Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

In vitro acaricidal activity of Crescentia cujete L. fruit pulp against Rhipicephalus microplus

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Parasitology Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Cattle tick (Rhipicephalus microplus) is an important constraint on livestock production, particularly in tropical and subtropical areas. Synthetic acaricides are the primary method of control this thick. Resistance of R. microplus to synthetic acaricides has given rise to the need of new scientific investigations on alternative ways to control it. The objective of this work was to conduct a chemical investigation of Crescentia cujete L. fruit pulp and to evaluate the acaricide effect on R. microplus larvae of extracts, fractions, and isolated substances from this species. Crescentia cujete is a Bignoniaceae and it is characteristic of tropical climates. Its most distinctive feature is its fruit, which is spherical and gourd-like, with a hard woody shell and gelatinous pulp. The fruit pulp of C. cujete was extracted with ethanol by maceration yielding an extract and a residue. The extract was partitioned giving an ethyl acetate phase (EAF) that was fractionated by chromatographic procedures yielding cinnamic acid and benzoic acid. The remained botanic material from the ethanol extraction was further and successively extracted with ethyl ether and methanol under reflux. The acaricide effect of all extracts and fractions was evaluated against R. microplus using the larval packet test. The best result was observed for the EAF that caused 100% of mortality when a 10% solution was used and with LC50 of 5.9%. Cinnamic acid was also tested showing 63.0% of mortality with LC50 of 6.6% at the same concentrations and time of the experiment. The data obtained in this study provides information related to the chemical nature and the acaricide activity of the C. cujete epicarp that has not been previously reported. This study shows that the ethyl acetate phase of the ethanol extract of C. cujete fruit pulp is a potential alternative control for R. microplus and its activity is in part associated to cinnamic acid, its major compound.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abbas RZ, Zaman MA, Colwell DD, Gilleard J, Iqbal Z (2014) Acaricide resistance in cattle ticks and approaches to its management: the state of play. Vet Parasitol 16:6–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abbott WS (1925) A method of computing the effectiveness of an insecticide. J of Econ Entomol 18:265–267

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Almança CCJ, Pozzattil PN, Casagrande FP, Silva Filho JP, Bissi B, Barbosa BC, Porfírio LC (2013) Eficácia in vitro de extratos de Chenopodium ambrosioides sobre teleóginas de Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. Arq Inst Biol 80:43–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Assis TS, Medeiros RMT, Araújo JAS, Dantas AFM, Riet-Correa F (2009) Intoxicações por plantas em ruminantes e equídeos no Sertão Paraibano. Pesq Vet Bras 29:919–924

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barbosa DA (2008) Avaliação fitoquímica e farmacológica de Genipa americana L. (Rubiaceae). Dissertação (mestrado), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 115 p

  • Borges LM, Sousa LA, Barbosa Cda S (2011) Perspectives for the use of plant extracts to control the cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. Rev Bras Parasitol Vet 20:89–96

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Broglio-Micheletti SMF, Valente ECN, de Souza LA, Dias Nda S, de Araujo AMN (2009) Plant extracts in control of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini, 1887) (Acari: Ixodidae) in laboratory. Rev Bras Parasitol Vet 18:44–48

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cobas EP, Sosa AC, Rivas EH, Aldama LM (2008) Utilización del zumo de Jícaro (Crescentia cujete) en el tratamiento de la dermatomicosis em terneiros. Rev electrón vet 7:1–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Costa Junior RG, Santi FM, Bukowski SS, Souza KA, Matos CA, Gordin LW (2014) Uso de extratos de plantas no controle de Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus em ensaios in vitro. Cader Agroecol 9:1–11

    Google Scholar 

  • de Souza Chagas AC, de Barros LD, Cotinguiba F, Furlan M, Giglioti R, de Sena Oliveira MC, Bizzo HR (2012) In vitro efficacy of plant extracts and synthesized substances on Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Acari: Ixodidae). Parasit Res 110:295–303

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dominguez-García D, Rosario-Cruz R, García C, Oaxaca J, De la Fuente J (2010) Boophilus microplus: aspectos biológicos y moleculares de la resistencia a los acaricidas y su impacto en la salud animal. Trop Subtrop Agroecosyst 12:181–192

    Google Scholar 

  • Ejelonu BC, Lasisi AA, Olaremu AG, Ejelonu OC (2011) The chemical constituents of calabash (Crescentia cujete). Afric J of Biotech 10:19631–19636

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Espitia-Baena JE, del Rosario Duran-Sandoval H, Fandino-Franky J, Díaz-Castilho F, Gómez-Estrada HA (2011) Química y biología del extracto etanólico del epicarpio de Crescentia cujete L. (totumo). Ver Cubana de Plant Med 16:337–346

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO (1971) Plant Protection Bulletin. Recommended methods for the detection and measurement of resistance of agricultural pests to pesticides. Tentative methods for larvae of cattle tick Boophilus spp. FAO method vol 7, pp 15–18

  • Farias MPO, Wanderley AG, Alves LC, Faustino MAG (2012) Cálculo da CI50 (Concentração inibitória média) e CL50 (Concentração letal média) do óleo da semente de Andiroba (Carapa guianensis, AUBL.) sobre Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini, 1887), Anocenter nitens (Neumann, 1897) e Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille, 1806) (ACARI: IXODIDAE). Arq Inst Biol 79:255–261

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Faza AP, Pinto IS, Fonseca I, Antunes GR, Monteiro CM, Daemon E, Muniz Mde S, Martins MF, Furlong J, Prata MC (2013) A new approach to characterization of the resistance of populations of Rhipicephalus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) to organophosphate and pyrethroid in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Exp Paras 134:519–523

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fernández GAI, Rodríguez IER, Paz AJH (2013) Actividad garrapaticida de Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (nim). Rev Cubana de Plant Med 18:327–340

    Google Scholar 

  • Fidelis Junior OL, Sampaio PH, Teixeira PPM, André MR, Cadioli FA (2014) Resistência do Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus aos carrapaticidas: revisão de literatura. Nucl Animalium 6:99–110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Godara R, Katoch R, Yadav A, Ahanger RR, Bhutyal ADS, Verma PK, Katoch M, Dutta S, Nisa F (2015) In vitro acaricidal activity of ethanolic and aqueous floral extracts of Calendula officinalis against synthetic pyrethroid resistant Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. Exp Appl Acabou 67:147–157

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gouveia VLM (2012) Avaliação do potencial farmacológico de metabólitos secundários de Cystoseira abies-marina. Dissertação (Mestrado em Ciências biomédicas), Departamento de Ciências Tecnológicas e Desenvolvimento, Universidade dos Açores, Ponta Delgada, 94 p

  • Graf JF, Gogolewski R, Leach-Bing N, Sabatini GA, Molento MB, Bordini EL, Arantes GJ (2004) Tick control: an industry point of view. Parasitology 129:427–442

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guerreiro FD, Lovis L, Martins JR (2012) Acaricide resistance mechanisms in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. Rev Bras Parasitol Vet 21:1–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grisi L, Massard CL, Moya BGE, Pereira JB (2002) Impacto econômico das principais ectoparasitoses em bovinos no Brasil. Hora Vet 125:8–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Grisi L, Leite RC, Martins JR, Barros AT, Andreotti R, Cançado PHD, León AA, Pereira JB, Villela HS (2014) Reassessment of the potential economic impact of cattle parasites in Brazil. Rev Bras Parasitol Vet 23:150–156

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Heltzel CE, Gunatilaka AAL, Glass TE, Kingston DGI (1993) Bioactive furanonaphthoquinones from Crescentia cujete. J Nat Prod 56:1500–1505

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaneko T, Ohtani K, Kasai R, Yamasaki K, Duc NM (1997) Iridoids and iridoid glucosides from fruits of Crescentia cujete. Phitochemi 46:907–910

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaneko T, Ohtani K, Kasai R, Yamasaki K, Duc NM (1998) n-Alkyl glycosides and p-hidroxybenzoyloxy glucose from fruits of Crescentia cujete. Phitochem 47:259–263

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim H-K, Kim J-R, Ahn Y-J (2004) Acaricidal activity of cinnamaldehyde and its congeners against Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Acari: Acaridae). J Stored Prod Res 40:55–63

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leite, RC (1988) Boophilus microplus (Canestrini, 1887): Susceptibilidade, uso atual e retrospectivo de carrapaticidas em propriedades das regiões fisiogeográficas da baixada do Grande-Rio e Rio de Janeiro. Uma abordagem epidemiológica. Tese (Doutorado em Medicina Veterinária Preventiva), Curso de Pós-graduaçãoem Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 151 p

  • Lina EC, Dadang MS, Syahbirin G, Prijono D (2013) Synergistic action of mixed extracts of Brucea javanica (Simaroubaceae), Piper aduncum (Piperaceae), and Tephrosia vogelii (Leguminosae) against cabbage head caterpillar, Crocidolomia pavonana. J Biopest 6:77–83

    Google Scholar 

  • Machado AF, Castro e Silva A, Ribeiro HCT, de Lima Procópio AR, de Souza Pinheiro CC, de Souza Martins JR, Silva WC (2013) Atividade biológica de extratos acetato de etila, etanólico e aquoso de timbó (Lonchocarpus floribundus) sobre carrapato bovino. Acta Amazon 43:135–142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Monteiro MVB, Bevilaqua CML, Palha MDC, Braga RR, Schwanke K, Rodrigues ST, Lameira AO (2011) Ethnoveterinary knowledge of the inhabitants of Marajó Island, Eastern Amazonia, Brazil. Acta Amazon 41:233–242

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Novato TPL, Araújo LX, de Monteiro CM, Maturano R, Senra Tde O, da Silva Matos R, Gomes GA, de Carvalho MG, Daemon E (2015) Avaluation of the combined effect of thymol, carvacrol and (E)-cinnamaldehyde on Amblyomma sculptum (Acari: Ixodidae) and Dermacentor nitens (Acari: Ixodidae) larvae. Vet Parasitol 212:331–335

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Raynal JT, da Silva AAB, de Jesus Sousa T, Baiense TC, Meyer R, Portela RW (2013) Acaricides efficiency on Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus from Bahia state North-Central region. Rev Bras Parasitol Vet 22:71–77

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rodrigues E, Duarte-Almeida JM, Pires JM (2010) Perfil farmacológico e fitoquímico de plantas indicadas pelos caboclos do Parque Nacional do Jaú (AM) como potenciais analgésicos. Ver Bras de Farmacogn 20:981–991

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roel AR (2001) Utilização de plantas com propriedades inseticidas: uma contribuição para o Desenvolvimento Rural Sustentável. Rev Intern Desenvol Loc 1:43–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Santos TRB, Castro NA, Bretanha LC, Schuvh LFD, Freitag RA, Nizoli LQ (2015) Estudo in vitro da eficácia de citronela (Cymbopogon wynterianus) sobre carrapato Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. Sc Animal Hea 13:135–149

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott IM, Puniani E, Durst T, Phelps D, Mirali S, Assabgui RA, Sanchez-Vindas P, Poveda L, Philoge BJR, Arnason JT (2002) Insecticidal activity of Piper tuberculatum Jacq. extracts: synergistic interaction of piperamides. Agric Forest Entomol 4:137–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Souza VC, Lorenzi H (2005) Botânica sistemática: Guia ilustrativo para identificação das famílias de angiospermas da flora brasileira, baseado em APG II. Instituto Plantarum, Nova Odessa

    Google Scholar 

  • Stone BF, Haydock KP (1962) A method for measuring the acaricide susceptibility of the cattle Boophilus microplus (can.) Bull Entomol Res 53:563–578

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Valente PP, Amorim JM, Castilho RO, Leite RC, Ribeiro MFB (2014) In vitro acaricidal efficacy of plant extracts from Brazilian flora and isolated substances against Rhipicephalus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae). Parasitol Res 113:417–423

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vieira MGS (2010) Estudo químico de Xylopia nitida Dunal (Annonaceae). Dissertação (Mestrado em Química Orgânica), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, 170 p

  • Wang G, Yin W, Zhou Z-Y, Hsieh K-L, Liu J-K (2010) New iridoides from the fruits of Crescentia cujete. J Asian Nat Prod Res 12:770–775

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wanzala W, Takken W, Mukabana WR, Pala AO, Hassanali A (2012) Ethnoknowledge of Bukusu community of livestock tick prevention and control in Bungoma District, western Kenya. J Ethnopharmacol 140:298–324

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Xia L-Z, Zhou M, Xiao Y-H, Li G-Y, Chen X-Z, Zhang G-L (2010) Chemical constituents from Helwingia japonica. Chin J Nat Med 8:8933–8952

    Google Scholar 

  • Zaman MA, Iqbal Z, Abbas RZ, Khan MN, Muhammad G, Younus M, Ahmed S (2012) In vitro and in vivo acaricidal activity of an herbal extract. Vet Parasit 186:431–436

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Universidade Federal of Pará and Universidade Federal of Maranhão for the infrastructure and support, FAPESPA (Fundação Amazônia de Amparo a Estudos e Pesquisas do Pará), and FAPEMA (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico do Maranhão) for the financial support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidade Federal do Maranhão - Centro de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais - Campus IV, MA 230, km 04, bairro Boa Vista, Chapadinha, Maranhão, CEP 65500-000, Brazil

    Sinval Garcia Pereira, Sandra Alves de Araújo & Livio Martins Costa Junior

  2. Universidade Federal do Pará—Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química, Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Naturais, Campus Universitário José da Silveira Neto, Rua Augusto Corrêa, n° 1, Belém do Pará, PA, CEP 66075-110, Brazil

    Giselle Maria Skelding Pinheiro Guilhon & Lourivaldo Silva Santos

Authors
  1. Sinval Garcia Pereira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sandra Alves de Araújo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Giselle Maria Skelding Pinheiro Guilhon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Lourivaldo Silva Santos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Livio Martins Costa Junior
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sinval Garcia Pereira.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Pereira, S.G., de Araújo, S.A., Guilhon, G.M.S.P. et al. In vitro acaricidal activity of Crescentia cujete L. fruit pulp against Rhipicephalus microplus . Parasitol Res 116, 1487–1493 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-017-5425-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-017-5425-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation