Open AccessLemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) oil: A promising miticidal and ovicidal agent against Sarcoptes scabiei
Author(s) -
Meilin Li,
Buming Liu,
C. Bernigaud,
Katja Fischer,
Jacques Guillot,
Fang Fang
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
plos neglected tropical diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.99
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 1935-2735
pISSN - 1935-2727
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008225
Subject(s) - sarcoptes scabiei , cymbopogon citratus , scabies , biology , acaricide , essential oil , veterinary medicine , citral , mite , food science , toxicology , botany , medicine , dermatology
Background Essential oils may represent an alternative strategy for controlling scabies, a neglected tropical disease caused by the infestation of mite from the species Sarcoptes scabiei . Lemongrass ( Cymbopogen citratus ) oil is reported to possess pharmacological properties including antiparasitc, antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. The aim of the present study was to assess the potential efficacy of lemongrass oil against the mites and eggs of Sarcoptes scabiei . Methodology/Principal findings Mass spectrometry analysis confirmed that the main component presented in lemongrass oil was citral. Lemongrass oil at concentrations of 10% and 5% killed all Sarcoptes mites within 10 and 25 min, respectively. The median lethal concentration value was 1.37%, 1.08%, 0.91%, 0.64%, and 0.48% at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h, respectively. Lemongrass oil at all concentrations (10%, 5%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.1%) was able to significantly decrease the hatching rate of Sarcoptes eggs. Conclusions/Significance Lemongrass oil should be considered as a promising miticidal and ovicidal agent for scabies control.