Open AccessIn vitro investigation of the toxic effects of extracts of Allium sativum bulbs on adults of Hyalomma marginatum rufipes and Rhipicephalus pulchellus
Author(s) -
Felix Nchu,
S. R. Magano,
J.N. Eloff
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of the south african veterinary association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.535
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 2224-9435
pISSN - 1019-9128
DOI - 10.4102/jsava.v76i2.405
Subject(s) - bioassay , allium sativum , sativum , biology , sunflower , lepidium sativum , toxicology , toxicity , traditional medicine , botany , horticulture , chemistry , medicine , genetics , germination , organic chemistry
The toxic effects of the extracts of Allium sativum (Garlic) were evaluated against adults of Hyalomma marginatum rufipes and Rhipicephalus pulchellus using three types (Types A, B and C) of contact toxicity bioassays. A. sativum bulbs were extracted with acetone, ethanol and dichloromethane (DCM) solvents. Among these three solvents, it is the DCM extract of A. sativum that appears to have anti-tick activity. In the Type A contact toxicity bioassay, DCM extracts of A. sativum demonstrated a high acaricidal bioactivity against H. m. rufipes with 100% of ticks killed in less than an hour, and toxicity persisted to the second day. A weak acaricidal activity of aqueous extracts of A. sativum was observed in the Type B contact toxicity bioassay. In the Type C contact toxicity bioassay, a concentration of 24% w/v of DCM extracts of garlic in sunflower oil (Helianthus annuus) had killed 100% of H. m. rufipes (LC50 = 5.9% w/v) and R. pulchellus (LC50 = 10.3% w/v) by 24 hours post-treatment of ticks. The results obtained from this study suggest that DCM extract of A. sativum is a potential source of novel acaricidal agents.