Chemical Constituent and Insecticidal Activity of Essential Oil from Dried Unripe Citrus Reticulata
Student: Oluwadamilola Temitope Saka (Project, 2025)
Department of Chemistry
University of Ilorin, Kwara State
Abstract
Pulverized dried peels of Citrus reticulata (500g) were subjected to hydrodistillation for
four hours using a Clevenger-type apparatus. The resulting essential oil was analyzed
using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), and its insecticidal properties
were evaluated through a contact toxicity bioassay against adult bean weevils
(Callosobruchus maculatus). The distillation process yielded 1.272% (w/w) of essential
oil. GC-MS analysis revealed that monoterpenoids constituted the major portion of the
oil, making up 99.6% of its composition. The dominant compounds identified D-
limonene (93.3%) and sabinene (2.1%). The oil demonstrated significant insecticidal
activity, causing mortality in the exposed insects. These findings suggest that the oil may
serve as a potential natural alternative to synthetic insecticides for controlling storage
pests.
Keywords
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- Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State 1
- Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State 1
- Lens Polytechnic, offa, Kwara State. 214
- Madonna University, Elele, Rivers State 20
- Madonna University, Okija, Anambra State 2
- Mcpherson University, Seriki Sotayo, Ogun State 1
- Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, Owhrode, Delta State 1
- Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike 43
- Michael Otedola Col of Primary Educ. Epe, Lagos (affl To University of Ibadan) 8
- Modibbo Adama University, Yola, Adamawa State 15