Plants With Insecticide Potential: Focus On Amazon Species

A vast potential for the production of secondary metabolites and insecticide potential has been studied within a wide diversity of Brazilian flora. Thus, this study aimed to present information on the potential of plants to control insects through a literature review. The first botanical insecticides used were nicotine, pyrethrin, rotenone, ryanodine, and sabadilla. Since then, various compounds and species have been studied, such as azadirachtin extracted from neem, alkaloids from Annonaceae, rotenone in Derris urucu, and amides from Piperaceae, among other records of Amazonian species. Therefore, Amazonian species make up a rich source of research, and many of the specimens studied were promising for the development of insecticides. However new research, especially in the field, should be carried out to prospect for new species, seeking selective compounds with consequently less environmental contamination for both direct use and the development of new commercial insecticides.