Using Ultrasonic Assisted Extraction to Produce a Bioinsecticide from Cigarette Butt Waste and Green Solvent to Control Armyworm Infestation

Indonesia has one of the highest rates of cigarette consumption in the world, and it has been estimated that up to 75% of cigarette butts end up in nature, where they damage the environment. Since 2019, a new species of armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda or the fall armyworm) has been attacking maize plants in Indonesia. Therefore, it is proposed to use cigarette butts in the production of a bioinsecticide to control this armyworm. Tobacco, the main ingredient in cigarettes, contains various compounds that can be used as insecticides. These compounds can be extracted using an ultrasonic-assisted extraction method and a variety of solvents, namely, aquadest, 96% ethanol, and NADES as green solvent. The highest extract yield was 27.2±2.0% and the highest mortality rate for the fall armyworm occurred with 96% ethanol extract. The 16-Hentriacontanone compound with the highest peak area of 22.67% was obtained using a gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) instrument. All compounds obtained from the GC/MS instrument were simulated with molecular docking to the acetylcholinesterase receptor. The highest docking score was -10.3 kcal/mol for 2,3-Dimethyl-5,6-diphenyl-1,7-dihydrodipyrrolo pyridine and 16-Hentriacontanone, which had a 100% similarity of interactions with the control ligand.