Emulsion from the oil of the seed of Euterpe oleracea (açaí): study of activity and safety against Aedes aegypti

Abstract

Euterpe oleracea is an oleaginous plant found in the Amazon, the oil from this seed is a promising raw material for various industries. Zika, Chikungunya and Dengue, whose vetora is the Aedes aegypti, are public health problems and their main form of control is the use of insecticides. The objetive was to carry out the physical-chemical characterization of the oil from the assai seed and to evaluate its activity in the face of the Aedes aegypti. Physico-chemical characterization, FTIR, thermal analysis and determination of fatty acids by CG of oil, larvicide activity and emulsion pupicide containing oil from the seed of E. oleracea front Aedes aegypti and acute toxicity of emulsion were performed. The physical and chemical parameters are within the expected range in the literature.  The oil was thermally stable up to 304.48 °C, with a melting peak of 25.22 °C. The fatty acid profile averaged 72% unsaturated fatty acids. Infrared spectroscopy showed strains referring to the general structure of the triglyceride. Aedes aegypti larvicide and pupicidal activity were observed and was not considered toxic to mammals after the acute toxicity test.