Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) oil: A promising miticidal and ovicidal agent against Sarcoptes scabiei.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Essential oils may represent an alternative strategy for controlling scabies, a neglected tropical disease caused by the infestation of mite from the species Sarcoptes scabiei. Lemongrass (Cymbopogen citratus) oil is reported to possess pharmacological properties including antiparasitc, antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. The aim of the present study was to assess the potential efficacy of lemongrass oil against the mites and eggs of Sarcoptes scabiei.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:

Mass spectrometry analysis confirmed that the main component presented in lemongrass oil was citral. Lemongrass oil at concentrations of 10% and 5% killed all Sarcoptes mites within 10 and 25 min, respectively. The median lethal concentration value was 1.37%, 1.08%, 0.91%, 0.64%, and 0.48% at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h, respectively. Lemongrass oil at all concentrations (10%, 5%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.1%) was able to significantly decrease the hatching rate of Sarcoptes eggs.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:

Lemongrass oil should be considered as a promising miticidal and ovicidal agent for scabies control.

• Authors: Meilin Li, Buming Liu, Charlotte Bernigaud, Katja Fischer, Jacques Guillot, Fang Fang
• Journal: PLoS neglected tropical diseases (PLoS Negl Trop Dis) Vol. 14 Issue 4 Pg. e0008225 (04 2020) ISSN: 1935-2735 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 32251453 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Acaricides
• Plant Oils
• Terpenes
• lemongrass oil

Topics

• Acaricides (isolation & purification, pharmacology)
• Animals
• Biological Assay
• Cymbopogon (chemistry)
• Mass Spectrometry
• Plant Oils (isolation & purification, pharmacology)
• Sarcoptes scabiei (drug effects, physiology)
• Survival Analysis
• Terpenes (isolation & purification, pharmacology)