Botanical pesticides as a sustainable pest control strategy: Case of polyphenolic extracts of coffee pulp (Coffea arabica)
Więcej
Ukryj
1
Universidad de Costa Rica, Sede del Caribe, Limón, Costa Rica
2
Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Calle 15, Avenida 14, Cartago, Costa Rica
3
Unidad de Recursos Forestales, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
4
Centro de Investigación Ciencia e Ingeniería de Materiales, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
5
Centro de Investigaciones Agronómicas, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
6
Escuela de Agronomía, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
Ecol. Eng. Environ. Technol. 2025; 5:337-348
SŁOWA KLUCZOWE
DZIEDZINY
STRESZCZENIE
Agriculture remains one of the main economic activities in many countries; however, due to this and the use of a conventional model, the application of chemical pesticides has become more frequent. Botanical pesticides are a sustainable alternative for Integrated Pest Management (IPM), where polyphenolic extracts can play an essential role due to their natural abundance and extraction methods. A variety of studies on botanical pesticides in relation to sustainability have been reported in recent years; however, coffee pulp (Coffea arabica) remains an under-documented resource in the context of agricultural applications. This review aims to analyze the limited research available on the extraction of polyphenols from coffee pulp and their application as insecticidal, fungicidal, and antibacterial agents. The purpose is to demonstrate the potential of coffee pulp as a sustainable botanical pesticide and its relevance as an environmentally friendly alternative for IPM. By synthesizing existing findings reviewed literature, the study identifies current knowledge gaps in the application of coffee pulp polyphenols for pest control and highlights the compounds responsible for these effects. Regarding the effects of polyphenols on the environment and human health, it shows that based on available information, they cannot be regarded as a risk and may therefore continue to be a sustainable alternative in IPM. Simultaneously, it was discovered that the insecticidal and fungicidal activity of this botanical pesticide have been more extensively studied than antibacterial properties. This review underscores the potential of coffee pulp as a sustainable and environmentally friendly botanical pesticide and emphasizes the need for further research in underexplored areas, particularly antibacterial applications.