Tick repellent properties of three Libyan plants.

Original article

English

Garboui, S. S.; Borg-Karlson, A.-K.; Pهlsson, K.

Medical Entomology Unit, Department of Systematic Biology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyvنgen 18D, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden.

J Med Entomol. 2009 Nov;46(6):1415-9.

Abstract

Specimens of Salvadora persica Wallich (Salvadoraceae), Pistacia atlantica Desfontaines (Anacardiaceae), and Juniperus phoenicea L. (Cupressaceae) were collected at The Green Mountain in northeastern Libya. The tick-repellent effects of the essential oils from the plants were evaluated using host-seeking nymphs of Ixodes ricinus L. (Acari: Ixodidae) in the laboratory. Significant tick repellent effects were observed for the oils of all three species, but the duration of action was short. The oils were obtained by steam distillation. Volatile compounds of the essential oils were collected by solid phase microextraction and the constituents were identified by gas chromatographymass spectrometry.

Keywords: medicinal plants; ethnobotany; essential oil; Ixodes ricinus; tick repellents

Link/DOI: http://esa.publisher.ingentaconnect.com/content/esa/jme/2009/00000046/00000006/art00023