Edinilza Maria A. Feitosa, Angela Martha C. Arriaga,* Telma Leda G. Lemos, Jefferson Q. Lima, Jackson Nunes e Vasconcelos and Maria Conceição F. Oliveira, Gilvandete Maria P. Santiago, Ronaldo F. Nascimento

Abstract: The leaves of Zanthoxylum articulatum Engler (Rutaceae), collected in Jacobina-Bahia, Northwest of Brazil, was subjected to hydrodistillation and its essential oil was characterized by GC/MS. Twelve compounds were identified representing 90.4% of the oil. Oxygenated sesquiterpenes (65.4%) were the major constituents with viridiflorol (35.4%), spathulenol (9.9%), elemol (9.7%) and globulol (6.5%) being the main compounds. The oil was examined with respect to its larvicidal properties against the larvae of a mosquito (Aedes aegypti) and showed LC50 77.62 ± 0.64 ppm.

Plants of the generic taxon <i>Zanthoxylum</i> are used in traditional medicine against dyspepsia, diarrhea, rheumatism, urinary diseases, bronchitis, asthma and toothache (1,2). In fact, biological studies relate that some species have been described to possess anti HBV, antimicrobial, amoebicidal, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and gastrointestinal tract activities (3–8). The chemical composition of essential oils from several <i>Zanthoxylum</i> species was investigated (9–21) and the insecticidal activity against Dacus dorsalis (9) was also reported for Hawaiian <i>Zanthoxylum (Zanthoxylum kaurense</i> A. Gray, <i>Z. dipetalum</i> H. Mann and <i>Z. hawaiiense</i> Hillebr), but as far as we know, there are no reports about the oil composition and larvicidal activity from <i>Z. articulatum</i> Engler. As a part of our systematic research program to find biologically active essential oils from Brazilian northwest plants, we report in this study the chemical composition and larvicidal activity of the oil from <i>Z. articulatum</i> against <i>Aedes aegypti</i>, the vector of transmission of dengue. Considered a problem in public health, dengue causes serious damage in Brazil (22) and natural insecticide such as essential oils, can be an alternative for the control of problem.