Since time immemorial, the oleo-gum-resins of Ferula assa-foetida and F. gummosa are used in the traditional medical systems as well as in foodstuffs, perfumery and cosmetics. In the present study, we explored the insecticidal efficacy of the essential oils obtained from these oleo-gum-resins to widen their fields of industrial applications. The two essential oils were mainly composed of sulfides [sec-butyl (Z)-propenyl disulfide, sec-butyl (E)-propenyl disulfide, sec-butyl (Z)-propenyl trisulfide and sec-butyl (E)-propenyl trisulfide)] and monoterpenes (α-pinene, β-pinene and β-phellandrene), respectively, as determined by GC-MS analysis. The two essential oils were assayed for toxicity on a panel of insects, represented by species of public health relevance (Culex quinquefasciatus and Musca domestica), agricultural (Spodoptera littoralis) and stored-product pests (Prostephanus truncatus and Trogoderma granarium). The ecotoxicological effects of the essential oils were assessed on the aquatic microcrustacean Daphnia magna and the earthworm Eisenia fetida, as well as on human cells. Overall, the two essential oils were effective against important insect pests and vectors. On the other hand, they resulted cytotoxic to fibroblasts and non-target aquatic microcrustaceans. Thus, further insights are needed to determine the full spectrum of their eco-toxicological effects.

中文翻译：

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Ferula assa-foetida和Ferula gummosa的油脂树脂中的挥发油：对其杀虫活性和生态毒理作用的综合研究。

自远古时代以来，Ferula assa-foetida和F. gummosa的油脂树脂被用于传统医疗系统以及食品，香料和化妆品中。在本研究中，我们探索了从这些油脂树脂获得的精油的杀虫功效，以拓宽其工业应用领域。两种精油主要由硫化物组成[仲丁基（Z）-丙烯基二硫化物，仲丁基（E）-丙烯基二硫化物，仲丁基（Z）-丙烯基三硫化物和仲丁基（E）-丙烯基三硫化物）分别通过GC-MS分析测定）和单萜（α-pine烯，β-pine烯和β-水芹烯）。对这两种精油在一组昆虫上的毒性进行了测定，这些昆虫以与公共卫生有关的物种（库克斯昆克（Culex quinquefasciatus）和家蝇（Musca domestica））为代表，农业（Spodoptera littoralis）和储存产品的害虫（Prostephanus truncatus和Trogoderma granarium）。评估了精油对水生微甲壳类水蚤（Daphnia magna）和worm（Eisenia fetida）以及人体细胞的生态毒理作用。总体而言，两种精油对重要的害虫和媒介有效。另一方面，它们对成纤维细胞和非目标水生微甲壳动物产生了细胞毒性。因此，需要更多的见识来确定其生态毒理学效应的全部范围。两种精油对重要的害虫和媒介有效。另一方面，它们对成纤维细胞和非目标水生微甲壳动物产生了细胞毒性。因此，需要进一步的见识来确定其生态毒理学效应的全部范围。两种精油对重要的害虫和媒介有效。另一方面，它们对成纤维细胞和非目标水生微甲壳动物产生了细胞毒性。因此，需要更多的见识来确定其生态毒理学效应的全部范围。