Nanopesticide based on botanical insecticide pyrethrum and its potential effects on honeybees

Abstract

Nanotechnology has the potential to overcome the challenges of sustainable agriculture, and nano-pesticides can control agricultural pests and increase farm productivity with little environmental impact. However, it is important to evaluate their toxicity on non-target organisms, such as honeybees (Apismellifera) that forage on crops. The aims of this study were to develop a nanopesticide that was based onsolid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) loaded with pyrethrum extract (PYR) and evaluate its physicochemicalproperties and short-term toxicity on a non-target organism (honeybee). SLNþPYR was physico-chemically stable after 120 days. SLNþPYR had afinal diameter of 260.8±3.7 nm and a polydispersionindex of 0.15±0.02 nm, in comparison with SLN alone that had a diameter of 406.7±6.7 nm and apolydispersion index of 0.39±0.12 nm. SLNþPYR had an encapsulation efficiency of 99%. The survivalanalysis of honeybees indicated that PYR10ng presented shorter longevity than those in the control group(P 0.01). Empty nanoparticles and PYR10ng caused morphological alterations in the bees’midguts, whereas pyrethrum-loaded nanoparticles had no significant effect on digestive cells, so are consideredsafer, at least in the short term, for honeybees. These results are important in understanding the effects ofnanopesticides on beneficial insects and may decrease the environmental impacts of pesticides