Potential of crude extracts, essential oil and pure compounds obtained from Tagetes patula L. (Asteraceae) as botanical biopesticide against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, Haemonchus contortus and Cimex lectularis

Abstract

The tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini, 1887) is a health problem and cause great damage to livestock. The dependence of few chemical acaricides bases available on the market, combined with its wrong use, led to widespread dispersal of resistance in the population of this ticks, reaching up to the point that most commercial products does not exhibit the expected or necessary efficacy for parasite control. With this background, it is relevant the increase in the number of scientific works that seek to detectnew active compounds acting on parasites, isolated from plants, fungi or other organisms. Tagetes patula (Latreille, 1806) (Asteraceae) is an excellent plant species matrix in search of natural insecticides since it is a strong-scented bushy annual, widespread throughout the world. Several studies highlight its repellent and insecticide potential. Although references about their chemical constitution, there are no studies that show the biocidal effect of compounds isolated from their plant extracts. Thus, this project aims to isolate, identify and evaluate the action of pure substances and crude plant extractives against parasites of outstanding economic and social importance, like the cattle tick Rh. (Boophilus) microplus, the gastrointestinal nematode of sheep and goats Haemonchus contortus and bedbug Cimex lectularis. Furthermore, in order to ensure the safety of using these compounds it is intended to perform the tests of acute oral toxicity and skin sensitization.