The Nanoemulsions of essential oils: a green alternative for the control of agricultural pests and transmitters of tropical diseases

Abstract

Insects, spiders and mollusks are important in the ecosystem, but they also represent risks to health and agriculture. In tropical countries, they transmit serious diseases such as malaria and dengue, as well as causing damage to many economically important crops such as potatoes and tomatoes. In this context, pest control with synthetic pesticides, the most widely used method, causes environmental problems and resistance in pests, so natural alternatives are sought, such as the use of essential oils (EOs), known for their insecticidal properties. Due to their chemical and physicochemical characteristics, these oils have solubility and stability problems in aqueous media, therefore the formulation as a nanoemulsion is a viable alternative for their uses. Nanoemulsions (NEs) are dispersions between immiscible liquids, with nanometric-sized droplets, which improves the stability, penetration and effectiveness of the active compounds. Studies show that NEs from EOs of eucalyptus, basil and other plants are effective against disease-transmitting mosquitoes, such as Aedes aegypti, and agricultural pests. Therefore, NEs from essential oils are presented as an effective and ecological alternative in the control of agricultural and sanitary pests, and their implementation is recommended in agriculture and urban environments.