Effect of cinnamon oil encapsulated with silica nanoparticles on some biological and biochemical aspects of the rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica (Staint.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Abstract

Bioassays were carried out to evaluate the effect of sub-lethal concentration (LC50) of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), cinnamon oil encapsulated with silica nanoparticles (CESN), cinnamon oil and silica gel on some biological parameters of the 6th instar larvae of Corcyra cephalonica. Pupation percentage, pupal duration, percent of adult emergence and adult longevity decreased in all treatments compared with the control. Pupation percentage recorded 47.5, 45.0 and 37.5% after treatment with silica gel, both of MSNs and CESN and cinnamon oil, respectively, compared to 90% in control. CESN and cinnamon oil prevent all pupae from emergence, while the longevity of adult females and males of larvae treated with MSNs and silica gel decreased as compared to control. Furthermore, the protein profile of the treated larvae was evaluated to explain the mode of action of the tested compounds. The total protein contents were 28.88, 28.65, 28.2 and 30.23 mg/ml after treatment with MSNs, CECN, cinnamon oil and silica gel, respectively, compared to 32.56 mg/ml in the untreated control. Electrophoretic analysis of total proteins evaluated inhibitory action of the used compounds on the protein contents, as the appearance as well as the loss of certain protein fractions.