Evaluation of antimicrobial and anti-tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Acari: Ixodidae) activities of Tagetes patula L. (Asteraceae) extracts

• Grant number: 10/11991-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2011
• End date: July 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy
• Principal Investigator: Rosemeire Cristina Linhari Rodrigues Pietro
• Grantee: Rosemeire Cristina Linhari Rodrigues Pietro
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Gervasio Henrique Bechara ; Glyn Mara Figueira ; Wagner Vilegas

Abstract

The Rhipicephalus sanguineus is probably the more widespread tick species worldwide today and involved in the transmission of pathogenic agents. Studies have demonstrated acquired resistance of the tick to some of the active ingredients used in commercial formulations of acaricides. Together with biological control, there is the use of natural products in which studies on the use of plant species to control parasites of animals, especially, are scarce. This project is part of the Doctor degree of Flávio A. S. Politi (Process FAPESP 2010/06450-0) and predicts the study of in vitro acaricide action as an alternative method with a product of natural origin. The project, in the generation of plants, have the participation of Profa. Dra. Glyn M. Figueira, in the characterization of the extracts with Prof. Dr. Wagner Vilegas and in the tests of acaricide action with Prof. Dr. Gervásio H. Bechara. Besides showing larvicidal property, several studies with extracts of Tagetes spp (Asteraceae) have shown effectiveness against many microbial agents. In this project we study the in vitro anti-tick activity of the extract of aerial parts of Tagetes patula against the various developmental stages in the life cycle of ticks R. sanguineus. It is also aimed to verify the activity of the extract on the viability of entomopathogenic fungi directly related to the biological control of ticks, such as M. anisopliae and B. bassiana, which could present a selective action. (AU)