Pediculicidal activity of lotions based on essential oils from aromatic plants against Pediculus humanus capitis from Argentina

PAULA A. GONZALEZ-AUDINO1,2, CLAUDIA V. VASSENA,1,2 EDUARDO N. ZERBA 1,2 & MARÍA I. PICOLLO1

Buenos Aires

Congreso; International Congress on Phthiraptera; 2006

CIPEIN

In Argentina, field populations of the head louse Pediculus humanus capitis De Geer (Anoplura: Pediculidae) have developed resistance to permethrin and other pyrethroids. The use of botanical compounds such as essential oils has recently become of great interest as a natural means of lice control. On the other side, the modification of pediculicidal formulations to enhance insecticide activity has shown to be one good strategy to optimize the effectiveness of the available products. In this context, the insecticidal effect of aliphatic alcohols has been evaluated in our lab. Thus, the aim of this work was the development of a pediculicidal lotion containing essential oils from plants and an alcoholic coadjutant to improve biological effect. Ethanol +isopropanol (1+1 in volume) 50% in water and ethanol 96% were taken as solvents for preparation of experimental lotions containing essential oils from plants. Knock down activity of these compositions showed that peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus and orange showed significant knockdown activity and that the mixture of peppermint and eucalyptus oil was the most effective. 1-dodecanol increased effectiveness of all the pediculicidal lotions containing different plant oils, and this difference is significantly important for 1-dodecanol concentration of 10%, reaching a toxic activity compared to the best commercial lotion available in the market.