Aniseed, Pimpinella anisum, as a source of new agrochemicals: phytochemistry and insights on insecticide and acaricide development

Apiaceae Botanical insecticide Integrated pest management Phytochemistry Ecotoxicology 1. Introduction 1.1. Distribution and agronomic practices The anise or aniseed, Pimpinella anisum L., is an aromatic plant belonging to the family Apiaceae (Umbelliferae). Locally known with several other names, such as anis vert, anisoon, sweet cumin, yansoon, roomy, or saunf [1,2], this aromatic plant is native to Southwest Asia, Greece, Egypt [3] and India [2]. Anise cultivation dates back to Roman, Greek, and Egyptian times, when the fruits were employed for medical purposes [3,4]. Nowadays, its cultivation has widely expanded due to its several applications in food, beverages, and medicinal industries. Turkey, Mexico, Egypt, Italy, Spain, Syria, France, Brazil, South Africa, Latin America, Bulgaria, and Tunisia are all important aniseed producers, while Germany and India became the main exporters of this spice [3, 5–7]. The cultivation of aniseed requires sunshine and warm climates, * Corresponding author. E-mail address: giovanni.benelli@unipi.it (G. Benelli). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrcom.2023.100003 ABSTRACT Pimpinella anisum L. (Apiaceae), known around the world as aniseed, is a widely cultivated crop, native of the sub- Mediterranean area. Its essential oil (EO) is exploitable in different fields such as food and beverages, pharma- ceutics, cosmetics, and nutraceuticals. Regardless of the geographic origin, the EO exhibited consistent trans- anethole predominancy. Among the numerous biological properties exerted by aniseed EO, its antimicrobial, antifungal, insecticidal, and acaricidal effects have been extensively investigated for the formulation of bio- pesticides against larvae and adults of various pests and vectors. Hereafter, the published data on the insecticidal and acaricidal activity of aniseed EO and its major compounds on agricultural pests, stored-product pests, and arthropods of medical and veterinary interest is reviewed. For each study, the arthropod and the developmental stage on which the aniseed EO or the aniseed EO-based formulation were tested, the mode of action, the main constituents, and the exerted mortality, as well as the toxicity to non-target organisms and the possible sub-lethal effects are reported. The advantages of the possible use of aniseed EO as a biopesticide are analysed, as well as the current weaknesses and the critical points to be overcome to open the doors to the industrial utilization of Apiaceae EOs by the agrochemical industry.