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Ovicidal and Pediculicidal Activity of Indigofera suffruticosa Mill. Leaf Oil on Pediculus humanus capitis Egg to Adult Stages

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Abstract

Purpose

Pediculosis capitis, commonly known as head lice infestation, represents a significant health 26 problem for school children worldwide. Repeated and long-term usages of highly toxic pediculicides have resulted in the development of increased levels of resistance and do not kill louse eggs. Alternative pediculicides, such as herbal products, have recently been proposed for the treatment of head lice infestation, thereby decreasing toxicity.

Methods

This study analyzed the chemical composition of I. suffruticosa leaf extracts using GC–MS and evaluated the effects of Indigofera suffruticosa Mill. (I. suffruticosa) leaf extract on the mortality of head lice and their eggs.

Results

The major five components of the tested oils identified were as follows: n-hexadecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, ethyl ester, oleic acid, (E)-9-octadecenoic acid ethyl ester, and linoleic acid ethyl ester. The effective pediculicide of the I. suffruticosa leaf extracts affected head lice in all stages (egg, nymph, and adults). The concentrations of I. suffruticosa leaf extracts at 500 mg/mL produced the highest effective ovicidal on egg with 96.6% unhatching and pediculicide on nymphs and adults with 96.7 ± 5.7% and 86.7 ± 5.7% mortality, respectively, at 60 min (LT50 value < 10 min). The analysis of the external structure of the adult-stage head lice by SEM examination revealed that dead lice exposed to I. suffruticosa leaf extract displayed damage to the outer smooth architecture and obstructed the respiratory spiracles.

Conclusion

We may conclude that the application of I. suffruticosa leaf extract produces an effective herbal pediculicide capable of affecting all stages of head lice.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all students, parents, and school directors and teachers who voluntarily participated in this study. The authors would also like to express their thanks to the Department of Thai Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Natural Resources, Rajamangala University of Technology Isan Sakon Nakhon Campus, Sakon Nakhon, Thailand, for its support.

Funding

This study was supported by the Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI), Contract no. FRB630010/0174-P5-08.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Thai Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Natural Resources, Rajamangala University of Technology Isan Sakon Nakhon Campus, Sakon Nakhon, 47160, Thailand

    Patwarapohn Udonsan, Ratchadawan Aukkanimart, Jatuporn Prathumtet & Pranee Sriraj

  2. Plant Science Section, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University, Sakon Nakhon, 47000, Thailand

    Somchai Butnan

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  1. Patwarapohn Udonsan
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Contributions

PS and SB contributed to conceptualization; PS and PU performed data curation and formal analysis; PS was involved in funding acquisition, project administration, supervision, and validation; PU, PS, RA, JP, and SB were involved in methodology; PU, PS, and SB wrote the original draft; PS, PU, RA, JP, and SB contributed to writing (review and editing). All the authors have read and agreed to the published version of this manuscript.

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Correspondence to Pranee Sriraj.

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Udonsan, P., Aukkanimart, R., Prathumtet, J. et al. Ovicidal and Pediculicidal Activity of Indigofera suffruticosa Mill. Leaf Oil on Pediculus humanus capitis Egg to Adult Stages. Acta Parasit. 68, 853–861 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-023-00716-8

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