Bioactives from Cerrado plant species for the sustainable control of veterinary dipterans
A focused synthesis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33837/msj.v9i2.1802Keywords:
Cerrado, bioactive compounds, bioinputs, veterinary dipterans, sustainable pest managementAbstract
The widespread use of synthetic insecticides in livestock production has raised concerns about parasite resistance, environmental contamination, and risks to animal and human health. In this context, plant-derived bioactives represent promising alternatives and potential bioinputs for the sustainable control of veterinary dipterans. This study presents a focused synthesis of scientific literature addressing the potential of bioactive compounds from plant species native to the Brazilian Cerrado, with emphasis on both their insecticidal potential and the main limitations and research gaps reported in the literature. Selected studies reporting insecticidal or repellent effects against dipterans of veterinary importance were analyzed to identify major classes of compounds, potential mechanisms of action, and methodological limitations. Among the species identified in the reviewed studies, Enterolobium contortisiliquum emerged as a promising Cerrado species with relevant bioactive potential. The available evidence indicates that compounds such as saponins, tannins, phenolics, and terpenoids may contribute to repellency, larvicidal activity, and interference with insect physiological processes. However, methodological heterogeneity, limited toxicological evaluation, and scarce field validation remain important challenges.
References
Alikhan, M., Al Ghamdi, K., Mahyoub, J. A., & Alanazi, N. (2018). Public health and veterinary important flies (order: Diptera) prevalent in Jeddah Saudi Arabia with their dominant characteristics and identification key. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 25(8), 1648–1663. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.sjbs.2016.08.014
Almeida, S. S. M. S. (Ed.). (2024). Metabólitos secundários: uma análise qualitativa de espécies vegetais. Editora da UNIFAP. ISBN 978-65-89517-74-0
Araújo, A. P., & Paiva Sobrinho, S. (2011). Germinação e produção de mudas de tamboril (Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong) em diferentes substratos. Revista Árvore, 35, 581–588. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-67622011000400001
Ayres, V. F. S., Oliveira, M. R., Baldin, E. L. L., Corrêa, G. M., Guimarães, A. C., & Takeara, R. (2021). Chemical composition and insecticidal activity of the essential oils of Piper marginatum, Piper callosum and Vitex agnus-castus. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências, 93(3), e20200616. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765202120200616
Baldacchino, F., Tramut, C., Salem, A., Lienard, E., Deletre, E. M., Franc, M., Martin, T., Duvallet, G., & Jay-Robert, P. (2013). The repellency of lemongrass oil against stable flies, tested using video tracking. Parasite, 20(1), 21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/parasite/2013021
Barathi, S., Sabapathi, N., Kandasamy, S., & Lee, J. (2024). Present status of insecticide impacts and eco-friendly approaches for remediation: A review. Environmental Research, 240(1), 117432. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2023.117432
Barretto, S. S. B., & Ferreira, R. A. (2011). Aspectos morfológicos de frutos, sementes, plântulas e mudas de Leguminosae Mimosoideae: Anadenanthera colubrina (Vellozo) Brenan e Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vellozo) Morong. Revista Brasileira de Sementes, 33(2). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/ S0101-31222011000200004
Barros, F. B., Azevedo, F. R., Cândido, E. L., Alencar, C. H., Júnior, F. N. P., & Rodrigues, A. R. S. (2023). Phytochemical prospection, hemagglutinating and insecticidal activity of saline extracts from the seeds of tamboril (Enterolobium contortisiliquum Vell. Morong, Fabaceae) on Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae). Brazilian Journal of Biology, 83, e274635. DOI: https://doi.org/ 10.1590/1519-6984.274635
Barroso, G. M., Santos, E. A., Pires, F. R., Galon, L., Cabral, C. M., & Santos, J. B. (2023). Phytoremediation: A green and low-cost technology to remediate herbicides in the environment. Chemosphere, 334, 138943. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.chemosphere.2023.138943
Benini, E. B., Sartori, M. A. B., Busch, G. C., Rempel, C., Schultz, G., & Strohschoen, A. A. G. (2010). Valorização da flora nativa quanto ao potencial fitoterápico. Revista Destaques Acadêmicos, 2(3). URL: https://www.univates.br/revistas/index.php/destaques /article/view/73
Bezerra, J. J. L., Pinheiro, A. A. V., & Lucena, R. B. (2021). Phytochemistry and poisoning in ruminants by Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong (Fabaceae): A systematic review. Toxicon, 201, 46–53. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.toxicon.2021.08.008
Borges, L. P., & Amorim, V. A. (2020). Metabólitos secundários de plantas. Revista Agrotecnologia, 11(1), 54–67.
Braga, A. G. S., Barbieri, F. S., Brito, L. G., Celestino, C. O., Costa, T. S., & Facundo, V. A. (2017). Atividade pesticida de extratos de Piper tuberculatum Jacq sobre Haematobia irritans L. Biota Amazônia, 7(1), 54–57. DOI: http://www.alice.cnptia.embrapa. br/alice/handle/doc/1076357
Brewer, G. J., Boxler, D. J., Domingues, L. N., Fryxell, R. T. T., Holderman, C., Loftin, K. M., Machtinger, E., Smythe, B., Talley, J. L., & Watson, W. (2021). Horn fly (Diptera: Muscidae)—Biology, management, and future research directions. Journal of Integrated Pest Management, 12(1), 42. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jipm/pmab019
Brito, L. G., Moya Borja, G. E., Oliveira, M. C. S., & Silva Netto, F. G. (2005). Mosca-dos-chifres: Aspectos bio-ecológicos, importância econômica, interações parasito-hospedeiro e controle. (Comunicado Técnico, 302). Embrapa Rondônia.
Cardoso, I. B., Beirão, M. V., Cuevas-Reyes, P., Maldonado-López, Y., Aguilar-Peralta, J. S., & Moreira, P. de A. (2021). Effects of landscape disturbance on seed germination of Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Fabaceae) in Brazilian seasonally tropical dry forest: Are seeds a sensitive biomarker of environmental stress? Ecological Indicators, 125, 107451. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.107451
Carvalho, T. B., & Zen, S. (2017). A cadeia de pecuária de corte no Brasil: Evolução e tendências. Revista iPecege, 3(1), 85–99. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22167/r.ipecege.2017.1.85
Castro, K. N. C., Ishikawa, M. M., Catto, J. B., Pereira, Z. V., Cardoso, C. A. L., & Magalhães, J. A. (2010). Prospecção de plantas medicinais para controle do carrapato dos bovinos (Boletim de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento, 95). Embrapa Meio-Norte.
Castro, K. N. de C., Costa-Júnior, L. M., Canuto, K. M., Andrade, I. M. de, Minho, A. P., & Souza, F. de A. L. (2023). In vitro efficacy of essential oils against Haematobia irritans. Medicina Veterinária, 16(4), 257–263. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26605/medvet-v16n4-5357
Corrêa, J. C. R., & Salgado, H. R. N. (2011). Atividade inseticida das plantas e aplicações: Revisão. Revista Brasileira de Plantas Medicinais, 13(4), 1–9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-05722011000400016
Cruzeiro, R. R. P., Davies, N. W., Obara, M. T., Silveira, D., Gomes-Copeland, K. K. P., Nizio, D. A. C., & Fagg, C. W. (2024). Activity of essential oils from Brazilian Cerrado against Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) larvae. South African Journal of Botany, 172, 619–626. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016 /j.sajb.2024.07.050
Deleito, C. S. R., & Borja, G. E. M. (2008). Nim (Azadirachta indica): Uma alternativa no controle de moscas na pecuária. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira, 28(6), 293–298. DOI: https://doi.org/ 10.1590/S0100-736X2008000600006
Ellwanger, J. H., Nobre, C. A., & Chies, J. A. B. (2023). Brazilian biodiversity as a source of power and sustainable development: A neglected opportunity. Sustainability, 15(1), 482. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010482
Freitas, L. C., Santos, R. W. S., Reis, F. R., Haminiuk, C. W. I., Corazza, M. L., & Masson, M. L. (2024). Green extraction technologies: A path to the Amazon bioeconomy development. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 147, 104462. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2024.104462
Gadelha, I. C. N., Câmara, A. C. L., Silva, I. P., Batista, J. S., Melo, M. M., & Blanco, B. S. (2015). Toxic effects of the pericarp of the Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong fruit on chicks. International Journal of Applied Research in Veterinary Medicine, 13, 135–140.
Grisi, L., Leite, C. R., Martins, S. R. J., Barros, M. T. A., Andreotti, R., Cançado, P. H. D., León, A. P. A., Pereira, B. J., & Villela, H. S. (2014). Reassessment of the potential economic impact of cattle parasites in Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária, 23(2), 150–156. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1984-29612014042
Hussain, M., Debnath, B., Qasim, M., Bamisile, B. S., Islam, W., Hameed, M. S., Wang, L., & Qiu, D. (2019). Role of saponins in plant defense against specialist herbivores. Molecules, 24(11), 2067. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24112067
Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio). (2024). Projeto Genômica da Biodiversidade Brasileira coloca Brasil no protagonismo da pesquisa científica para conservação de espécies. Governo Federal do Brasil. Retrieved June 17, 2025, from URL: https://www.gov.br/icmbio/pt-br/assuntos/noticias/ ultimas-noticias/projeto-genomica-da-biodiversidade-brasileira-coloca-brasil-no-protagonismo-da-pesquisa-cientifica-para-conservacao-de-especies
Jorge, M. A., Rosa, C., & Santos, G. (2016). Impacto econômico da mosca-dos-chifres em bovinos de corte. Revista iPecege, 2(3), 27–39. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22167/r.ipecege.2016.3.27
Junquera, P., Hosking, B., Gameiro, M., & Macdonald, A. (2019). Benzoylphenyl ureas as veterinary antiparasitics: An overview and outlook with emphasis on efficacy, usage and resistance. Parasite, 26, 26. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/parasite/2019026
Khan, H. A. A., Akram, W., Shad, S. A., & Lee, J. J. (2013). Insecticide mixtures could enhance the toxicity of insecticides in a resistant dairy population of Musca domestica L. PLoS One, 8(4), e60929. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0060929
Lima, B. C. (2025). Análise do conhecimento etnobotânico e do uso de plantas medicinais por comunidades quilombolas. Revista FT, 29(142).
Lima, R. S., Oliveira, P. L., & Rodrigues, L. R. (2009). Anatomia do lenho de Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong (Leguminosae-Mimosoideae) ocorrente em dois ambientes. Revista Brasileira de Botânica, 32(2), 361–374. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-84042009000200014
Lopes, J. W. B., Lopes, W. C., & Bleicher, E. (2013). Uso de extratos da semente e da folha da mamona no controle do pulgão-preto do feijão-caupi. Revista de Ciências Agroambientais, 11(2), 137–142.
López-Cabeza, R., Rodríguez-Sabina, S., Reyes, C. P., Expósito, D. G., Giménez, C., Jiménez, I. A., Cabrera, R., & Bazzocchi, I. L. (2024). Bio-guided isolation of aromatic abietane diterpenoids from Salvia canariensis as biopesticides in the control of phytopathogenic fungi. Pest Management Science, 80(4), 2199–2207. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.7958
Madhav, M., Parry, R., Morgan, J. A. T., James, P., & Asgari, S. (2020). Wolbachia endosymbiont of the horn fly (Haematobia irritans irritans): A supergroup A strain with multiple horizontally acquired cytoplasmic incompatibility genes. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 86(6), e02589-19. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.02589-19
McDougall, G. J., Gordon, S., Brennan, R., & Stewart, D. (2005). Anthocyanin−flavanol condensation products from black currant (Ribes nigrum L.). Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 53(20), 7878–7885. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/ jf0512095
Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (MAPA). (2025). O Programa de Bioinsumos: conceitos. Governo Federal do Brasil. Accessed on June 2, 2025. URL: https://www.gov.br/agricultura/pt-br/assuntos/inovacao /bioinsumos/o-programa/conceitos
Niculau, E. dos S., Alves, P. B., Nogueira, P. C. L., Moraes, V. R. S., Matos, A. P., Bernardo, A. R., Volante, A. C., Fernandes, J. B., Silva, M., Correa, A., Blank, A. F., Silva, A. de C., & Ribeiro, L. (2013). Atividade inseticida de óleos essenciais de Pelargonium graveolens L'Hér. e Lippia alba (Mill.) N. E. Brown sobre Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith). Química Nova, 36(9), 1391–1394. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-40422013000900020
Ouedraogo, A. S., Zannou, O. M., Biguezoton, A. S., Patrick, K. Y., Belem, A. M. G., Farougou, S., Oosthuizen, M., Saegerman, C., Lempereur, L. (2021). Efficacy of two commercial synthetic pyrethroids (cypermethrin and deltamethrin) on Amblyomma variegatum and Rhipicephalus microplus strains of the south-western region of Burkina Faso. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 53(3), 402. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-021-02849-2
Oyarzún, M., Quiroz, A., & Birkett, M. (2008). Insecticide resistance in the horn fly: Alternative control strategies. Medical and Veterinary Entomology, 22, 188–202. DOI: https://doi.org/ 10.1111/j.1365-2915.2008.00733.x
Pereira, M. de A., Bungenstab, D. J., Euclides, V. P. B., Malafaia, G. C., Biscola, P. H. N., Menezes, G. R. O., Abreu, U. G. P. de, Laura, V. A., Nogueira, É., Mauro, R. de A., Silva, M. P. da, Nicacio, A. C., Almeida, R. G. de, Gomes, R. da C., Silva, J. C. B., & Souza, V. F. de. (2024). From traditionally extensive to sustainably intensive: A review on the path to a sustainable and inclusive beef farming in Brazil. Animals (Basel), 14(16), 2340. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14162340
Pu, J., & Chung, H. (2024). New and emerging mechanisms of insecticide resistance. Current Opinion in Insect Science, 63, 101184. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cois.2024.101184
Rani, P. U., & Murthy, J. M. M. (2008). Botanical treatment for grain protection and their effects on seed germination and seedling performance of stored maize. Journal of Biopesticides, 1(1), 74–80. DOI: https://doi.org/10.57182/jbiopestic.1.1.74-80
Rohde, C., Moino Júnior, A., Silva, P. K., & Ramalho, K. R. (2013). Efeito de extratos vegetais aquosos sobre a mosca-das-frutas Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae). Arquivos do Instituto Biológico, 80(4). DOI: https://doi.org/ 10.1590/S1808-16572013000400006
Sant’Ana, V. Z., Freitas, M. L. M., Moraes, M. L. T., Zanata, M., Zanatto, A. C. S., Moraes, M. A., & Sebbenn, A. M. (2013). Parâmetros genéticos em progênies de polinização aberta de Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong em Luiz Antônio, SP, Brasil. Hoehnea, 40(3), 516. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/ S2236-89062013000300011
Schaller, A. (2008). Induced plant resistance to herbivory. In M. A. Bernards & L. Bastrup-Spohr (Eds.), Phenylpropanoid metabolism induced by wounding and insect herbivory (pp. 189–208). Springer.
Scopel, W., Scopel, E. L., Botteon, V. W., & Roza-Gomes, M. F. (2018). Bioatividade de macerados de Anthemis sp., Coriandrum sativum e Piper nigrum contra Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Evidência, 18(1), 95–109. DOI: https://doi.org/ 10.18593/eba.v18i1.16872
Sharma, K., Kaur, R., Kumar, S., Saini, R. K., Sharma, S., Pawde, S. V., & Kumar, V. (2023). Saponins: A concise review on food related aspects, applications and health implications. Food Chemistry Advances, 2, 100151. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.focha .2023.100191
Showler, A. T. (2017). Botanically based repellent and insecticidal effects against horn flies and stable flies (Diptera: Muscidae). Journal of Integrated Pest Management, 8(1). DOI: https://doi.org /10.1093/jipm/pmx010
Silva, H. D. da, Souza, M. D. da C., Giustolin, T. A., Alvarenga, C. D., Fonseca, E. D., & Damasceno, A. S. (2015). Bioatividade dos extratos aquosos de plantas às larvas da mosca-das-frutas, Ceratitis capitata (Wied.). Arquivos do Instituto Biológico, 82. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1808-1657000132013
Souza, F. P. de, Castilho, T. P. R., & Macedo, L. O. B. (2022). An institutional framework for Bioinputs in Brazilian agriculture based on Ecological Economics. Sustainability in Debate, 13(1), 247. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18472/SustDeb.v13n1.2022.40820
Tirelli, A. A., Alves, D. S., Carvalho, G. A., Sâmio, R. R., Brum, S. S., & Guerreiro, M. C. (2010). Efeito de frações tânicas sobre parâmetros biológicos e nutricionais de Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Ciência e Agrotecnologia, 34(6). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1413-70542010000600009
Tokarnia, C. H., Brito, M. F., Barbosa, J. D., Peixoto, P. V., & Döbereiner, J. (2012). Plantas que afetam o funcionamento do coração. In C. H. Tokarnia, M. F. Brito, J. D. Barbosa, P. V. Peixoto, & J. Döbereiner (Eds.), Plantas tóxicas do Brasil para animais de produção (2ª ed., pp. 27–94). Helianthus.
Velasques, J., Cardoso, M. H., Abrantes, G., Frihling, B. E., Franco, O. L., & Migliolo, L. (2017). The rescue of botanical insecticides: A bioinspiration for new niches and needs. Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology, 143, 14–25. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.pestbp.2017.10.003
Vizzotto, M., Krolow, A. C., & Weber, G. E. B. (2010). Metabólitos secundários encontrados em plantas e sua importância. (Documentos, 316). Embrapa Clima Temperado.
Zaldivar, M. F., Bastianetto, E., Pereira Filho, A. A., Rodrigues, D. S., Martins Júnior, V. S., Morais-Costa, F., Vasconcelos, V. O., Duarte, E. R., & Araujo, R. N. (2024). Acaricide effect of plants from the Brazilian savanna on a population of Rhipicephalus microplus with phenotypic resistance to cypermethrin and trichlorfon. Veterinary Parasitology, 331, 110281. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2024.110281
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Pedro Antônio Fulgêncio Ferreira, Diana Cléssia Vieira Belchior, Danielle de Moura Cordeiro , Romário Victor Pacheco Antero
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish in this journal agree to the following terms:
a) The Authors retain the copyright and grant the journal the right to first publication, with the work simultaneously licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License that allows the sharing of the work with acknowledgment of authorship and initial publication in this journal.
b) Authors are authorized to assume additional contracts separately, for non-exclusive distribution of the version of the work published in this journal (eg, publishing in institutional repository or as a book chapter), with acknowledgment of authorship and initial publication in this journal.
c) Authors are allowed and encouraged to publish and distribute their work online (eg in institutional repositories or on their personal page) at any point before or during the editorial process, as this can generate productive changes, as well as increase impact and citation of the published work.
