Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Trends in Acarology pp 541–543Cite as

Acaricidal activity of some essential oils and their monoterpenoidal constituents against the house dust mite, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Acari: Pyroglyphidae)

Abstract

The acaricidal activity of 14 essential oils and 14 of their major monoterpenoids were tested against the house dust mite Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. Mites were exposed for 24 and 48 h to five concentrations of each constituent, under laboratory conditions. In general, the acaricidal effect of both essential oils and monoterpenoids against the dust mites was time-dependent: LC50 values decreased with increasing exposure time. Essential oils from clove, matrecary, chenopodium, rosemary, eucalyptus, and caraway oils had high activity. The monoterpenoids cinnamaldehyde and chlorothymol were most effective, followed by citronellol. This study suggests the use of several essential oils and their major constituents as eco-friendly biodegradable agents for the control of the house dust mite, D. pteronyssinus.

Key words

  • Natural acaricides
  • essential oils
  • monoterpenoids
  • house dust mite
  • Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   259.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Adilah N, Fitzharris P, Crane J & Siebers RW (1997) The effect of frequent vacuum cleaning on the house dust mite allergen. New Zeal Med J 28: 438–439.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arlian LG, Bernstein D & Friedman S (1992) Prevalence of dust mites in the homes of people with asthma living in eight different geographic areas of the United States. J Allergy Clin Immunol 90: 292–300.

    CrossRef  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Arshad SH & Hide DW (1992) Effect of environmental factors on the development of allergic disorders in infancy. J Allergy Clin Immunol 90: 235–241.

    CrossRef  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bischoff ER, Fischer A, Liebenberg B & Kniest FM (1998) Mite control with low temperature washing. II- Elimination of living mites on clothing. Clin Exp Allergy 28: 60–65.

    CrossRef  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Colloff M, Ayres J, Carswell F & Howarth P (1992) The control of allergens of dust mites and domestic pets. Clin Exp. Allergy 22: 1–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finney J (1971) Probit Analysis. 2nd edn. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Furimizo RT & Natuhara Y (1989) New wet sieving method for isolating house dust mites. Jap J Sanit Zool 40: 333–336.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Green WF, Nicholas NR, Salome CM & Woolcock AJ (1989) Reduction of house dust mites and mite allergens: effect of spraying carpets and blankets with Allersearch DMS, an acaricide combined with an allergen reducing agent. Clin Exp Allergy 19: 203–207.

    CrossRef  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hallas TE (1991) The biology of mites. Allergy 46: 6–9.

    CrossRef  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kim EH, Kim HK & Ahn YJ (2003) Acaricidal activity of clove bud oil compounds against Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae (Acari: pyroglyphidae). J Agric Food Chem 51: 885–889.

    CrossRef  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kim HK (2001) Acaricidal activities of phenylpropenes identified in Cinnamomum cassia bark against Dermatophagoides spp. (Acari: Pyroglyphidae). MSc Thesis, Seoul National University, Suwon, Republic of Korea.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kwon JH & Ahn YJ (2002) Acaricidal activity of butylidenephathalide identified in Cnidium officinale rhizome against against Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Acari: pyroglyphidae). J Agric Food Chem 50: 4479–4483.

    CrossRef  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lau-Schadendorf S, Falkenhorst G & Weber A (1989) High mite allergen exposure increases the risk of sensitization in atopic children and young adults. J Allergy Clin Immunol 84: 718–725.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • McDonald LG & Tovey E (1993) The effectiveness of benzyl benzoate and some essential plant oils as laundry additives for killing house dust mites. J Allergy Clin Immunol 92: 771–772.

    CrossRef  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell EB, Wilkins S, McCallum J & Platt-Mills TA (1985) Reduction of house dust mite allergen in the home. Uses of the acaricides. Clin Allergy 15: 235–240.

    CrossRef  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miyazaki Y, Yatagai M & Takaoka M (1989) Effect of essential oils on the activity of house dust mites. Jpn J Biometeorol 26: 105–108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nishioka K, Yasueda H & Saito H (1998) Preventive effect of bedding encasement with micro fine fibers on mite sensitization. J Allergy Clin Immunol 101: 28–32.

    CrossRef  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rembold H (2005) Control of the house dust mite, Dermatophagoides farinae, by neem seed extract. J Allergy Clin Immunol 115: S131.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Rezk HA (2004). Evaluation of some environmental factors affecting the population density of house dust mites in the homes of asthmatic patients in Egypt. Alex J Pharm Sci 18: 11–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rezk HA, Abd El-Hamid MM & Abd El-latif MA (1996) House dust mites in Alexandria region, Egypt. Alex J Agric Res 41: 209–216.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rezk HA & Gadelhak GG (2004) Acaricidal activity of two plant essential oils on the adult stage of the house dust mite, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus Trouessart (Acari: Pyroglyphidae). Phytophaga XIV: 667–673.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saint Georges, G de (1987) Vitamin requirements of the European house dust mite, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Acari: Pyroglyphidae), in relation to its fungal association. J Med Entomol 24: 408–410.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Solarz K (2001) Risk of exposure to house dust pyroglyphid mites in Poland. Ann Agric Environ Med 8: 11–24.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Solarz K (2001) Pyroglyphidae (Acari: Astigmata) in Poland. Distribution, biology, population ecology and epidemiology. Acta Zool Cracov 44: 435–528.

    Google Scholar 

  • Susan MP & Ward GW (1987) House dust sensitivity and environmental control. Immunol Allergy North Am 7: 447–461.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tovey E (1993) Mites and their allergen. Mites, Asthma and Domestic Design (ed. by E Tovey, A Fifoot & L Sieber), pp. 19–21. University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tovey E & McDonald LG (1997) A simple washing procedure with eucalyptus oil for controlling house dust mites and their allergens in clothing and bedding. J Allergy Clin Immunol 100: 464–466.

    CrossRef  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pesticide Chemistry Department, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

    S. R. El-Zemity

  2. Economic Entomology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

    H. A. Rezk, Saher Farok & A. A. Zaitoon

Authors
  1. S. R. El-Zemity
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. H. A. Rezk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Saher Farok
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. A. Zaitoon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. A. Rezk .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Population Biology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem, Amsterdam, 1090 GE, Netherlands

    Maurice W. Sabelis

  2. Section Population Biology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem, Amsterdam, 1090 GE, Netherlands

    Jan Bruin

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

Copyright information

© 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

About this paper

Cite this paper

El-Zemity, S.R., Rezk, H.A., Farok, S., Zaitoon, A.A. (2010). Acaricidal activity of some essential oils and their monoterpenoidal constituents against the house dust mite, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Acari: Pyroglyphidae). In: Sabelis, M., Bruin, J. (eds) Trends in Acarology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9837-5_93

Download citation

search

Navigation