INTERSPECIFIC HYBRIDIZATION OF EUCALYPTUS AS A POTENTIAL TOOL TO IMPROVE THE BIOACTIVITY OF ESSENTIAL OILS AGAINST PERMETHRIN-RESISTANT HEAD LICE FROM ARGENTINA

ARIEL CEFERINO TOLOZA, ALEJANDRO LUCÍA, EDUARDO ZERBA, HÉCTOR MASUH, MARÍA INÉS PICOLLO.

BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY

Año: 2008 vol. 99 p. 7341 - 7347

0960-8524

Abstract The essential oils extracted from Eucalyptus grandis, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus tereticornis, and the hybrids E. grandis x E. camaldulensis, and E. grandis x E. tereticornis were analyzed by GC-MS, and evaluated for their fumigant and repellent effects on permethrin-resistant head lice. Fumigant activity of both hybrids was higher than that for pure species. E. grandis x E. tereticornis and E. grandis x E. camaldulensis showed KT50 values of 12.99 and 13.63 min, respectively. E. grandis, E. camaldulensis, and E. tereticornis showed KT50 values of 25.57, 35.01, and 31.31; respectively. A simple regression analysis revealed a significant correlation between KT50 data and % of 1,8-cineole in these essential oils. Repellency varied from 47.80 ± 16% to 80.69 ± 6% for the five Eucalyptus essential oils tested. Interspecific hybridization improves the pediculicidal activity of Eucalyptus essential oils.