title: Acute Oral Mammalian Toxicity and Effect of Solvents on Efficacy ofMaerua edulis(Gilg. & Ben.) De Wolf againstRhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratusKoch, 1844 (Acarina: Ixodidae), Tick Larvae.
abstract: Efficacy and toxicity of aqueous and organic solvents extracts ofMaerua edulisagainst ticks and mice, respectively, were determined. Ground leaves were extracted separately using cold water, cold water plus surfactant (1% v/v liquid soap), hot water plus surfactant, hexane, or methanol to make 25% w/v stock solutions from which serial dilutions of 5, 10, 20, and 25% were made. For each concentration, 20Rhipicephalus decoloratustick larvae were put in filter papers impregnated with extracts and incubated for 48 h at 27°C and 85-90% RH for mortality observation after 24 h and 48 h. In the toxicity experiment, hot water plus surfactant treatments of 5, 10, 20, and 25% (w/v)M. eduliswere administered in suspensionper osto sexually mature Balb/C mice and observed for clinical signs and mortality for 72 h. Larvae mortality was highest (>98%) in methanol-extractedM. edulistreatments (20 and 25%), which was not different from the amitraz-based control (Tickbuster®). Mortality was also higher in the hot water than in cold water plus surfactant treatments (P< 0.05). No postadministration adverse health effects were observed in the mice. These results suggest thatM. edulisis an effective tick remedy best extracted using methanol or hot water plus surfactant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe.
authors.forename: Emmanuel T
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2076-6359
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Nyahangare
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil Science & Agricultural Engineering, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe.
authors.forename: Brighton M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Mvumi
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe.
authors.forename: Tatenda
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maramba