pests using combinations of Tasmcmnia stl'pitata extract and insecticidally effective oils such as petroleum oils, vegetable oils and/or fish oils.
Background Art The genus Tasmannia was formerly known as Drimys. Tasmannia sflpitata (also known previously as Tasmcumia aromatica oar. pendunculata or Drimys aromatica) is commonly known as Dorrigo Pepper. It is rich in the compound polygodial.
Polygodial is used in foods for its hot and spicy taste. It also has been found to have antifungal, antibacterial and insecticidal activity The active ingredients of Tasmannia stipitata appear to be contained within oil cells concentrated in new leaves, new stems and berries. Extracts of leave, stems and berries include polygodial as well as linalool, pinene , copaene, caryophyllene and bicyclo-germacrene.
Petroleum oils (or mineral oils) are used as insecticides. Certain vegetable oils also have insecticidal activity. The most common is canola oil (rapeseed oil). Sesame oil is also used. Other vegetable oils having insecticidal activity include mustard oil. A third group of oils having insecticidal activity is fish oil.
Disclosure of Invention Combinations of Tasmcmnia stipitata extract and petroleum oil or insecticidally effective vegetable oil have been found to have unexpected synergistic activity as insecticides. It is assumed that the insecticidal activity of fish oils would be similarly enhanced in combination with Tasmannia stipitata extract.
Accordingly, the present invention provides an insecticidal or insect repellant composition including Tasmannia stipitata extract and an insecticidally effective oil selected from the group consisting of at least one petroleum oil, at least one vegetable oil, at least one fish oil and mixtures thereof.

In addition to insecticidal activity, the composition acts as an insect repellent. It has also been found that insects that come into contact with a surface that has been treated with the composition exhibit reduced feeding and oviposition (egg laying) behaviour. The composition may therefore be used to control insects.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of controlling or killing lIlSeCtS COI11pT1S1Ilg exposing an insect population to a composition including Tasmcmnia stipitata extract and an insecticidally effective oil selected from the group consisting of at least one petroleum oil, at least one vegetable oil, at least one fish oil and mixtures thereof.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides for the use of Tasmannia sdpitata extract to enhance the insecticidal activity of an oil selected from the group consisting of at least one petroleum oil, at least one vegetable oil, at least one fish oil and mixtures thereof.
The extract of Tasmcumia stipitata is preferably prepared by solvent extraction of new leaves, new stems and berries. The concentration of polygodial in the extract will vary with the relative proportions of leaves, stems and berries extracted and will also vary with season. Concentrations of about 10% or more polygodial are desirable in the extract, preferably about 10-40% and more preferably about 25-38%.
The concentration of Tasmcmnia stipitata extract in the insecticidal composition may range from about 0.01% w/v to about 1.25% w/v, preferably 0.02% w/v to 1.0% w/v, Illore preferably 0.03% w/v to 0.125%w/v. The desired concentration will vary with the polygodial content of the Tasmcmnia stipitata extract.
The concentration of insecticidally effective oil in the insecticidal composition may range from about 0.25% w/v to about 1.5% w/v, preferably 0.5% to 1.0% w/v.
Although it will be appreciated that the composition of the invention may be applied to insect populations in a variety of ways, spraying is one preferred means. Application of a spray may be achieved using aerosols, suitably pressurised dispensers or other pumping devices.
Insects of course reside in a variety of environments. For those environments that are animate, such as in the case of plants and animals that are infested with insects, the present invention is advantageous in that it has WO 01/15534 PC'T/AU00/01018 reduced toxicity. This arises out of the fact that due to enhanced insecticidal activity, less active material need be applied to the plant or animal.
Modes for Carrying Out the Invention Materials 5 1. Samples of Tasmaiutia st~'pitata extract (hereinafter referred to as "stipitata extract") were prepared by solvent extraction of mixtures of new leaves, new stems and berries of Tasmcuulia stipitata. These samples contained an average of 27.6% polygodial. The polygodial content of the samples was ascertained as follows:
1o A known weight of stipitata extract was dissolved in 5 mL of ethanol with an internal standard of tridecane at a concentration of 2mg/mL.
This solution was analysed by gas chromatography and the polygodial was assessed by area ratio to the tridecane and assumption that the response factor between the two compounds equals 1. The average percent of 15 polygodial stated above is the average percent of volatiles in the extract.
2. D-C-Tron Plus, spray oil, supplied by Ampol, active ingredient 839glL
petroleum oil (referred to in the tables as "Petroleum Oil 2").
3. Fasta~ oil, supplied by Cobbett Pty Ltd, 704 g/L vegetable oil, primarily canola oil (hereinafter referred to as "canola oil").
20 4. White oil spray, supplied by Yates, active ingredient 820g/L petroleum oil (hereinafter referred to as "white oil" and in the tables as "Petroleum Oil 1") .
Process Stipitata extract lIl aIIlOUIItS S110WI1 lIl COIuIIlIl A of the table below was 25 combined with oils B, C or D respectively in amounts as shown below.
A B C D

MixturesWeight Weight of Weight of Weight of of D- Canola Oil white oil Stipitata C-Tron Plus~) (g) extract ) ) 1 1.25 10 10 10 2 0.625 10 10 10 3 0.3125 10 10 10 4 1.25 5 5 5 Each of these blends was diluted with distilled water in a 100m1 volumetric flask to prepare the following mixtures: Stipitata extract(ml) and oil(n~l) (1.25 and 10), (0.625 and 10), (0.3125 and 10) and (1.25 and 5) per 100m1 dilution.
From these homogenised stock solutions, further serial dilutions to (0.125 and 1), (0.0625 and 1), (0.03125 and 1), (0.125 and 0.5), (0.0625 and 0.5) and (0.03125 and 0.5) per cent were prepared by mixing the required amount of the stock solution in distilled water.
For Stipitata extract alone, one gram was dissolved in 20IIll of absolute ethanol and distilled water was added to prepare a 1% stock solution. A drop weighing 40n ig Triton X-100~ surfactant supplied by Union Carbide Chemicals and Plastic Co, was added to the stock solution. Further serial diludons of 0.01, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06 and 0.08% were prepared by 1I11x1I1g the required amount of stock solution with distilled water.
For each oil alone a 10% w/v emulsion in distilled water and further dilutions of 2.0, 1.8, 1.6, 1.4, 1.2 1,0, 0.50 and 0.25% were prepared by adding to the required amount of distilled water.
Adult female two-spotted mite (Tetrcmychus urticae) were collected.
Tests were conducted on 80 females for each treatment. distributed on four French bean leaf discs 25mm diameter, contained in 90mm diameter Petrie dishes. Each treatment was repeated twice.
The leaf discs were placed on moist cotton wool covered with muslin netting.
Water was added to the dish daily to prevent the desiccation of the leaf discs.
The dose of product for testing was applied by means of a Potter Precision Spray Tower and a 5m1 aliquot was used for each Petrie dish.
The mortality (nuanber killed) was assessed 24, 48 and 72 hours after treatment. Death was recognised by the absence of movement when the test mites were mechanically stimulated.
Probit analysis based on the concentration of Stipitata extract in the nuxtures was carried out to interpret the dose mortality relationship.

Results Results are summarised in the tables below.
Product Spray Time LDos and oil concin 95% Confidence r~O Hours Limits Lower Median Hi her Stipitata 24 0.13 0.19 0.3 48 0.06 0.12 a 0.77 Petroleum 24 1.75 2.72 (c) 67.06 Oil Petroleum 24 2.50 3.04 4.23 Oil Canola 24 3.85 4.60 5.61 48 3.41 3.71 4.47 Petroleum 0.5 24 0.196 Oil + Stipitata 1.0 24 0.07 0.5 d 48 0.006 0.048 b 0.0$5 1.0 48 0.03 0.04 0.06 0.5 72 0.063 1.0 72 0.03 Canola oil 0.5 24 0.12 +

Stipitata 1.0 24 0.037 0.068 0.325 0.5 48 0.11 1.0 48 0.08 a 0.5 72 0.069 1.0 72 0.049 Product Spray Time LDSO and in oil concHours 95% Confidence Limits Lower Medium Hi her Stipitata 24 0.03 0.03 0.04 48 0.02 0.03 t 0.03 Petroleum 24 0.44 1.23 (w) 12.85 Oil Petroleum 24 1.23 1.54 1.88 Oil Canola 24 1.81 2.02 2.34 48 1.54 1.69 x) 1.88 Petroleum 0.5 24 0.023 Oil + Stipitata 1.0 24 0.02 0.5 (v) 48 0.001 0.006 0.011 (u) 1.0 48 0.002 0.01 0.017 0.5 72 0.016 1.0 72 0.01 Canola 0.5 24 0.03 + Stipitata 1.0 24 0.01 0.5 48 0.02 1.0 (z) 48 0.017 (y) 0.5 72 0.018 1.0 72 0.017 wo omss34 rcriwuooioiois Combined with all the oils outlined above, S'pitata extract was more efficacious (ie. caused higher mortality) than when used alone. In addition, for oils to which Stipitata extract had been added, efficacy was significantly enhanced. For oils used alone, mortality was lowest of all treatments.
The results above demonstrate synergistic insecticidal effect against Two-spotted nxite by Tasmcumia stipitata extract mixed with different types of oils. The LDos of Stipitata extract alone is improved from 0.12% (a) to 0.048% (b) when blended with 0.5% petroleum oil. Simultaneously the LDflS
of petroleum x oil is improved from 2.7296 (c) to 0.5% (d) with the addition of Stipitata extract.
The LDos of Stipitata extract alone is improved from 0.12% (a) to 0.08%
(e) when blended with 1% canola oil (f). Simultaneously the LDo;, of canola oil is improved from 3.71% (g) to 1% (f) with the addition of Stipitata extract.
The LDso of Stipitata extract alone is improved from 0.03% (t) to 0.006% (u) when blended with 0.5% petroleum oil (v). The LDSO of petroleum oil is simultaneously improved from 1.23% (w) to 0.5% (v) with the addition of Stipitata extract. The LDSO of Stipitata extract is improved from 0.03% (t) to 0.017% (y) when blended with 1°Yo canola oil (z). The LDSo of canola oil is simultaneously improved from 1.69% (x) to 1% (z) with the addition of Stipitata extract Synergistic activity as an insecticide against a broad range of insects is expected including thrips, aphids, scales, mites, caterpillars, lice and flies.
Industrial Applicability Combining Tasmania stipitata extract with insecticidally effective oils including petroleum oil, vegetable oil, and fish oil gives a highly effective insecticidal COIIxpOSltloll. The proportion of active ingredients in the composition required for effective control of the insect pest Call be substantially reduced compared to the proportion required for each ingredient when used alone. Phytotoxicity of the composition is significantly 3o reduced by reduced actives levels, as is the cost of manufacturing the composition. It is expected that the insecticidal composition will be effective against a broad range of insects.

WO 01/15534 PCT/AU00/0101$

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims (21)

CLAIMS:

1. An insecticidal or insect repellant composition including Tasmannia stipitata extract and an insecticidally effective oil selected from the group consisting of at least one petroleum oil, at least one vegetable oil, at least one fish oil and mixtures thereof.

2. An insecticidal or insect repellant composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the Tasmannia stipitata extract is included in the composition in an amount of from about 0.01% to about 1.25% w/v, preferably 0.02% to 1.0%
w/v, most preferably 0.03% to 0.125% w/v.

3. An insecticidal or insect repellant composition as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the insecticidally effective oil is included in the composition in an amount of from about 0.25% to about 1.5% w/v, preferably 0.5% to 1.0% w/v.

4. An insecticidal or insect repellant composition as claimed in any one of claim 1 to 3 wherein the insecticidally effective oil is petroleum oil.

5. An insecticidal or insect repellant composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the insecticidally effective oil is vegetable oil.

6. An insecticidal or insect repellant composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the composition is an emulsion with water.

7. A method of controlling or killing insects comprising exposing an insect population to a composition including Tasmannia stipitata extract and an insecticidally effective oil selected from the group consisting of at least one petroleum oil, at least one vegetable oil, at least one fish oil and mixtures thereof.

8. A method as in claim 7 wherein the composition is applied to the insect population by spraying.

9. A method as in claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the insect population is resident on a plant or an animal.

10. A method as in claim 9 wherein the insect population is resident on a plant.

11. A method as in claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10 wherein Tasmannia stipitata extract is included in the composition in an amount of from about 0.01% to about 1.25% w/v, preferably 0.02% to 1.0% w/v, most preferably 0.03% to 0.125% w/v.

12. A method as claimed in any one of claim 7 to 11 wherein the insecticidally effective oil is included in the composition in an amount of from about 0.25% to about 1.5% w/v, preferably 0.5% to 1.0% w/v.

13. A method as claimed in any one of claim 7 to 12 wherein the insecticidally effective oil is petroleum oil.

14. A method as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 12 wherein the insecticidally effective oil is vegetable oil.

15. A method as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 14 wherein the composition is an emulsion with water.

16. Use of Tasmannia stipitata extract to enhance the insecticidal activity of an oil selected from the group consisting of at least one petroleum oil, at least one vegetable oil, at least one fish oil and mixtures thereof.

17. The use of claim 16 wherein Tasmannia stipitata extract is included in the composition in an amount of from about 0.01% to about 1.25% w/v, preferably 0.02% to 1.0% w/v, most preferably 0.03% to 0.125% w/v.

18. The use of claim 16 or claim 17 wherein the insecticidally effective oil is included in the composition in an amount of from about 0.25% to about 1.5% w/v, preferably 0.5% to 1.0% w/v.

19. The use as claimed in any one of claim 16 to 18 wherein the insecticidally effective oil is petroleum oil.

20. The use as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 18 wherein the insecticidally effective ail is vegetable oil.

21. The use as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 20 wherein the composition is an emulsion with water.