title: In vitro anti-tick properties of the essential oil of Tagetes minuta L. (Asteraceae) on Hyalomma rufipes (Acari:  Ixodidae).
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 &lt; 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 &lt; 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.
authors: Department of Horticultural Science, Cape Peninsula University of Technology. felixnchu@gmail.com.
authors: Felix
authors: F
authors: Nchu
authors: Solomon R
authors: SR
authors: Magano
authors: Jacobus N
authors: JN
authors: Eloff
mesh_terms: D056810:Acaricides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002849:Chromatography, Gas / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000662:veterinary; D026863:Ixodidae / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009758:Nymph; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D012737:Sex Factors; D031686:Tagetes / Q000737:chemistry*; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D056810:Acaricides; D009822:Oils, Volatile