Acaricidal efficacy against cattle ticks and acute oral toxicity of Lippia javanica (Burm F.) Spreng

Abstract

In search for low-cost, safe and environmentally benign plant-based alternatives to commercial pesticides, the efficacy of Lippia javanica aqueous leaf extracts in controlling ticks on cattle, acute oral toxicity in mice and phytochemistry were evaluated. L. javanica aqueous leaf extracts at 10% and 20% w/v were effective at controlling cattle ticks but not as good as an amitraz-based acaricide Tickbuster®. However, they can provide an effective tick control option where synthetic products are unavailable or unaffordable, particularly in remote parts of southern Africa. Peripheral blood samples collected showed no haemoparasites in treated cattle implying that animals did not suffer from clinical tick-borne diseases. The leaf aqueous extracts of L. javanica were tested for toxicity in BALB/c mice. While anecdotal evidence suggests L. javanica has low mammalian toxicity, within 48 h all mice fed with the L. javanica leaf aqueous extract at 12.5-37.5% v/v were lethargic, and overall mortality was 37.5% (n=24). Thus, despite their apparent safety, water extracts of L. javanica leaves may have deleterious health implications on humans and animals if consumed at very high doses. Many compounds have been identified from L. javanica including an array of phenolic glycosides, flavonoids and essential oils but none of these are known to have acute toxic properties.

Potential of Controlling Common Bean Insect Pests (Bean Stem Maggot (<i>Ophiomyia phaseoli</i>), Ootheca (<i>Ootheca bennigseni</i>) and Aphids (<i>Aphis fabae</i>)) Using Agronomic, Biological and Botanical Practices in Field

“…They are mostly affordable to farmers than synthetic products and their costs are almost calculated in terms of time to harvest and process [50]. The value of pesticidal plants comes from the harnessing of plant defense strategies based on the production of repellency antioxidant growth retardant and toxic chemicals that target insect pests and microorganisms [51] [52].…”

Concepts and key issues of ethnoveterinary medicine in Africa: A review of its application in Zimbabwe

“…Preliminary surveys carried out by Madzimure et al (2011) reported Lippia javanica (Verbencaceae), Strychnos spinosa and Solanum panduriforme (incanum) as plants with acaricidal properties in Zimbabwe. Subsequent studies by Madzimure et al (2011) revealed that L. javanicais effective in controlling cattle ticks that cause morbidity and spread fatal blood diseases in livestock.…”

“…Subsequent studies by Madzimure et al (2011) revealed that L. javanicais effective in controlling cattle ticks that cause morbidity and spread fatal blood diseases in livestock. Tick counts on cattle treated with plant extracts at an application rate of 10% were as low as on cattle treated with the standard Amitrazbased commercial product (Tickbuster).…”

In vitro acaricidal activity of Bobgunnia madagascariensis Desv. against Amblyomma variegatum (Fabricius) (Acari: Ixodidae)

“…The opportunity to use local, readily available acaricidal plants would be desirable among resource poor smallholder farmers, as they provide a cheaper and safer alternative to synthetic chemical acaricides (Madzimure et al 2013). As such, several plants have been demonstrated to have significant acaricidal properties (Habeeb 2010;Opiro et al 2010;Madzimure et al 2011Madzimure et al , 2013. It appears that the acaricidal properties of Bobgunnia madagascariensis (Desv.)…”