Chemical composition and acaricidal activity of the essential oils of Piper marginatum and Piper callosum collected in the Amazon region

The objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical profile and acaricidal activity against the mite Suidasia pontifica of the essential oils from leaves of Piper marginatum Jacq and aerial parts (branches, leaves, and inflorescences) of Piper callosum Ruiz & Pav. From the aerial parts (branches, leaves and inflorescences) of P. callosum, three different essential oils were extracted with variations in the contents of their chemical constituents. The major compounds in the essential oil of P. marginatum were delta-3-carene and (E)-beta-ocimene, while safrole was the predominant compound in the essential oils of P. callosum. Concentrations of 4 mu L/L of the essential oil of P. marginatum and 2 mu L/L of the essential oil of P. callosum killed all the mites tested after 72 h of exposure. The 50% lethal concentration ranged from 1.19 to 2.16 mu l/L air for P. marginatum and from 1.22 to 3.44 mu l/L air for P. callosum.