In vitro anti-tick properties of the essential oil of Tagetes minuta L. (Asteraceae) on Hyalomma rufipes (Acari: Ixodidae)
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Date
Authors
Nchu, Felix
Magano, S.R. (Solomon Ramagoai)
Eloff, Jacobus Nicolaas
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Agricultural Research Council, ARC-OVI and the University of Pretoria
Abstract
In this study we examined the anti-tick properties of the essential oil of Tagetes minuta L.
(Asteraceae: Asterales) against Hyalomma rufipes ticks. We obtained the essential oil of T. minuta
by hydro-distillation of a combination of fresh flowers, leaves and soft stems, and analysed
these by using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-linked mass spectrometry
(GC-MS). The oil had a high percentage of monoterpenes and the major compounds identified
were cis-ocimene (28.5%), beta-ocimene (16.83%) and 3-methyl-2-(2-methyl-2-butenyl)-furan
(11.94%). Hyalomma rufipes adults displayed a significant (P < 0.05) dose repellent response to
the essential oil of T. minuta. Probit analysis indicated a repellent EC50 of T. minuta essential
oil for male ticks to be 0.072 mL/mL (CI 0.053 mL/mL to 0.086 mL/mL) and 0.070 mL/mL
(CI 0.052 mL/mL to 0.084 mL/mL) for female ticks. There were no significant differences in
repellent responses between male and female ticks. The oil also significantly (P < 0.05) delayed
moulting of 60% of H. rufipes engorged nymphs. These results suggest that T. minuta may be a
potential source of anti-tick agents.
Description
Keywords
Tagetes minuta L. (Asteraceae), Hyalomma rufipes, Anti-tick properties
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Nchu, F., Magano, S.R. & Eloff, J.N., 2012, ‘In vitro anti-tick properties of the essential oil of Tagetes minuta L. (Asteraceae) on Hyalomma rufipes (Acari: Ixodidae)’, Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research 79(1), Art. #358, 5 pages. http://dx.DOI.org/ 10.4102/ojvr.v79i1.358