Bioinsecticidal activity of aspergillus-derived endophytes from Olea europaea against Culex pipiens: toxicity, histology, and GC-MS profiling

Abstract Endophytic fungi offer a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to synthetic insecticides, providing targeted pest control with reduced environmental toxicity and lower risk of resistance development. In this study, four endophytic fungi were isolated from Olea europaea and their ethyl ac...

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Main Authors: Amr H. Hashem, Wesam M. A. Ward, Amer M. Abdelaziz, Ahmed S. Hashem, Mohamed A. M. Shahat
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07941-3
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author Amr H. Hashem
Wesam M. A. Ward
Amer M. Abdelaziz
Ahmed S. Hashem
Mohamed A. M. Shahat
author_facet Amr H. Hashem
Wesam M. A. Ward
Amer M. Abdelaziz
Ahmed S. Hashem
Mohamed A. M. Shahat
author_sort Amr H. Hashem
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Endophytic fungi offer a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to synthetic insecticides, providing targeted pest control with reduced environmental toxicity and lower risk of resistance development. In this study, four endophytic fungi were isolated from Olea europaea and their ethyl acetate extracts’ larvicidal efficacy of Culex pipiens. Boxplot distributions revealed a positive correlation between metabolite concentration and larval mortality, with higher doses inducing greater lethality. Extracts 1 and 2 exhibited the highest larvicidal activity, with median mortality rates exceeding 60%, while Extracts 3 and 4 demonstrated significantly weaker effects. Dose-response curves further confirmed the potency of Extracts 1 and 2, with lower LC₅₀ values (148.36 and 153.36 µg/mL) compared to Extracts 3 and 4. The histological analysis revealed a dose-dependent impact, with minimal tissue alterations at 25–50 µg/mL, while 150–200 µg/mL caused severe disorganization, apoptosis, and inflammatory responses. The most potent isolates, Aspergillus niger(Extract 1) and Aspergillus flavus(Extract 2), were identified morphologically and molecularly, with NCBI accession numbers PQ269689 and PQ269690, respectively. GC-MS analysis identified key bioactive compounds, including oleic acid and hexadecanoic acid, supporting their insecticidal potential. These findings highlight A. niger and A. flavus ethyl acetate extracts as promising sources of bioinsecticides for pest control.
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spelling doaj-art-aa32540eedba4e16ac9e4f33f40567582025-08-20T03:45:23ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111310.1038/s41598-025-07941-3Bioinsecticidal activity of aspergillus-derived endophytes from Olea europaea against Culex pipiens: toxicity, histology, and GC-MS profilingAmr H. Hashem0Wesam M. A. Ward1Amer M. Abdelaziz2Ahmed S. Hashem3Mohamed A. M. Shahat4Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar UniversityZoology and Entomology department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar UniversityDepartment of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar UniversityStored Product Pests Research Department, Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research CenterZoology and Entomology department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar UniversityAbstract Endophytic fungi offer a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to synthetic insecticides, providing targeted pest control with reduced environmental toxicity and lower risk of resistance development. In this study, four endophytic fungi were isolated from Olea europaea and their ethyl acetate extracts’ larvicidal efficacy of Culex pipiens. Boxplot distributions revealed a positive correlation between metabolite concentration and larval mortality, with higher doses inducing greater lethality. Extracts 1 and 2 exhibited the highest larvicidal activity, with median mortality rates exceeding 60%, while Extracts 3 and 4 demonstrated significantly weaker effects. Dose-response curves further confirmed the potency of Extracts 1 and 2, with lower LC₅₀ values (148.36 and 153.36 µg/mL) compared to Extracts 3 and 4. The histological analysis revealed a dose-dependent impact, with minimal tissue alterations at 25–50 µg/mL, while 150–200 µg/mL caused severe disorganization, apoptosis, and inflammatory responses. The most potent isolates, Aspergillus niger(Extract 1) and Aspergillus flavus(Extract 2), were identified morphologically and molecularly, with NCBI accession numbers PQ269689 and PQ269690, respectively. GC-MS analysis identified key bioactive compounds, including oleic acid and hexadecanoic acid, supporting their insecticidal potential. These findings highlight A. niger and A. flavus ethyl acetate extracts as promising sources of bioinsecticides for pest control.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07941-3EndophytesAspergillusLarvicidal activityBioinsecticidesGC-MS analysis
spellingShingle Amr H. Hashem
Wesam M. A. Ward
Amer M. Abdelaziz
Ahmed S. Hashem
Mohamed A. M. Shahat
Bioinsecticidal activity of aspergillus-derived endophytes from Olea europaea against Culex pipiens: toxicity, histology, and GC-MS profiling
Scientific Reports
Endophytes
Aspergillus
Larvicidal activity
Bioinsecticides
GC-MS analysis
title Bioinsecticidal activity of aspergillus-derived endophytes from Olea europaea against Culex pipiens: toxicity, histology, and GC-MS profiling
title_full Bioinsecticidal activity of aspergillus-derived endophytes from Olea europaea against Culex pipiens: toxicity, histology, and GC-MS profiling
title_fullStr Bioinsecticidal activity of aspergillus-derived endophytes from Olea europaea against Culex pipiens: toxicity, histology, and GC-MS profiling
title_full_unstemmed Bioinsecticidal activity of aspergillus-derived endophytes from Olea europaea against Culex pipiens: toxicity, histology, and GC-MS profiling
title_short Bioinsecticidal activity of aspergillus-derived endophytes from Olea europaea against Culex pipiens: toxicity, histology, and GC-MS profiling
title_sort bioinsecticidal activity of aspergillus derived endophytes from olea europaea against culex pipiens toxicity histology and gc ms profiling
topic Endophytes
Aspergillus
Larvicidal activity
Bioinsecticides
GC-MS analysis
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07941-3
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