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Extract of the seeds of the plant Vitex agnus castus proven to be highly efficacious as a repellent against ticks, fleas, mosquitoes and biting flies

Parasitology Research volume 95, pages 363–365 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

About 70 plant extracts were tested for their ability to repel the attacks of blood-sucking arthropods. It was found that a CO2 extract of the seeds of the Mediterranean plant Vitex agnus castus (monk’s pepper) can be used as a spray to keep away especially Ixodes ricinus and Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks from animals and humans for at least 6 h. In addition mosquitoes, biting flies and fleas are also repelled for about 6 h.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cytology, Zoomorphology and Parasitology, Heinrich-Heine-University , Düsseldorf, Germany

    Heinz Mehlhorn, Günter Schmahl & Jürgen Schmidt

Authors
  1. Heinz Mehlhorn
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  2. Günter Schmahl
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  3. Jürgen Schmidt
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Heinz Mehlhorn.

Additional information

Extract of the seeds of the plant Vitex agnus castus is available as: Anticks—Trademark of Gimborn, Emmerich, Germany; Viticks-Cool—Trademark of Alpha-Biocare, Düsseldorf, Germany; Viticks-Cool-Plus with additional etheric oils—Trademark of Alpha-Biocare, Düsseldorf, Germany

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Mehlhorn, H., Schmahl, G. & Schmidt, J. Extract of the seeds of the plant Vitex agnus castus proven to be highly efficacious as a repellent against ticks, fleas, mosquitoes and biting flies. Parasitol Res 95, 363–365 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-004-1297-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-004-1297-z

Keywords

  • Garlic Extract
  • Babesiosis
  • Mediterranean Plant
  • Ehrlichiosis
  • Protection Period