Scientific Reports· 2026Q1
Ethnobotanical and phytochemical insights into native and naturalized plants for cashew pest control in Guinea-Bissau
- 0citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Essential oils from five native/naturalized plants in Guinea-Bissau (Ageratum conyzoides, Azadirachta indica, Chromolaena odorata, Cymbopogon giganteus, Mesosphaerum suaveolens) show potential for cashew pest control, with Chromolaena odorata and Cymbopogon giganteus yielding the most oil.
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Key points
- Five plant species native/naturalized to Guinea-Bissau were assessed for cashew pest control potential.
- Chromolaena odorata and Cymbopogon giganteus produced the highest essential oil yields.
- Essential oils were rich in insecticidal compounds such as precocene I, limonene, and β-caryophyllene.
- Ethnobotanical data confirmed traditional uses of these plants for medicinal and pest-related applications, particularly in West Africa.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Abstract Essential oils are increasingly recognized as ecofriendly alternatives to synthetic pesticides, especially in tropical regions with high pest pressure and limited crop protection resources. This study evaluates native and naturalized plants in Guinea-Bissau— Ageratum conyzoides , Azadirachta indica , Chromolaena odorata , Cymbopogon giganteus , and Mesosphaerum suaveolens —for sustainable pest management, combining ethnobotanical documentation, essential oils characterization, and existing bioactivity data focused on cashew pests. An African-wide ethnobotanical assessment using Plant Resources of Tropical Africa (PROTA) and Scopus databases revealed that these species were predominantly used for medicinal and pest-related applications, most frequently reported in West Africa. Essential oils were extracted from leaves by hydrodistillation and chemically characterized using gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization detection and mass spectrometry. Essential oils yields varied among species; C. odorata and C. giganteus yielded the highest. Chemical profiling revealed species-specific compositions dominated by chromenes, monoterpene hydrocarbons, and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons. Major constituents included precocene I, limonene, sabinene, β-caryophyllene, and 1,8-cineole, compounds widely reported for their insecticidal, repellent, and antifeedant properties, indicating their potential for sustainable management of cashew pests in West Africa. By combining ethnobotanical knowledge with phytochemical characterization, this study highlights the untapped potential of locally available plant-derived essential oils, rooted in traditional practices, as potentially valuable resources for sustainable agriculture.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Scientific Reports, 2026 · DOI ↗
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