Extratos e óleos essenciais de espécies das famílias Rutaceae e Fabaceae: uma revisão sobre defensivos naturais

Abstract

The use of natural pesticides has emerged as a sustainable alternative to synthetic agrochemicals, whose intensive application has caused environmental impacts, risks to human health, and ecological imbalance. This study aims to carry out a bibliographic review on the insecticidal potential of plant extracts and essential oils from species belonging to the Rutaceae and Fabaceae families, emphasizing their secondary metabolites, mechanisms of action, and contributions to the sustainable management of agricultural pests. The research is characterized as a qualitative bibliographic review based on the analysis of scientific publications published between 2015 and 2025, selected from the Google Scholar, Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), and CAPES Periodicals databases. A total of 30 scientific studies were analyzed according to previously established inclusion criteria. The results showed that extracts from Fabaceae species, rich in secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, and rotenoids, exhibit significant insecticidal activity, including larvicidal, ovicidal, and antifeedant effects, proving effective against several groups of insect pests, especially coleopterans and dipterans. In contrast, essential oils from Rutaceae species, characterized by high concentrations of monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and limonoids, demonstrated repellent, neurotoxic, and deterrent actions, combined with rapid volatilization and low environmental persistence. It is concluded that plant extracts and essential oils from the Rutaceae and Fabaceae families represent promising alternatives for the development of environmentally safe, economically viable natural pesticides compatible with sustainable agricultural practices, contributing to the reduction of synthetic pesticide use and to the promotion of more balanced production systems.