Asteraceae Extracts Against Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): A Comprehensive Review of Biological Activity, Phytochemical Profiles and Acute Oral Toxicity in Mammals

Abstract

Spodoptera frugiperda is a polyphagous pest of global significance, causing substantial yield losses in maize and other staple crops, which has intensified the search for sustainable alternatives to synthetic insecticides. The Asteraceae family has emerged as a promising source of botanical insecticides, but a comprehensive synthesis of its true potential including biological efficacy, chemical basis and acute oral toxicity in mammalian models remains lacking. This review critically examines the biological activity of Asteraceae extracts against S. frugiperda from the 2021 to 2026 period and their phytochemical profiles and acute oral toxicity in mammals. Our analysis reveals three major findings. First, essential oils exhibit the highest insecticidal potency, but they also present the most concerning mammalian acute oral toxicity profiles. Second, although 57 major constituents—including terpenoids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and fatty acid derivatives— have been identified, fewer than 13% have been individually evaluated against this pest, introducing substantial uncertainty in attributing activity to specific compounds. Third, most mammalian toxicity studies report only limited LD50 thresholds (e.g., >2000 mg kg−1 BW), preventing accurate GHS classification and regulatory positioning. Therefore, realising the potential of Asteraceae based insecticides requires not only the discovery of bioactive extracts but also rigorous, integrated toxicity and phytochemical characterisation.