Anticholinesterase and pediculicidal activities of monoterpenoids

PICOLLO MI,; TOLOZA AC,; CUETO G, MOUGABURE; ZYGADLO JULIO,; ZERBA E,

Fitoterapia

Elsevier

Lugar: NY; Año: 2008 vol. 1 p. 1 - 1

The repetitive and inadequate application of pediculicidal products frequently results in the development of resistance to these compounds. EO are a promising alternative to synthetic insecticides, although their mode of action remains to be explored. It has been proposed that one possible target of the essential oils is the inhibition of actylcholinesterase. The role of monoterpenoids as possible AChE inhibitors and their relationship with the toxicity was investigated both in vitro and in vivo. Inhibition of electric eel AChE activity showed that the most effective inhibitor was 1,8-cineole with IC50 6X10-3M. The inhibition of AChE activity of head louse homogenate by 1,8-cineole showed IC50 7,7X10-2 M. The intoxicationsymptoms of head lice exposed to vapors of 1,8-cineole was recorded before the in vivo head louse AChE inhibition assay. No correlationwas found between neurotoxic symptoms and inhibition of AChE activity.