In vitro biological activity of the Croton blanchetianus (Baill) essential oil against Rhipicephalus (boophilus) microplus (Acari: Ixodidae)

Abstract

Brazil numerous plant species are used for controlling ectoparasites on cattle. However, the need to consolidate this popular knowledge through existing chemical characterization of secondary compounds in these plants and the application of bioassays able to reveal its biological action observed. For this study, we obtained the essential oil of the Croton blanchetianus by hydrodistillation and their chemical compounds identified by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The major chemical constituents stood out as eucalyptol (16.9%), β-caryophyllene (15.9%), and germacrene-D (14.5%). Various concentrations of the C. blanchetianus essential oil were used in order to test their biological action on the cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. There was a significant acaricide efficacy, and the results were statistically significant at a confidence level of 95%.