Bioactivity of Meliaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Solanaceae and Amaranthaceae plant aqueous extracts against the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus

Abstract

Commercial synthetic acaricides have selected resistant populations of Rhipicephalus microplus, and generate residues in the environment or in milk/cattle products. In this study, aqueous extracts (AE) from Melia azedarach (Maz), Allium sativum, Capsicum chinense, Nicotiana tabacum (Nta) and Dysphania ambrosioides were evaluated for the bioactivity against the cattle tick. The treatment using Nta or Maz AE resulted in the lowest egg hatching rate (34.0 ± 11% and 25.0 ± 19%), and in the values of reproduction inhibition ranging from 89.0% to 85.3%. Phytochemical screening associated to RP-HPLC/DAD analysis suggested the presence of alkaloids for Nta and gallic acid derivatives and catechins, for Maz. Such results highlighted that the use of Nta and Maz AE can be a promising source of bioactive compounds for the control of infections caused by the cattle tick.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Phytochemical screening
• phenolic compounds
• alkaloids
• natural acaricide

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the graduate Programs in Agrochemistry, Veterinary Sciences (UFES), and the researchers from Natural Products and Organic Synthesis Research Groups (GEAPS-CNPq), for their support in facilities and learning.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The authors are thankful to the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—Brasil (CAPES; Finance Code 001), for their financial support.