Essential oil of Piper aduncum L.: toxicity and synergism as strategies to control Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky, 1855 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): a review

Abstract

The essential oil of Piper aduncum (EOPA) has been studied as an alternative to control the weevil (Sitophilus zeamais), a pest that damages stored grains such as corn. In this review, the Google Scholar database was used as a source of information. The review was based on scientific articles, reviews and books on the subject, with the following descriptors: "Maize weevil", "Piper aduncum", "Essential oils", "Synergism" and "Stored products". The search was limited to the period from 2003 to 2023. Articles outside the defined period were excluded, in addition to monographs, dissertations, theses, abstracts and conference proceedings. The results were presented based on counting the number of databases and accesses to selected journals. The review includes a detailed analysis of studies that investigate the effectiveness of P. aduncum essential oil in controlling the weevil S. zeamais, as well as the use of synergism through the combination of this essential oil with other compounds to enhance its effects. There is evidence that the potential to enhance the action of EOPA through synergism with other compounds. These findings provide a knowledge base for developing more effective and sustainable control strategies against S. zeamais and other stored grain pests.