Bioactivity of Argentinean essential oils against permethrin resistant head lice, Pediculus humanus capitis

48. TOLOZA A., JULIO ZYGADLO, FERNANDO BIURRUN, ALICIA ROTMAN, AND MARÍA I PICOLLO

JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE

UNIV ARIZONA

Año: 2010 vol. 10 p. 185 - 193

1536-2442

Infestation with the head louse, Pediculus humanus capitis De Geer (Phthiraptera: Pediculidae),is one of the most common parasitic infestation of humans worldwide. Traditionally, the maintreatment for control of head lice is chemical control that is based in a wide variety of neurotoxicsynthetic insecticides. The repeated overuse of these products has resulted in the selection ofresistant populations of head lice. Thus, plant-derived insecticides, such as the essential oils seemto be good viable alternatives as some have low toxicity to mammals and are biodegradable. Wedetermined the insecticidal activity of 25 essential oils belonging to several botanical familiespresent in Argentina against permethrin-resistant head lice. Significant differences in fumigantactivity against head lice were found among the essential oils from the native and exotic plantspecies. The most effective essential oils were Cinnamomum porphyrium, followed by Aloysiacitriodora (chemotype 2) and Myrcianthes pseudomato, with KT50 values of 1.12, 3.02 and 4.09;respectively. The results indicate that these essential oils are effective and could be incorporatedinto pediculicide formulations to control head lice infestations once proper formulation andtoxicological tests are performed.