Acaricidal activity of butylidenephthalide identified in Cnidium officinale rhizome against dermatophagoides farinae and dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Acari: Pyroglyphidae).
The acaricidal activity of materials derived from the rhizome of Cnidium officinale against adults of Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus was examined using direct contact application and fumigation methods and compared with that of benzyl benzoate and N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET). The active constituent of the Cnidium rhizome was identified as butylidenephthalide by spectroscopic analyses. Responses varied with dose. On the basis of 24-h LD(50) values, the acaricidal activity of butylidenephthalide (6.77 microg/cm(2)) against D. farinae adults was comparable to that of benzyl benzoate (8.54 microg/cm(2)). Very low activity was observed with DEET (37.59 microg/cm(2)). Against D. pteronyssinus adults, butylidenephthalide (6.46 microg/cm(2)) and benzyl benzoate (6.68 microg/cm(2)) were equitoxic. DEET (17.98 microg/cm(2)) was relatively inactive. The typical poisoning symptom of butylidenephthalide was lethargy of treated mites, leading to death without knockdown, whereas benzyl benzoate and DEET caused death following uncoordinated behavior. In a fumigation test with both mite species, butylidenephthalide was much more effective in closed containers than open ones. Naturally occurring C. officinale rhizome-derived materials merit further study as potential house dust mite control agents or lead compounds.
School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Suwon 441-744, Republic of Korea.
Ji-Hoon
JH
Kwon
Young-Joon
YJ
Ahn
D000818:Animals; D019661:Apiaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001565:Benzoates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003671:DEET / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005651:Fumigation; D007306:Insecticides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008925:Mites / Q000187:drug effects; D010796:Phthalic Anhydrides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D001565:Benzoates; D007306:Insecticides; D010796:Phthalic Anhydrides; D003671:DEET; C006723:benzyl benzoate; C026105:butylidenephthalide