Vol. 77 (3) 2025

ARTICLES

Evaluation of Acaricidal Effects of Extracts from the Plants Achillea millefolium L. and Ferula asafoetida H. Karst. on Hyalomma sp. Ticks and Cytotoxic Activity on Vero Cells

Roghayeh Norouzi1*, Behzad Hajagha Gholizadeh1, Abolghasem Siyadatpanah2, Mourad Ben Said3, Diana Mendonça4,5, Maria de Lourdes Pereira4,6, Ryan V. Labana7,8 & Veeranoot Nissapatorn9

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*1Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran; E-mail: roghayehnorouzi123@gmail.com; behzad19802005@yahoo.com
2Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Research Center, Gonabad University of Medical Science, Gonabad, Iran; E-mail: asiyadatpanah@yahoo.com
3Laboratory of Microbiology, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet and Department of Basic Sciences, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet, University of Manouba, Manouba 2010, Tunisia; E-mail: bensaidmourad83@yahoo.fr
4CICECO – Aveiro Institute of Materials University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
5Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal; E-mail: dianapintomendonca@ua.pt
6Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal; E-mail: mlourdespereira@ua.pt
7Center for Health Sciences, Research Institute for Science and Technology, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Sta. Mesa, Manila, Philippines; E-mail: rvlabana@pup.edu.ph
8Department of Biology, College of Science, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Sta. Mesa, Manila, Philippines
9Futuristic Science Research Center and World Union for Herbal Drug Discovery, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Tammarat, Thailand; E-mail: nissapat@gmail.com

https://doi.org/10.71424/azb77.3.002914

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Abstract

Ticks of the genus Hyalomma are a key vector for the transmission of various microorganisms to humans and animals. Current research focuses on evaluating herbal medicines and natural products for tick control. This study assessed the acaricidal effects of hydroalcoholic extracts of the plants Achillea millefolium L. and Ferula asafoetida H. Karst. against Hyalomma sp. ticks in vitro, while determining their toxicity using the MTT assay. The acaricidal activities of both plant extracts were evaluated at concentrations of 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg/ml after exposure times of 15, 30 and 60 minutes, using spray and contact methods. The chemical composition of the extracts was analysed via gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and toxicity was assessed by the MTT assay. Results indicated that A. millefolium L. extracts achieved 100 % mortality at 200 mg/ml after 15 minutes and at 150 mg/ml after 30 minutes of exposure. In contrast, F. asafoetida H. Karst. exhibited 100 % mortality at 200 mg/ml after 60 minutes. The main chemical components identified in A. millefolium L. and F. asafoetida H. Karst. were docosane (9.82%) and 2-Methoxy-3-methylbutanoic acid (13.9%), respectively. The MTT toxicity test revealed that A. millefolium L. exhibited low toxicity across all concentrations, while F. asafoetida H. Karst. showed significant cytotoxicity against the Vero cell line. These findings demonstrate that both plants possess acaricidal activity, with A. millefolium L. showing the most potent effects at lower concentrations. However, further studies are required to evaluate the efficacy of these extracts in vivo.

Key words

Acaricide; Achillea millefolium L.; Ferula asafoetida H. Karst.; Hyalomma sp.; ticks; toxicity

How to Cite
Norouzi R., Gholizadeh B. H., Siyadatpanah A., Said M. B., Mendonça D., Pereira M. de L., Labana R. V. & Nissapatorn V. 2025. Evaluation of Acaricidal Effects of Extracts from the Plants Achillea millefolium L. and Ferula asafoetida H. Karst.
on Hyalomma sp. Ticks and Cytotoxic Activity on Vero Cells. Acta zoologica bulgarica 77 (3): 387-396.

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