# Potential of Traditional Knowledge of Plants in the Management of Arthropods in Livestock Industry with Focus on (Acari) Ticks

Authors: Wycliffe Wanzala
Journal: Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
 (2017)

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## Abstract

Antitick plants and related ethnoknowledge/ethnopractices with potential for integrated tick control and management strategies to improve livestock production are reviewed. About 231 plants reviewed showed a variety of bioactive properties, namely, being toxic, repellent, antifeedant, and antiovipositant and ability to immobilize target tick species. These ethnobotanical substances are potentially useful in developing sustainable, efficient, and effective antitick agents suitable for rural livestock farmers. Majority of these plants are holistic in action, economically affordable, user friendly, easily adaptable and accessible, and environmentally friendly and help develop community-driven tick control interventions well suited to local conditions and specific to different livestock communities. Such a multipurpose intervention best fits the recent ascendancy of individual livestock owners as the key players in tick control programmes, particularly following the withdrawal of subsidies accorded to tick control programmes by most African government agencies since mid-1980s. However, scientific validation of antitick ethnobotanicals on their efficacy and formulation of packages easily handled by local communities is necessary to achieve a significantly increased use of such remedies. It is envisaged that the results of validation may lead to the discovery of effective and affordable antitick products. The effectiveness of these “best bets” ethnopractices can be greatest, if they are appropriately blended with conventional technologies.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Animals worldwide are externally infested by a number of parasitic insect and acarine species, collectively called ectoparasites. Ectoparasite, a word originating from the Greek words,ektos meaning outside andparasitos meaning parasite, refers to an organism that lives on the exterior of its host and to the detriment of that host. These ectoparasites include lice, mites, fleas, blowflies, blackflies, mosquitoes and ticks. They afflict humans and livestock alike, causing major socioeconomic losses and suffering of human life and livestock industry, predominantly as a result of transmission of a wide variety of pathogens (viruses, rickettsiae, spirochetes and bacteria, fungi, protozoa, filarial worms, and nematodes), some causing deadly dangerous zoonotic diseases [1–4]. In addition, they cause skin diseases, annoyance, uneasiness, itching, wounds (source of secondary infections), myiasis, hide/skin damage, reduction of meat, milk, blood, and wool production, and low income from the sales of farm animals and their products [5].Of these blood-feeding ectoparasites, ticks are the most important arthropod disease vectors, surpassing all other haematophagous arthropods in number and variety of diseases they transmit to animals and humans [6]. By virtue of their protracted feeding period, ticks represent an extreme example of evasion of their host’s haemostatic defenses and immune response, thus becoming better placed pathogen transmitters than any other arthropods known [7–12]. The lack of digestive enzymes in the tick gut favours the survival of ingested microorganisms and may explain why ticks transmit a greater variety of pathogens than any other haematophagous arthropods [13]. Notably, a wide range of tick-borne bacterial diseases (rickettsioses, ehrlichioses, Lyme disease, relapsing fever borrelioses, tularemia, and Q fever) and Omsk hemorrhagic fever, louping-ill disease, tick-borne encephalitis, West Nile fever, and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever are increasingly emerging diseases of human concern [14, 15].Of all ectoparasites infesting livestock, ticks cause the greatest economic losses in livestock production systems at a global level [6, 13, 16]. However, in Africa (particularly in East Africa), tsetse flies, which infest only 40% of the continent [17], surpass ticks, which are found on the entire continent (30 M sq km) in terms of socioeconomic losses incurred in livestock industry. Livestock ticks transmit a variety of aetiologic organisms (bacteria, protozoa, rickettsiae, and viruses) and the causative agents of a number of debilitating livestock diseases (theileriosis, heartwater, Nairobi sheep disease, streptothricosis, babesiosis/piroplasmosis, and anaplasmosis). These diseases, together with the abundance of the individual tick species, are widely distributed globally in tropical and subtropical regions [18]. The most economically important ixodid ticks infesting livestock in these regions belong to the genera:Amblyomma, Haemaphysalis, Rhipicephalus, Boophilus, Hyalomma, Dermacentor, andIxodes.The impact of ticks and tick-borne diseases (T&TBDs) continue to be felt in rural Africa, Asia, and some parts of Americas with untold suffering and losses in livestock and livestock-dependent livelihoods [19]. Estimation of economic impacts of T&TBDs is, however, confounded by lack of accurate estimates of disease prevalence, the heterogeneous nature of cattle production, and complexity associated with the estimation of direct and indirect disease-related production losses [19–22]. However, some annual costs due to T&TBDs control and management in selected countries of Africa and Asia and also in Australia are shown in Figure 1. The economic losses were highest in India ($US 355 million) and lowest in the Philippines. The annual economic costs of T&TBDs per head are shown in Figure 2. They were lower in the Asia-Australia region than in Africa due to the fact that high intensity tick control and management methods are employed in African countries where a highly pathogenic tick-borne disease (East Coast fever caused byTheileria parva parva) is endemic [23], causing the highest cattle morbidity and mortality [24, 25].Figure 1
Annual economic impact of tick and tick-borne diseases (US$m) as outlined by McLeod and Kristjanson [19].Figure 2
Annual economic impact of tick-borne diseases on a per head basis as outlined by McLeod and Kristjanson [19].Despite progress in scientific research and development, T&TBDs’ control worldwide has continued to rely heavily on synthetic chemical acaricides. Overdependence on these acaricides diverted attention from exploring and developing sustainable alternative method(s) including traditional methods of tick control and management. Unfortunately, synthetic chemical acaricides have long become unsustainable to use in T&TBDs’ control and management interventions [23, 26–29]. Such compounds have suffered from a number of drawbacks, including acaricide resistance in ticks, their rocketing costs, pollution of the environment and food products (meat, blood, and milk) with toxic residues, deleterious effects on nontarget organisms, creation of an enzootically unstable disease situation, and the uncertainty of new acaricidal molecules being produced in the near future due to prohibitive costs of investment in research and development by the manufacturing firms [30]. Additionally, the efficacy of some acaricides/ectoparasiticides against some ectoparasites became questionable [31]. Societal and scientific concerns regarding exclusive dependency upon synthetic chemicals have emphasized the need for the development and introduction of alternatives to acaricides that are consistent with the principles of sustainable agriculture [32]. However, the alternative tick control interventions that exist, namely, use of ethnobotanicals including antitick pastures, biological mechanisms (parasitoids, predators, microbial agents, and nematodes), establishing endemic stability for tick diseases, manipulation of hybrid sterility between closely related tick species, hand deticking, habitat modification, pheromone- and host odor-mediated tick control methods, breeding tick resistant livestock strains, use of antitick vaccines, use of quarantine legislations, slaughtering infected animals, pasture spelling, use of fodder with high nutritional level to enable livestock withstand the stress caused by T&TBDs, and use of tick models to help select cost-effective strategies, are selectively used with little success. Some are rarely used while others are still either under development or unknown to the end users (rural livestock farmers). People education and awareness campaign programmes and events like in the case of Lyme disease vector ticks in Europe and North America have never been effectively, efficiently, and extensively planned and conducted for the case of livestock ticks. The sustainability of tick control and management interventions are always marred with a variety of problems depending on formulated tick control and management strategies and policies, scientific opinions of stakeholders, and government legislation and political will of involved countries [33–35]. Shortcomings in certain tick control and management interventions such as partial control ofBoophilus microplus by vaccination [29] and technical difficulties in execution of large-scale tick control and management interventions [36, 37] are among the obstacles that have continued to undermine successful T&TBDs control operations even when using alternative methods available. Socioeconomic constraints, political strife, lack of trained personnel, and a poor infrastructure are major contributory factors to unsuccessful tick control and management interventions [22, 23, 33]. Incorrect administration of developed tick control tools and their continued failure to be efficient and effective are some of the obstacles reported during T&TBDs control operations [37, 38]. However, enforcement of appropriate legislation and good management of developed tick control interventions have, in the past, scored successes in some areas [22].The failure of many developed tick control and management interventions has not been only due to the above problems but was also caused by the manner in which they are planned, developed, implemented, monitored, and evaluated [22]. For instance, many programmes are generated without taking into account the existing traditional livestock farming systems and conditions, production objectives, priorities, resource base, and technical-know-how of rural livestock farmers [39]. Many top-down tick control interventions rely solely on researchers’ professional expertise to identify research problems and draw up research agendas and priorities without consulting and involving the end users’ (rural livestock farmers) cultural values, social practices, and opinion [40, 41]. Developing safe, economically affordable, user friendly, easily adaptable and accessible, environmentally friendly, and community-driven interventions well suited to local conditions and specific to rural livestock communities can be highly successful and would be desirable [21, 42]. Community-specific and locally available antitick plants [43, 44] and other none botanical antitick ethnopractices and agents [43, 45] are promising but neglected strategic alternatives in tick control and management programmes. Although work on these plants in 1980s and 1990s revealed a resource with great potentials (antitick plants with toxic, repellent, attractant, antifeedant, and growth regulating properties) [46], this strategy has remained neglected and unexploited [47]. Most important is the fact that these plants are holistic in action [39, 48] and, therefore, have many positive values to offer to rural livestock farmers [49]. Such a multipurpose intervention best fits the recent ascendancy of individual livestock owners as the main players in tick control programmes, particularly following the withdrawal of most African government agencies in mid-1980s [50, 51]. This paper reviews the potential role and contribution of ethnoknowledge on ectoparasite control with a special focus on ethnobotanical acaricides in integrated tick control and management programmes. The review constitutes a consolidated database of previously used or mentioned plants with antitick properties, including antitick knowledge reported in non-peer-reviewed publications. Only some of these plants so far have been experimentally evaluated and assessed for their acaricidal/ectoparasiticidal activity.


## 2. An Overview of Sources of Information on Plants with Effects on Livestock Ticks

This section describes and discusses a varied number of sources and methods used to access information on plants and plant products with effects on livestock ticks worldwide. The identification of sources of information of ethnobotany of veterinary importance, local veterinarians, paraveterinarians, and agricultural extension officers responsible for providing extension services to livestock farmers in Kenya were accessed and discussions held. Local livestock traders and dealers, as well as individual livestock farmers, contributed their knowledge of ethnoveterinary medicine based on their professional and economic activities. Local ethnopractitioners, including general traditional healers/herbalists, diviners, curse detectors, and specialized medicine men and women formed a particular special subset of knowledgeable people from whom information was accessed. Secondary data were key source of information for this particular study and provided a very important source of leading ethnobotanical information of veterinary importance. Sources of secondary data included the following: local veterinary offices, herbaria libraries, and websites/URLs and databases of various relevant research institutions and centres worldwide. All these groups were consulted because each was associated with a specific aspect of useful ethnobotanical knowledge relevant to the study.


## 3. Ethnoknowledge of Ectoparasite Control and Management

This is a culture-bound knowledge system found within ethnoveterinary medicine, which has evolved concurrently with human ethnomedicine [52–54]. Understanding ethnopractices involved in ectoparasite control and management is necessary in the verification processes so that any research effort is not wasted on chemical analysis of plants that are used for culturally specific reasons [55]. For example, a study conducted in Trinidad and Tobago on a wide range of ethnoveterinary plants [55], through cultural comparative analysis with reference to the existing literature and by a method of nonexperimental validation of herbal medicines/products, resulted in the following list of 13 cultural plants that were selected for use in integrated control and management of the cattle ticks,Boophilus microplus andAmblyomma cajennense (locally known as “Garrapat” and “Cayenne,” resp.), the dog tick,R. sanguineus, and mites [56] (see Table 1).Table 1
Plants used in the prevention, control, and management of ticks and mites of livestock in Trinidad and Tobago.
Scientific name
Family
Plant part used
Known active and other components
Azadirachta indica
Meliaceae
Leaves
Limonoids, azadirachtin, salannin, deacetyl-azadirachtin, and meliantriol
Cedrela odorata
Meliaceae
Leaves
—
Cordia curassavica
Boraginaceae
Leaves
Phenols and terpenoid quinones
Eclipta alba
Compositae
Plant tops
Polyacetylenes nicotine
Mammea americana
Guttiferae
Seeds
Mammein
Manilkara zapota
Sapotaceae
Seeds
HCN, sapotin, and saponin
Momordica charantia
Cucurbitaceae
Vine
—
Musa species
Musaceae
Stem juice
Caprylic acid and 5-hydroxy-tryptamine
Nicotiana tabacum
Solanaceae
Leaves
Nicotine
Petiveria alliacea
Phytolaccaceae
Leaves
—
Pouteria sapota
Sapotaceae
Seeds
Amygdalin
Renealmia alpinia
Zingiberaceae
Leaves
—
Scoparia dulcis
Scrophulariaceae
Plant tops
—
Note. Some of these plants were among the 43 plant species evaluated in Jamaica, whose crude ethanol extracts of the leaves for pesticidal effects on the engorged cattle tick, Boophilus microplus, were determined [57, 58]. Their acaricidal indices (AI) for the crude plant extracts ranged from 50 to 100. Among the plants studied were Momordica charantia (AI = 71), Azadirachta indica (AI = 68), and Petiveria alliacea (AI = 66).Ancient communities particularly those that practiced pastoralism understood the concept of contagion and vector-borne disease of livestock involving ectoparasites [39]. They had control measures put in place to help avert economic losses incurred due to these parasites [39, 59–61]. Although most of the pertinent literature is anecdotal, several recent studies have shown that wild animals naturally select certain plant species and use them for management of ectoparasites infesting their respective places of residence [62]. Virtually all ancient stock raising societies had ways to control and manage livestock ectoparasites that plagued their animals. For instance, Nigerian Fulani correctly observed thatSammore (Trypanosomiasis) was spread by tsetse fly bites [63] and used a variety of traditional methods to control them [39]. The East African pastoralist communities knew long before the advent and introduction of western veterinary science that redwater scourge in cattle and heartwater bane in sheep were caused by the bite of grass ticks, which infested the grazing grounds [48]. Similar beliefs implicating ticks as vectors of deadly livestock diseases were held by Somali [61], Dinka [64], Fulani [60], and South African early settlers [39]. Other ectoparasites well known to ancient stock raisers as sources of livestock diseases include the following: biting flies, fleas, lice, and mites (causative agents of livestock mange/scabies) [48]. Control and management of these livestock ectoparasites have been summarized in Table 2. Within the phylum Arthropoda, one ethnoremedy technique or practice could or can be used for controlling and managing more than one ectoparasite [48]. For instance,Nicotiana tabacum decoction/suspension was used by the Gikuyu women in Kenya to control ticks, by the Nigerians to control biting flies, by the Bulgarian nomads and the Andeans to control mites, mange, and scabies, and by the Samburu in Kenya to control leeches (Table 2). This shows the holistic nature of ethnobotanical remedies (natural bioactive compounds from plants), the much needed technology [65] suitable for deployment in integrated pest management by resource-poor livestock farmers [22].Table 2
Traditional prevention, control, and management of livestock ectoparasites by native and local communities.
Target livestock ectoparasite(s)
A description of traditional remedy
References
Small red flies
(i) Setting smudge fires in the sheds(ii) Rubbing kerosene and other substances on the animals
[66]
Tick infestation in livestock populations
Piercing ticks with a needle or a blade
[61, 67]
(i) Feeding salty plants to animals so that the ticks can fall off(ii) Every morning, picking off and burning any ticks they find on their animals(iii) Placing thorn bushes on infested places so that camels should not roll on them
(i) Pounding 5 leaves ofAloe broomiiand mixing with 300 ml of paraffin oil and 2 handfuls of kitchen ash to make a paste for smearing on the infested parts of the animal(ii) Use of hagar, Commiphora erythraea, or damaji, C. incisa, by Gabbra and Somali in Kenya(iii) Smearing leaf paste of eteteleit, Acalypha fruticosa, by the Turkana in Kenya(iv) Bathing animals with salt solution (~100 g of salt dissolved in 1 litre of water)(v) Rubbing old engine oil on infested areas of the animal’s body(vi) Allowing animals to wallow in shallow, muddy pools(vii) Using animal quarantine techniques to keep infected stock away from noninfected one(viii) Removal of weeds and bushes from livestock housing(ix) Predation of ticks by birds-keeping chickens in and around the animal housing(x) Raising neem, Azadirachta indica, or other tick-repellent plants near animal housing
[67]
Use of tobacco,Nicotiana tabacum, by the Gikuyu in Kenya
[45, 67]
(i) Avoiding infested pastures, fodder, shade trees, and cool places which favour ticks’ survival(ii) Burning of livestock pastures and tick-infested manure in the sheds
[61, 67]
Drenching animals with a mixture of salt and six ground fruits by the Twareg
[68]
Handpicking of ticks during milking by Fulani women and children in Burkina Faso
[60]
Use of toastedmaych’a  leaves to drive out ear ticks in herd animals in Peruvian Andes
[69]
A herbal preparation pestban in control of ectoparasites in household pets and domesticated animals in India
[70, 71]
Acaricidal activity of the combination of plant crude extracts to tropical cattle ticks(Boophilus microplus) in India
[72, 73]
A herbal ectoparasiticide AV/EPP/14 against lice and tick infestation on buffalo and cattle in India
[74]
Livestock insects
Lighting smudge fires beside resting buffalo, cattle, Amerindian horses, Siberian reindeer, and Andean guinea pigs
[59, 66, 75, 76]
Livestock pests
Andeans burnt old tires in corrals
[39]
In Andean region, corrals were sprinkled with lime, kerosene, or creosote on affected animals
[77]
Seasonal burning of rangelands used for grazing in Andes and Africa
[39]
A herbal preparation pestban in control of ectoparasites in household pets and domesticated animals
[70, 71]
Parasitic Insects
Fumigation of animal quarters and camps with herbs by Nigerian Pastoralists
[63, 71]
Tsetse flies
Washing cattle with an infusion ofSesbania aculeata, ointments, dust, and tobacco by Nigerian pastoralists
[63]
(i) Bathing animals’ body with emulsion made from roots ofCissus purpurea (ii) Bathing animals’ body with emulsion made from leaves of Sesbania sesban in Kenya(iii) Smearing the oil of neem, Azadirachta indica, seed kernels on animals’ bodies(iv) Smearing the latex of Euphorbia balsamifera on the bodies of affected animals
[67]
Livestock biting flies
(i) Nigerian horses bathed with fly-repellent liquids(ii) Yoruba employed soap mixed with graded roots of the violet tree(iii) Northern Nigerians applied tobacco-based ointment
[75]
Venezuelan fly repellent was a wash of squash-leaf juice
[78]
(i) Washing animals with a suspension of fresh root ofanthata  of Gabbra in Kenya(ii) Smoke from burning cow dung drove the flies away(iii) Position livestock sheds to allow wind to blow flies away and avoid flies-infested areas
[67]
Livestock fleas and lice
A herbal ectoparasiticide AV/EPP/14 against lice and tick infestation on buffalo and cattle in India
[74]
(i) Sweep livestock sheds with brooms ofTagetes minuta(Mexican marigold) or desert rose, Adenium obesum,or burn T. minuta leaves in sheds and wash cattle with A. obesum (ii) Sprinkling Magadi soda powder in sheds or wash animals with suspension of A.obesum (iii) Wash animals with suspension of Aloe spp. (A. secundiflora, A. kedongensis, and A. lateritia)
[67, 70, 71, 74]
Livestock lice per se
(i) Wash animals with suspension ofAloe spp. and sisal, Agave sisalana  (ii) Smearing cattle with mixtures of fruits of adekelait  and akej etom  of Turkana in Kenya(iii) Wash animals with suspension of garlic, Allium sativum  (iv) Use of eucalyptus, blue gum, Eucalyptusspp.(vi) Rubbing camel’s urine on the infested animals’ skins(vii) Smearing a mixture of camel’s urine and salty soil on animal’s skin(viii) Smearing cow dung on the infested body areas of the animals(ix) Smearing goats’, donkeys’, sheep’s, and camel bones’ fat over the animals’ bodies(x) Washing affected animals with natural salty water(xi) Rubbing a paste of clay (dhoobo in Somali) on the affected animals(xii) Shaving camels’ hair and rubbing skin with a mixture of camel’s urine and salty soil(xiii) A herbal preparation pestban in control of ectoparasites in household pets and domesticated animals (xiv) A herbal ectoparasiticide AV/EPP/14 against lice and tick infestation on buffalo and cattle
Nasal bots
(i) Putting in nostril a suspension of root ofabach  by the Turkana of Kenya(ii) Keeping animals away from thickets in the rainy season(iii) Giving animals drinking water at salty sources to enable them expel the larvae(iv) Putting in nostril a suspension of root of entulelei(Solanum incanum) or olgrigiri  (Acacia brevispica) by the Maasai of Kenya(v) Putting in nostril juice from ripe fruits of sodom apple, S. incanum, by Kamba people(vi) Putting in nostril a teaspoonful of root suspension of Ingalayioi (Cucumis sp.) by the Samburu of Kenya(vii) Putting sheep milk into nostrils of affected animals to make them sneeze out maggots(viii) Passing in nostril smoke of the bark of Ingeriyioi  or Imasei  (Tarenna graveolens) by the Samburu of Kenya
Leeches
(i) Use of tobacco,Nicotiana tabacum, and Saali le tim  suspension by Samburu in Kenya(ii) Avoiding leech-infested areas and physically removing attached leeches from animals
[67]
Swine ectoparasites
Banana leaves and an extract of garlic in Central Brazil
[79]
Chicken lice
A wash of vinegar and lemon juice by Andean people
[39]
Skin sores of cattle
Dust with the powdered dung of ostriches and hyenas by the Neur
[59]
Lice and mites
A herbal preparation pestban in control of ectoparasites in household pets and domesticated animals
[70, 71]
Andean stockowners usedbarbasco
[80]
Mange/scabies caused by ectoparasitic mites
Root ofRumex patientia L.
[81]
Latex fromEuphorbia somaliensis or camel urine
[82]
An infusion ofIphiona rotundifolia plant
[61]
Rubbing rhubarb and caustics into the mange lesions in China
[83]
Rubbing a decoction of tobacco leaves into the mange lesions by Bulgarian nomads
[39]
Topical application of wild tobacco leaves and black soap by the Andeans
Andeanmuna (Minthostachys andina)and tarwi plant (Lupinus mutabilis) provide treatment for mange
In France, milk, vinegar, olive oil, lard, ashes, soot, sulphur, turpentine, crankcase oil, and mineral waters were administered as pomades, plasters, lotions, drenches, or feeds.
[39, 84]
(i) Washing animals with a suspension of(Oldarakwa) pencil cedar, Juniperus procera  (ii) Drenching and smearing animals with a suspension of ash made from branches of Ng’adapala (Dobera glabra)by Kenyan pastoralists (Turkana)(iii) Keeping animals’ pens and surroundings clean and dry(iv) Using animal quarantine techniques to keep infected stock away from noninfected one(v) Smearing motor oil and or sesame oil on the affected areas of the animals(vi) Turkana people use a suspension made from stems of eligoi to drench and wash animals(vii) Use of Iparaa, Euphorbia sp., by Samburu of Kenya(viii) Powdered charcoal of esekon (toothbrush tree), Salvadora persica mixed with 1 litre of ghee to make a paste for topical application by the Turkana
[67]
Alpaca mange (caused by mites)
Use of pig fat, rancid camelid grease, boiling-hot lard, rancid urine, sulphur, stove ash, soot from earthen cookpots, masticated coca leaf, old motor oil, and battery acid
[81, 85–89]
Ruminant ectoparasites
Water of tarwi plant,L. mutabilis, combined with ash of burnt cattle manure
[69, 90]
Compounds of tarwi plant,L. mutabilis, and other botanicals by Andean smallholders
[86, 91]


## 4. State of Knowledge on Ethnobotanicals That Affect Livestock Ticks

The world is endowed with a vast diversity of plants ranging from microbial organisms, terrestrial plants, to marine flora. Throughout the evolutionary history, these plants have been an important resource for human and animal community. Besides being a source of food, several of these plants have been investigated for medicinal and pesticidal activities, while others are being explored for plant and arthropod growth regulators, allelochemicals, arthropod antifeedant, repellent, and toxicity. Some of these have potential for serving vital prototypes for structure optimization chemical technology [92].Today, there is a growing appreciation of the value of ethnobotanical veterinary knowledge (EVK) among western trained professionals and periurban communities around the world [18, 48, 67, 93–100]. Because of great interest in and acceptance of EVK as alternative for disease control, ethnoveterinary research and development (ER&D) of which antitick ethnoknowledge is an integral part, has become a fertile area of technology development [101]. This knowledge has proved valuable not only to those who depend on it in their daily lives (mainly pastoralists) but also to modern industries and agriculture as well [48, 97, 102]. Many widely used products, such as plant-derived pharmaceuticals, acaricides, nutraceuticals, functional foods, hormones, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, aromatics, and cosmetics, originate from traditional knowledge as their source [102–104]. EVK provides hope for economically impoverished local communities whose livelihood is livestock-dependent [48, 94, 95, 99, 105, 106]. Applications and studies of EVK have put more emphasis on the control and management of livestock ectoparasites (Table 2). The current review focuses on traditional control and management of livestock ticks, with a special focus on ethnobotanical substances that affect and modify tick behaviours.Antitick ethnobotanical knowledge has its origin too rooted in trial and error traditional practices of ancient people. This was an early attempt to free livestock from ticks and other related arthropod pests. Before the advent of modern acaricides, a number of them being defunct now, ancient communities had developed a number of ways of controlling and managing arthropod pests of livestock, ticks inclusive (Table2). Today, these ancient practices continue to yield interesting and potentially useful research leading to scientific discovery of much needed acaricides. For instance, the demonstration of repellent properties of molasses grass,Melinis minutiflora Beauv. (Poaceae) againstMargaropus annulatus australis in South America by Menendenz (1924) [107], was much guided by ethnoknowledge of indigenous communities. Following this initial understanding, ten years later, De Jesus (cited by Thompson and coworkers [108]) was able to demonstrate too thatM. minutiflora had deleterious effects on ticks,Boophilus australis. After 43 years of De Jesus observation, Thompson and coworkers [108] too observed that molasses grass together with gamba grass,Andropogon gayanus Kunth (Poaceae), showed tick-repellent properties in pastures in Colombia. In Africa, there was not any such report on antitick plants until the early 1990s when Dipeolu and coworkers (1992) [109] reported the acaricidal potential of an African spider flower,Gynandropsis gynandra (L.) Briq. (Capparaceae). This therefore implies that, up to date, meaningful research and development on antitick plants are still lacking. However, based on the compilation of literature on the said botanicals (Table 3), there is much evidence that some plants contain compounds that affect and modify tick behaviour (referring to botanicals with ability to kill, repel, immobilize, and affect tick fecundity and growth). For instance, plants of the genusStylosanthes, apart from being a tropical forage legume, have shown great potentials for immobilizing and killing tick larvae [110–115]. Pastures withM. minutiflora have been shown to affect ticks by reducing their ability to live for longer [107, 108], thus an implication for the presence of some compounds that may induce tick mortality. In East Africa,G. gynandrahas been shown to have antitick properties in pasture lands [44, 109]. In Kenya, a number of plants have been shown to affect and modify tick behaviours, particularly with repellency potentials. For instance,Commiphora erythraea andC. myrrh [116]; gum ofC. holtziana [117];Cleome monophylla [118];Ocimum suave [119]; andG. gynandra [120] have been demonstrated to contain essential oils which have repellent components againstRhipicephalus appendiculatus. Various tribes in Kenya have traditionally used different plant-derived materials to control ticks. For instance, Gikuyu people (women) have used leaves of tobacco,Nicotiana tabacum [121]; Somalis have used gum resins and myrrh ofCommiphora spp.; Luos in Nyanza have used leaves ofAloe spp.; and the Turkana people use leaves ofAcalypha fruticosa to control and manage livestock ticks [67]. In Kenya, some tribes grow neem(Azadirachta indica) and or other plants they consider to have repellence property such asEuphorbia balsamifera, Sesbania sesban, andCissus purpurea near animal housing for the purpose of repelling ticks [67]. Although a number of these plants have been documented in some local communities and some scientifically evaluated, still rural livestock farmers, extension workers, and other relevant stakeholders cannot put them on beneficial and wider utilization due to lack of information on their formulation, standardization, optimal concentration, and application regimes. This has been partly attributed to lack of knowledge on the identity and description of plants’ active substances, which affect and modify tick behaviours.Table 3
An enumeration of plant species that have been documented in literature to contain compounds and/or active ingredients that have effects on livestock ticks worldwide.
Species name of plant (English name)
Family name of plant
Part(s) of plant used
Application form/action (effects) and target tick species
Place
Source/Reference
Acalypha fruticosaForssk. Var. Villosa Hutch
Euphorbiaceae (spurge family)
Leaf
Sediment smeared onto the ears as repellent against ticks by the Turkana people of Kenya (aqueous preparation)eteteleit (Turkana language)
Kenya
[67]
As tick attractant as observed in the field and laboratory (Luo,Abaki)
Kenya
[122]
Acorus calamus L.
Araceae (arum/ginseng family)
Rhizome
Repellent (aqueous and alcohol extracts) againstIxodes spp.
USA
[18, 123, 124]
Allium sativum (Link.) Döll. (Garlic)
Alliaceae (onion family)
Leaf/bulb
Eat garlic pills, tick repellent againstIxodes spp.
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA
[125]
Ageratum houstonianumP. Mill. (Blue Mink)
Compositae/Asteraceae (daisy/aster family)
Essential oil from flowers
Toxic to ticks(Rhipicephalus lunulatus) at LD50 = 0.06653 µl/cm2 within 24 hrs.
Cameroon
[126]
Aloe broomii Schonl.
Xanthorrhoeaceae
Leaf
Boiling in water to make cattle dip and disinfectant. Oral leaf juice is made for cattle or for topical application
South Africa; Kenya
[67, 127]
Aloe ferox Mill. (cape aloe, bitter aloe, red aloe, and tap aloe)
Xanthorrhoeaceae
Leaf
Infusion had a strong dipping and topical toxicity effect againstRhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks
South Africa
[128]
Aloe marlothii Alwin Berger (mountain aloe or the flat-flowered aloe)
Xanthorrhoeaceae
Leaf
Dichloromethane extracts were repellent toRhipicephalus appendiculatus
South Africa
[128]
Aloespp.
Xanthorrhoeaceae
Leaf
Topical application of a paste of leaves, paraffin oil, and kitchen ash
Kenya
[67]
Aloe secundiflora Engl. (aloe)
Xanthorrhoeaceae
Whole plant
A concoction mixed with labia plant(Psiadia punctulata) to make an effective acaricide against brown ear tick (Rhipicephalus appendiculatus), red-legged tick (Rhipicephalus evertsii evertsi), Boophilus decoloratus, and bont tick (Amblyommaspecies)
Kenya (Samburu pastoralists) in Baragoi
[129]
Andropogon gayanus Kunth (bluestem, gamba, or llanero grass)
Poaceae or Gramineae (the grass family)
Whole plant
Toxic/repellent
South America, Mexico, Colombia
[108, 130–134]
Annona squamosaL. (sugar apple, custard apple, and sweetsop)
Annonaceae (custard apple family)
Leaf
Leaves rubbed over floors or placed in hens’ nests to keep away vermin which includes ticks
India and Mexico
[135]
Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg (breadfruit)
Moraceae (fig/mulberry family)
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts/being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58, 136, 137]
Asclepias curassavica L. (redhead)
Asclepiadaceae (milkweed family)
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts/being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Artemisia absinthium L. (wormwood)
Asteraceae
Whole plant
Essential oils from the plant have been shown to have acaricidal activity
Europe, Eastern North America
[137] http://www.florahealth.com/about_int.cfm?sub_link=Export
Artemisia herba-alba Asso (white wormwood)
Asteraceae
Aerial parts
Diethyl ether, ethyl acetate, hexane, and ethanol extracts showed toxicity against larvae ofHyalomma dromedarii Koch, 1844
Egypt
[138]
Artemisia tridentata Nutt. (big sagebrush)
Asteraceae
Leaves
Toxic to nymphal ticks (Ixodes scapularis (Say)) (LC50 = 0.180% wt : vol)
USA
[139]
Artemisia monosperma Del. (Tarragon)
Asteraceae
Aerial parts
Diethyl ether, ethyl acetate, hexane, and ethanol extracts showed toxicity against larvae ofHyalomma dromedarii Koch, 1844. Essential oils showed toxicity effects to the larvae of H. dromedarii and Argas persicus Oken, 1818, adults
Egypt
[138]
Azadirachta indicaAdr. Juss. (neem tree)
Meliaceae (mahogany family)
Whole plant; leaf; fruit
Repellent/toxic/inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
KenyaJamaica
[67, 140][58, 136]
Fruit
Oil extracts caused mortality ofAmblyomma variegatum larvae
Nigeria
[141]
Neem seed oil extracts caused mortality ofHyalomma anatolicum excavatum Koch larvae and malformation or deformities in developing ticks
Egypt
[142]
Neem oil and azadirachtin EC formulation
At 2500 mg litre−1, azadirachtin caused significant reduction in feeding activity of larva (Hyalomma dromedarii), prolonged the period for molting to nymphal stage, and caused 60% reduction in moltability. Contact and dipping LC50 values were >40.7 µg cm−2 and >5000 mg litre−1, respectively.
Saudi Arabia
[143]
Seed
Neem seed oil as an acaricide
India
[144]
Seed
Neem seed oil as an acaricide againstBoophilus microplus
India
[145, 146]
Seed
Neem seed extracts as acaricide againstBoophilus microplus
Colombia
[147]
Bixa orellanaL. (annatto)
Bixaceae (achiote/annatto/lipstick tree family)
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts/being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus
Jamaica
[58]
Blighia sapida (ackee, akee, or achee)
Sapindaceae (soapberry family)
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus
Jamaica
[58]
Bocconia frutescens L. (tree celandine/parrotweed/plume poppy)
Papaveraceae (poppy family)
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus
Jamaica
[58]
Bontia daphnoidesL. (kidney bush/white alling)
Myoporaceae (Lamiales)
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus
Jamaica
[58]
Boscia angustifolia A. Rich
Capparidaceae
Aerial parts/oil
Repellency of their essential oil
Kenya
[104]
Boscia mossambicensis Klotzsch
Capparidaceae
Aerial parts/oil
Repellency of their essential oil
Kenya
[104]
Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst) Stapf cv. Marandu (marandu grass, surinam grass, signal grass, and Kenya sheep grass)
Gramineae
Whole plant
Antitick properties
South America, Brazil
[131]
Brachiaria decumbens(signal grass)
Grass family Panicoideae
Whole plant
Weak toxic/repellent
South America
[108]
Cadaba farinosaForssk.
Capparidaceae
Aerial parts/oil
Repellency of their essential oil
Kenya
[104]
Cadia purpurea (G. Piccioli) Aiton
Caesalpiniaceae
Whole plant
A concoction mixed withOlea europaea subsp. Cuspidata (African olive tree) to make effective acaricide against brown ear tick (Rhipicephalus appendiculatus), red-legged tick (Rhipicephalus evertsii evertsii), Boophilus decoloratus, and bont tick (Amblyommaspecies)
Kenya (Samburu pastoralists) in Baragoi
[129]
Calocedrus decurrens(incense cedar and California post cedar)
Cupressaceae (cypress family)
Ground heartwood and leaves
Toxic to nymphal and larval ticks (Ixodes scapularis (Say)) (LC50 = 0.343 and 0.015% wt : vol, resp.)
USA
[139]
Calotropis procera (Ait) R. Br. (rooster tree, giant milkweed, and sodom apple)
Asclepiadaceae (milkweed family)
A cardiac glycosidal (cardenolide) extract
Contact and dipping LC50 values were 9.63 µg cm−2 and 1096 mg litre−1, respectively, against Hyalomma dromedariilarvae
Saudi Arabia
[143]
Latex
Found to be acaricidal
Egypt
[148]
Calpurnia aurea
Fabaceae/Papilionaceae/Leguminosae (Hardy annual legume/pea family)
Leaf and bark
Juice mixed with spice ofCapsicum spp.
Ethiopia
[149]
Cinnamomum camphora (camphor plant)
LauraceaeThe Laurel family
Acaricide, essential oils repellent againstIxodes spp.
USA
[150]
Cannabis sativaL.(ganja/marijuana, marihuana, hemp, hashish, pot)
Cannabaceae (hemp family)
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Capsicum annumL.(scotch bonnet/pimento or sweet pepper)
Solanaceae (lemon pepper/nightshade/potato family)
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being Toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Capsicumspp.
Solanaceae (lemon pepper/nightshade/potato family)
Fruits/leaves
Spice mixed with juice of leaf and bark fromCalpurnia aurea to form an acaricide
Ethiopia
[149]
Calpurnia aurea L.
Fabaceae/Papilionaceae/Leguminosae/Papilionaceae (hardy annual, legume/pea/bean family)
Leaf and bark
Spice mixed with juice of leaf and bark fromCalpurnia aurea to form an acaricide
Ethiopia
[149]
Carduus leptacanthusFresen.
Asteraceae (also known as Compositae or daisy family)
Acaricide
Rwanda
[151]
Cassia tora L.
Caesalpiniaceae/Leguminosae/Papilionaceae/Fabaceae (hardy annual, legume bean/pea family)
Leaf
Juice of smashed leaves orally
India
[152]
Cassia occidentalis L./Senna occidentalis L. (coffee senna/coffeeweed)
Caesalpiniaceae/Leguminosae/Papilionaceae/Fabaceae, (Hardy annual – legume Bean/pea Family)
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Catharanthus roseus L. (Madagascar periwinkle)
Apocynaceae (dogbane family)
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Cecropia peltata L. (trumpet tree)
Cecropiaceae (previously included in the family Moraceae, mulberry family)
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Cenchrus ciliarisL. (buffel grass)
Poaceae (the grass family)
Whole plant
Repellent
South America
[113]
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (A. Murr.) Parl. (Port Orford cedar)
Cupressaceae (cypress family)
Stump oil
Toxic to nymphal and larval ticks (Ixodes scapularis (Say)) (LC50 = 0.487 and 0.041% wt : vol, resp.)
USA
[139]
Chamaecyparis nootkatensis (D. Don) Spach (Alaska yellow-cedar)
Cupressaceae (cypress family)
Heartwood and leaves
Toxic to nymphal and larval ticks (Ixodes scapularis (Say)) (LC50 = 0.151 and 0.007% wt : vol, resp.)
USA
[139]
Chebliswo-plant in Pokot vernacular in Kenya
Root and Leaf
Solution of smashed parts
Kenya
[153]
Chenopodium ambrosioidesL. Mexican tea
Chenopodiaceae (goose-foot family)
—
—
Rwanda
[151]
Chenopodium ugandae
Chenopodiaceae (goose-foot family)
—
—
Uganda
[151]
Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium L.
Asteraceae (also known as Compositae or daisy family)
Flowers
Pyrethrins act as acaricide/toxicant/repellent
USA
[150]
Citronella plants
Myrtaceae (Poaceae or Gramineae)
Leaf
Extracts-tick repellents againstIxodesspp.
USA
[154]
Citrullus lanatus Thunb.
Cucurbitaceae (cucumber family)
Fruit
Zimbabwe
[18, 105]
Citrus aurantium L.(Seville orange)
Rutaceae (rue family)
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Cleome hirta (Klotzsch.) Oliv.
Cleomaceae
Aerial parts/oil
Repellent/toxic/killer of ticks(Rhipicephalus appendiculatus)
Kenya
[155]
Cleome gynandra (Cleome)
Cleomaceae
Leaves
Repellents and acaricides for certain larval, nymphal, and adult ticks
South Africa
http://www.daff.gov.za/docs/brochures/cleome.pdf
Clerodendrum glabrum E. Mey.
Lamiaceae
Leaf
Acetone extracts showed relatively high repellency activity againstRhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks
South Africa
[128]
Commiphora swynnertoniiBurtt.
Burseraceae (copal family and/or torchwood family)
Gum resin
Repellency of their essential oil
Kenya
[104]
Commiphora erythraeaEngler.
Burseraceae (copal family and/or torchwood family)
Gum resin/viscous oil/pure components/hexane extract
Smear paste of camel urine and gum resin/toxic/repellent/larvicide
Kenya
[67, 116, 156, 157]
Commiphoraholtziana
Burseraceae (copal family and/or torchwood family)
Gum, bark, and leaf
Repellent
Kenya
[117]
Commiphora incisa
Burseraceae (copal family and/or torchwood family)
Gum resin
Smear paste of camel urine and gum resin
Kenya
[67]
Commiphora merkeri Engl.
Burseraceae (copal family and/or torchwood family)
Gum, bark, and leaf
Acaricide
[158]
Commiphora myrrh Jacq. (Commiphora abyssinica (Nees) Engl., Commiphora myrrha (Nees) Engl., and Commiphora schimperi (Nees) Engl.) (all these plants are sources of Myrrh)
Burseraceae (copal family and/or torchwood family)
Gum resin/oil/pure components
Toxic/Repellent
Kenya
[116, 156]
Oleoresin gum (crude myrrh)
Myrrh essential oil/oil of Heerabol Myrrh (bola, myrrha and gum, common, and hirabol myrrh), repellent againstIxodesspp.
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA
[125]
Commiphora molmol Engler.
Burseraceae (copal family and/or torchwood family)
Myrrh
LC50 of Myrrh extract caused death of fowl tick Argas persicus by destroying the epithelial gut of cells
Egypt
[159]
Commiphora tenuis
Burseraceae (copal family)
Larger leaf
Toxic/repellent when rubbed on camels’ coats
Kenya
Wanzala-Personal experience with Somali pastoralists
Crotalaria retusa L. (rattle weed)
Caesalpiniaceae/Leguminosae/Papilionaceae/Fabaceae, (Hardy annual, legume bean/pea family)
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Cuscuta americanaL. (love bush/weed)
Cuscutaceae (Convolvulaceae) (dodder family)
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Cycloptis semicordata L. (tall fern)
Polypodiaceae (polypody/fern family)
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Cymbopogon flexuosus (Nees ex Stend.) Wats. (lemon grass)
Gramineae (Poaceae) (grass family)
Leaf
A blend with marjoram grass and tea tree essential oils forms antitick repellent spray
New Zealand
[160]
Cymbopogon martinii stapf var. motia/(Roxb.) Wats. var. motia Burk.
Gramineae (Poaceae) (grass family)
Leaf/flower
Palmarosa essential oil (TurkishGeranium/Andropogon/Nepal), tick repellent against Ixodesspp.
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA
[125]
Cymbopogon nardusR. (Andropogon nardus) (citronella grass, lemon grass, nardus)
Gramineae (Poaceae) (grass family)
Leaf/flower
Citronella essential oil (lemon balm, Sri Lanka or Lenabatu citronella), tick repellent againstIxodesspp.
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA
[125]
Cynodon dactylon(star grass)
Poaceae (grass family)
Whole plant
Weak toxic/repellent
South America
[108]
Datura stramonium L.
Solanaceae (nightshade family)
Seed/fruit
Acaricide
Rwanda
[151]
Delphinium brunonianum Royle
Ranunculaceae (Helleboraceae) (buttercup family)
Leaf
Juices of leaves used to destroy ticks
USA
[18, 161]
Derris elliptica (Sweet) Benth.
Fabaceae/Papilionaceae/Leguminosae (hardy annual, legume/pea family)
Root powder
Aqueous solution mixed with soft soap to make an acaricide
USA
[18, 150, 162–164]
Digitalis purpurea L. (purple foxglove)
Scrophulariaceae (Figwort family)
A cardiac glycosidal (digitoxin) extract
Contact and dipping LC50 values were 4.08 µg cm−2 and 409.9 mg litre−1, respectively, against Hyalomma dromedariilarvae
Saudi Arabia
[143]
Dioscorea polygonoides Willott (wild yam)
Dioscoreaceae (yam family)
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Diplophyllum africanum Turcz.
Scapaniaceae (Diplophyllaceae)
Whole plant
Acaricide
Rwanda
[151]
Dioscorea dumetorum (Kunth) Pax.
Dioscoreaceae (yam family)
Root
Roots crushed in water to form a solution
Tanzania
[165, 166]
Dissotis throthae
Melastomataceae (melastome family)
—
Rwanda
[151]
Ervatamia divaricate L. (Burkill.) (coffee rose)
Apocynaceae
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Erythrina corallodendronL. (Spanish maschette)
Caesalpiniaceae/Leguminosae/Papilionaceae/Fabaceae (hardy annual, legume bean/pea family)
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being Toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Eucalyptus spp. (gum trees)
Myrtaceae (myrtle family)
Leaf and branch
Eucalyptus essential oil mixed withS. Nigra leaf extract make a repellent against Ixodes spp.
USA
[18, 167]
Eucalyptus spp. (gum trees)
Myrtaceae (myrtle family)
Leaf and branch
Plant oil as an acaricide
USA
[167]
Eucalyptus spp. (gum trees)
Myrtaceae (myrtle family)
Leaf and branch
Eucalyptus essential oil toxic to nymphal and larval ticks (Ixodes scapularis (Say)) at >2% concentration (wt : vol)
USA
[139]
Eucalyptus globulus Labill. (Tasmanian bluegum, eucalypt, and fever tree)
Myrtaceae (myrtle family)
Leaf and branch
Eucalyptus essential oil, Tick repellent againstIxodesspp.
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA
[125]
Leaf
Leaf decoction is traditionally used for repelling insects and vermin
USA
[168]
Eupatorium odoratum Penny Clifford (Chromolaena odorata (L.) RM King and H. Robinson) (Jack in the bush)
Asteraceae (daisy/aster family)
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Eupatorium villosum(L.) George R. (bitter bush)
Asteraceae (daisy/aster family)
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Euphorbia aegyptiaca Boiss.
Euphorbiaceae (spurge family)
Aerial parts
Diethyl ether, ethyl acetate, hexane, and ethanol extracts showed toxicity against larvae ofHyalomma dromedarii Koch, 1844
Egypt
[138]
Euphorbia candelabrum
Euphorbiaceae (spurge family)
Latex
Latex as toxic/killer/acaricide
Kenya
[140]
Euphorbia obovalifolia
Euphorbiaceae (spurge family)
Latex
Acaricide
Ethiopia
[149]
Fagara microcarpa (Griseb.) Krug & Urb. (bitter bush)
Rutaceae (citrus family)
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Ficus brachypoda
Moraceae
Latex
Acaricide
Ethiopia
[149]
Ficus cfr. burkei
Moraceae
Acaricide
Rwanda
[151]
Foeniculum vulgareP. Mill. (Florence fennel, finocchio, anise, and sweet fennel)
Umbelliferae/Apiaceae (carrot family)
Root
Toxic to nymphal ticks (Ixodes scapularis (Say)) (LC50 = 0.744% wt : vol)
USA
[139]
Francoeuria crispa (Forsk.) Cass. (Francoeuria)
Asteraceae (daisy/aster family)
Aerial parts
Diethyl ether, ethyl acetate, hexane, and ethanol extracts showed toxicity against larvae ofHyalomma dromedarii Koch, 1844
Egypt
[138]
Gliricidia sepium Jacq. (Aaron’s rod)
Caesalpiniaceae/Leguminosae/Papilionaceae/Fabaceae (hardy annual, legume bean/pea family)
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Gnidia kraussianaMeissner
Thymelaeaceae
Root
Acaricide
Rwanda
[151]
Gynandropsis gynandra(L.) Briq. (Chisaka-Luhya, Ejobyo-Luganda, and Akeyo-Luo)
Capparidaceae
Aerial parts/essential oil
Repellent/toxic/killer
Kenya
[44, 104, 109, 118, 120]
Haplophyllum tuberculatum (Forsskål) A. H. L. Jussieu
Rutaceae
Aerial parts
Essential oils showed toxicity effects to the larvae ofHyalomma dromedarii Koch, 1844 and Argas persicus Oken, 1818, adults
Egypt
[138]
Haematoxylum campechianumL. (logwood)
Caesalpiniaceae/Leguminosae/Papilionaceae/Fabaceae (hardy annual, legume bean/pea family)
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Hedeoma pulegioidesL. Pers. (American Pennyroyal, mock pennyroyal, squaw mint, tickweed, stinking balm, mosquito plant)
Lamiaceae previously known as Labiatae (dead-nettle or mint family)
Leaf/flower
Essential oil of American pennyroyal, tick repellent againstIxodes spp.
USA
[125, 169, 170]
Hibiscus rosa-sinensisL. (shoe black)
Malvaceae (mallow family)
Leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Hyacinthoides hispanica (P. Mill.) Rothm. (Endymion hispanicus (P. Mill.) Chouard) (bluebells, Spanish bluebells, Spanish squill)
Liliaceae (lily family)
Whole plant
It is antitick plant and confidently help heal the problems brought about by ticks
USA and South Africa
Wanzala’s personal communication with Annie Berthold-Bond in USA
Hydnora johannis Beccari
Hydnoraceae
Whole plant
Acaricide
Rwanda
[151]
Hyparrhenia rufa(jaragua grass)
Poaceae (grass family)
Whole plant
Weak toxic/repellent
South America
[128]
Hyptis verticillata
Lamiaceae previously known as Labiatae (dead-nettle or mint family)
Chemosterilant that inhibits oviposition and egg hatching
Central America
[171]
Impatiens stuhlmanniiWarb.
Balsaminaceae (balsam, impatiens family)
Leaf
Acaricide
Rwanda
[151]
Iphiona rotundifolia
Asteraceae (also known as Compositae or daisy family)
Leaf
An acaricide infusion made from leaf
Somali
[61]
Jatropha curcas L. (Barbados nut, purging nut, and physic nut)
Euphorbiaceae (spurge family)
Leaf
Infusion had a dipping and topical toxicity effect againstRhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks. Methanol extract repelled the ticks also
South Africa
[128]
Juglans nigra L.
Juglandaceae
Whole plant
Repellent againstIxodes spp.
USA
[18, 167]
Juniperus occidentalisL (Western juniper)
Cupressaceae (cypress family)
Heartwood and leaves
Toxic to nymphal and larval ticks (Ixodes scapularis (Say)) (LC50 = 0.633 and 0.073% wt : vol, resp.)
USA
[139]
Juniperus virginiana L (Eastern red cedar)
Cupressaceae (cypress family)
Heartwood and leaves
Toxic to nymphal and larval ticks (Ixodes scapularis (Say)) (LC50 = 0.328 and 0.001% wt : vol, resp.)
USA
[139]
Justicia pectoralisL. (Fresh cut)
Acanthaceae (carpenter grass)
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Kaliya, Pokot vernacular
Fruit
Fruit juice
Kenya
[153]
Lantana involucrataRoxb. (wild mint)
Verbenaceae (vervain family)
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Laurencia obtusa (Hudson) J. V. Lamouroux, 1813
Rhodomelaceae
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extract affected the survival of engorged and adult femaleBoophilus microplus Canst. and inhibited its oviposition and embryogenesis
Jamaica
[172]
Lavandula angustifolia (L. officinalis, L. spica,andL. vera)
Lamiaceae previously known as Labiatae (dead-nettle or mint family)
Leaf/flower
Lavender essential oil, tick repellent againstIxodesspp.
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA
[125]
Lepidium sativum
Brassicaceae (cabbage family)
Seed
Crushed seeds mixed with cattle faeces and smeared on cattle
Ethiopia
[149]
Liagoraelongate Liagora farinosa J. V. Lamouroux 1816
Liagoraceae (rhodophytes)
Whole plant
Topical application of crude ethanol extract affected the survival of engorged and adult femaleBoophilus microplus Canst. and inhibited its oviposition and embryogenesis
Jamaica
[172]
Lippia alba L. (colic Mint)
Verbenaceae (vervain family)
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Lonchocarpus laxiflorus
Fabaceae/Papilionaceae/Leguminosae (hardy annual, legume/pea family)
Floral parts
Rotenoids act as acaricide
USA
[150]
Lupinus mutabilis Sweet (tarwi lupine/Adeans lupines/tarwi plant)
Fabaceae/Papilionaceae/Leguminosae (hardy annual, legume/pea family)
—
Acaricide
Europe
[91]
Majorana hortensis Mönch (sweet marjoram)
Lamiaceae previously known as Labiatae (dead-nettle or mint family)
Leaf
A blend with lemon grass and tea tree essential oils forms antitick repellent spray
New Zealand
[160]
Mammea americana L.
Clusiaceae/Guttiferae
Fruit and leaf/seeds
Toxic, sap/infusion in water/powdered seeds/decoction of seeds
USA
[18, 173]
Margaritaria discoidea (Baill.) G. L. Webster (pheasant-berry, egossa red pear, or bushveld peacock-berry)
Phyllanthaceae (leaf-flower family)
Latex
Toxic/killer/acaricide. Oil hexane and water soluble extracts against the ticksRhipicephalus appendiculatus and Amblyomma variegatum
Kenya
[174]
Melaleuca alternifolia Cheel. (tea tree oil)
Myrtaceae (myrtle family)
Leaf
A blend with lemon grass and marjoram essential oils forms antitick repellent spray
New Zealand
[160]
Melia azedarachL. (Chinaberry, Persian lilac tree)
Meliaceae (mahogany family)
Fruit
Extracts caused mortality ofBoophilus microplus larvae and inhibited partially or totally egg production and embryogenesis in engorged females
South America, Brazil
[175]
Melicoccus bijugatusJacq. Guinep. Synonym: Melicocca bijugaL.
Sapindaceae
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Melinis minutifloraBeauv. (molasses grass)
Poaceae or Gramineae (the grass family)
Whole plant (grass)
Toxic/repellent. The plant repels ticks (Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and Boophilus microplus)
South America, Caribbean, Kenya, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Central Africa, Southern Africa
[107, 108, 119, 127, 130, 131, 134, 176], Cornell University Medicinal plants Homepage-2003
Melissa officinalis L. (lemon balm, balm, common balm, cytria, hashishat al nahil, kovanutu, ogulotu, seiyo-yama-hakka, sweet balm, toronjil, tronjan)
Lamiaceae previously known as Labiatae (dead-nettle or mint family)
Aerial parts
European pennyroyal essential oil, tick repellent againstIxodesspp.
Europe and USA, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
[125]
Mesembryanthemus forsskale (Hochst)
Aizoaceae
Aerial parts
Diethyl ether, ethyl acetate, hexane, and ethanol extracts showed toxicity against larvae ofHyalomma dromedarii Koch, 1844
Egypt
[138]
Mentha×piperita L. (M. balsamea Willd.) (pepper mint)
Piperaceae
Oil repellents againstIxodes spp.
USA
[154]
Mentha pulegium L. (European pennyroyal, pulegium, run-by-the-ground, lurk-in-the-ditch, pudding grass, mosquito plant, fleabane, tickweed, squaw balm, squawmint tickweed)
Lamiaceae previously known as Labiatae (dead-nettle or mint family)
Aerial parts
European pennyroyal essential oil, tick repellent againstIxodesspp.
Europe and USA, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
[125]
Mimosa pudicaL. (shame mi lady or sensitive plant)
Mimosaceae/Fabaceae
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Momordica charantia L. (wild cerasee)
Cucurbitaceae
Leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Neorautanenia mitis (A. Rich) Verdc.
Fabaceae/Papilionaceae/Leguminosae (hardy annual, legume/pea family)
Root
Acaricide
Rwanda
[151]
Nerium oleanderL. (Oleander)
Apocynaceae
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Nicotiana tabacum L., N. rustica, and N. glutinosa
Solanaceae (nightshade family)
Fresh leaf
Leaf extract applied as acaricide. Toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
USA, Jamaica, and Kenya
[18, 43, 58, 67, 150, 167]
Nicotiana tabacum L. (Tobacco)
Solanaceae (nightshade family)
Aerial part
Aqueous extracts had immediate effect on mortality of engorgedRhipicephalus haemaphysaloides ticks and its fecundity production of females
India
[177]
Leaf
Add Magadi soda to the leaf to makeKupetaba, antifeedant/growth disrupting/toxic/antiovipositant
Kenya
[43]
Whole plant
A concoction mixed with sodom apple(Solanum incanum) to make an effective acaricide against brown ear tick (Rhipicephalus appendiculatus), red-legged tick (Rhipicephalus evertsii evertsi), Boophilus decoloratus, and bont tick (Amblyommaspecies)
Kenya (Samburu pastoralists) in Baragoi
[129]
Ocimum micranthumWild. (wild parsley)
Lamiaceae previously known as Labiatae (dead-nettle or mint family)
Leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Ocimum suaveWilld.
Lamiaceae previously known as Labiatae (dead-nettle or mint family)
Leaf
Oil as repellent/acaricide
Kenya, Tanzania
[178–180]
Olea europaea subsp. Cuspidata (African olive tree)
Oleaceae (olive family)
Whole plant
A concoction mixed with Ilkerereai(Cadia purpurea) make effective acaricide against brown ear tick (Rhipicephalus appendiculatus), red-legged tick (Rhipicephalus evertsii evertsi), Boophilus decoloratus, and bont tick (Amblyommaspecies)
Kenya (Samburu pastoralists) in Baragoi
[129]
Oreopanax capitatusJacq. (Aralia)
Araliaceae
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Padina vickerisiae
Phaeophyceae (brown seaweeds)
Whole plant
Topical application of crude ethanol extract affected the survival of engorged and adult femaleBoophilus microplus Canst. and inhibited its oviposition and embryogenesis
Jamaica
[172]
Peganum harmala L.
Zygophyllaceae
Aerial parts
Extracts of petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and ethanol showed toxicity effects on engorged females ofBoophilus annulatus Say, 1821
Egypt
[138]
Pelargonium graveolens L’Hérit. or P. Odoratissimum(lemon plant/rose geranium/sweet scented geranium)
Geraniaceae (the stork’s bill family)
Leaf/flower
Rose geranium essential oil, tick repellent againstIxodes spp.
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA
[125]
Pennisetum clandestinum(Kikuyu grass)
Gramineae/Poaceae (grass family)
Whole plant
Weak toxic/repellent
South America
[108]
Pennisetum typhoides
Gramineae/Poaceae (grass family)
Corn and stem
Powder/dust
Southern Africa and Niger
[127, 181]
Petiveria alliacea L. (Guinea hen)
Phytolaccaceae
Leaf, root
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst. Crude ethanol extracts exhibit some repellent activity against B. Microplus Canst. Dibenzyltrisulfide, a compound in the roots of P. alliacea,is acaricidal
Jamaica; Central and South America, Caribbean and Africa
[58, 182] Cornell University Medicinal plants Homepage-2003
Peucedanum angolense(Welw.)
Apiaceae (carrot family)
Leaf
Acaricide
Rwanda
[151]
Physostigma mesoponticum Taub.
Fabaceae/Papilionaceae/Leguminosae (hardy annual, legume/pea family)
Tuber, leaf, bark, root
An infusion
Malawi
[96]
Phytolacca dodecandraL’Herit.
Phytolaccaceae
Leaf
Juice; acaricide
Rwanda, Ethiopia
[149, 151]
Pimenta dioica L. (pimento)
Myrtaceae
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Pimenta racemosa (West Indian bay tree, bay rum tree, wild cinnamon, and bayberry)
Myrtaceae
Leaf
Bay essential oil, repellent against ticks (Ixodes spp.)
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA
[125]
Piper amalago L. (black jointer)
Piperaceae
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Piper auritum H. B. & K.
Piperaceae
Whole plant parts
Juice
USA
[18]
Piper auritum H. B. & K.
Piperaceae
Whole plant
Juice
Central America
[183]
Piper capense L. f.
Piperaceae
Leaf
Acaricide
Rwanda
[151]
Piqueria trinervia Cav.
Compositae
Leaf/flower/root
Piquerols A and B as acaricide againstBoophilus microplus Canst.
South America
[184]
Pongamia pinnataVent. (Indian beech, Pongam oil tree)
Fabaceae/Papilionaceae/Leguminosae (hardy annual, legume/pea family)
Seed
Pongamia essential oil is used as acaricide againstBoophilus microplus Canst.
India
[145]
Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirbel) Franco var. menziesii (formerly P. taxifolia) (Douglas-fir, Douglasfir)
Pinaceae (pine family)
Wood pitch
Toxic to nymphal and larval ticks (Ixodes scapularis (Say)) at >2% concentration (wt : vol)
USA
[139]
Psiadia punctulata (DC) Vatke
Asteraceae/Compositae (daisy family)
Whole plant
A concoction mixed with aloe(Aloe secundiflora) effective acaricide against brown ear tick (Rhipicephalus appendiculatus), red-legged tick (Rhipicephalus evertsii evertsi), Boophilus decoloratus, and bont tick (Amblyommaspecies)
Kenya (Samburu pastoralists) in Baragoi
[129]
Ptaeroxylon obliquum Radlk
Ptaeroxylaceae
An infusion of the powder as a wash
Southern Africa
[18, 127]
Ranunculus multifidus Forsk.
Ranunculaceae (buttercup family)
Fruit
Acaricide
Rwanda
[151]
Reaumuria hirtella (Jaub. & Spach)
Tamaricaceae
Aerial parts
Diethyl ether, ethyl acetate, hexane, and ethanol extracts showed toxicity against larvae ofHyalomma dromedarii Koch, 1844
Egypt
[138]
Rhoicissus tridentata
Vitaceae
Plant parts
Acaricide
Rwanda
[151]
Ricinus communis L. (castor oil plant)
Euphorbiaceae (spurge family)
Leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Seed
Custard seed oil as an acaricide
India
[144]
Leaf
Dichloromethane extracts were repellent toRhipicephalus appendiculatus
South Africa
[128]
Rosmarinus officinalis L. (rosemary)
Lamiaceae previously known as Labiatae (dead-nettle or mint family)
Leaf
Rosemary essential oil, repellent against ticks (Ixodes spp.)
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA
[125]
Stylosanthes scabra cv. Fitzroy or Seca
Fabaceae (hardy annual, legume/pea family)
Whole plant (grass)
Toxic toBoophilus microplus Canst.
South America
[110]
Salvia serotina L./Wild. (little woman/chicken weed)
Lamiaceae previously known as Labiatae (dead-nettle or mint family)
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Sambucus nigra spp. Canadensis (S. canadensis)L. (American Elder or elderberry/European elder)
Adoxaceae/Caprifoliaceae (honeysuckle family)
Leaf
Extracts as acaricides
USA
[167]
Sambucus nigra spp. Canadensis (S. canadensis)L. (American Elder or elderberry/European elder)
Adoxaceae/Caprifoliaceae (honeysuckle family)
Leaf
Leaf extract mixed with tobacco dust and Eucalyptus oil
USA
[18, 167]
Sclerocarya caffra Sond.
Anacardiaceae
Fruit
Acaricide
South Africa/East Africa/Madagascar
[18, 127]
Securidaca longipedunculataFres.
Polygalaceae
Plant
Acaricide
Rwanda
[151]
Sequoia sempervirensL. (redwood, coast redwood, and California redwood)
Taxodiaceae (bald cypress family)/Cupressaceae (cypress family)
Heartwood and leaves
Toxic to nymphal and larval ticks (Ixodes scapularis (Say)) (LC50 = 0.1.673 and 0.079% wt : vol, resp.)
USA
[139]
Sequoiadendron giganteum(Lindl.) J. Buchholz (giant sequoia, big tree, giant redwood)
Taxodiaceae
Heartwood and leaves
Toxic to nymphal and larval ticks (Ixodes scapularis (Say)) at >2% concentration (wt : vol)
USA
[139]
Senna italica subsp. arachoides (Mill.) Goora wall. (Italian senna)
Fabaceae (hardy annual, legume/pea family)
Root
The acaricidal activity of the ethyl acetate root extract increased significantly with concentration when tested againstHyalomma marginatum rufipes
South Africa
[185]
Sida acutaBurm. (broom weed)
Malvaceae
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. (Milk thistle)
Asteraceae
Aerial parts
Extracts of petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and ethanol showed toxicity effects on engorged females ofBoophilus annulatus Say, 1821
Egypt
[138]
Simarouba glaucaDC. (Bitter wood)
Simaroubaceae (quassia family)
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Simmondsia chinensis (Link) C. K. Schneid. (jojoba, goat nut, deer nut, pignut, wild hazel, quinine nut, coffeeberry, or gray box bush)
Simmondsiaceae
Aerial parts
Extracts caused motalities and affected reproductive physiology of the adult female tick,Boophilus annulatus
Egypt
[186]
Solanum dasyphyllum Schum. et Thonn.
Solanaceae (nightshade family)
Fruit, leaf, stem
Acaricide
Rwanda
[151]
Solanum incanum(sodom apple)
Solanaceae (nightshade family)
Fruit
Juice
Ethiopia
[149]
Whole plant
A concoction mixed with tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) to make an effective acaricide against brown ear tick (Rhipicephalus appendiculatus), red-legged tick (Rhipicephalus evertsii evertsi), Boophilus decoloratus, and bont tick (Amblyommaspecies)
Kenya (Samburu pastoralists) in Baragoi
[129]
Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (sorghum)
Poaceae (grass family)
Whole plant
Extracts caused motalities and affected reproductive physiology of the adult female tick,Boophilus annulatus
Egypt
[186]
Aerial part
Affects livestock ticks
Kenya
[47]
Spigelia anthelmiaL. (worm grass)
Loganiaceae (Logania family)
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Wild. (vervine)
Verbenaceae (verbena/vervain family)
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Stemona collinsaeCraib.
Stemonaceae (Stemona family)
Whole plant
50% concentration of extract caused 100 and 93.33% mortalities of engorged nymphs and adults ofBoophilus microplus Canst., respectively
Thailand
[187]
Stemona tuberosa Lour.
Stemonaceae (Stemona family)
Whole plant
5% of chlorhydric acid extracts killed larvae ofRhipicephalus sanguineus, Boophilus microplus and Haemaphysalis intermedia ixodid ticks
Vietnam
[188]
Strychnos madagascariensisPoir. (black monkeys)
Loganiaceae
Leaf
Infusion had a strong dipping and topical toxicity effect againstRhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks. The extract showed repellence activity against R. appendiculatus
South Africa
[128]
Stylosanthes hamata cv. Verano.
Fabaceae (pea family)
Whole plant (grass)
Toxic/repellent againstBoophilus microplus Canst.
South America,
[189–192]
Australia
[110, 111]
Stylosanthes humilisH. B. K.
Fabaceae (pea family)
Whole plant (grass)
Toxic/repellent againstBoophilus microplus Canst.
South America
[189–192]
Stylosanthes scabraVogel. (shrubby stylo)
Fabaceae (pea family)
Whole plant
Extracts caused a high larval mortality ofRhipicephalus sanguineus, Boophilus microplus, and Haemaphysalis intermediaixodid ticks
India
[193]
Stypopodium lobalum (C. Agardh) Kützing.
Dictyotaceae (thalloid brown alga)
Whole plant
Topical application of crude ethanol extract affected the survival of engorged and adult femaleBoophilus microplus Canst. and inhibited its oviposition and embryogenesis
Jamaica
[172]
Symphytum officinaleL. (Comfrey)
Boraginaceae (borage family)
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica, USA
[58]
Tabernaemontana johnstonii
Apocynaceae
—
Acaricide
Rwanda
[151]
Tagetes minutaL. (marigold)
Asteraceae (daisy family).
Aerial parts
Extracted essential oil had significant repellent effect againstRhipicephalus appendiculatus adult ticks
Kenya
[47, 194]
Extracted essential oil had significant repellent effect againstHyalomma rufipes adult ticks
South Africa
[195]
Tagetes patula French (marigold, dwarf marigold, or dwarf French marigold)
Asteraceae (daisy family)
—
—
Rwanda
[151]
Tamarindus indicus L. (tamarind)
Caesalpiniacae (gulmohar family)
Mature fruit
Water and 10% ethanol crude extracts caused mortality of engorged female,Boophilus microplus Canst.Organic acids in tamarind fruits (oxalic, malic, succinic, citric and tartaric acids) also caused mortality of B. microplus Canst.
Thailand
[196]
Tanacetum vulgare
Asteraceae ([also known as Compositae] daisy family)
Whole plant
Essential oils are acaricidal
Europe, Eastern North America
http://www.florahealth.com/home_int.cfm
Taxodium distichum(L.) L. C. Rich. (bald cypress and swamp Cypress)
Taxodiaceae (bald cypress family)
Heartwood and leaves
Toxic to nymphal and larval ticks (Ixodes scapularis (Say)) at >2% concentration (wt : vol)
USA
[139]
Tephrosia leiocarpaA. Gray
Fabaceae/Papilionaceae/Leguminosae (hardy annual, legume/pea family)
Root
Acaricide
North America
[197]
Tephrosia vogelii Hook F.
Fabaceae/Papilionaceae/Leguminosae (hardy annual, legume/pea family)
Leaf, root, pod, seed, bark, whole plant
Rotenoids present in an infusion acts like modern dips. Toxic to 1-, 2-, and 3-host ticks
Cameroon, USA, Malawi, Tanzania
[18, 150, 198–202]
Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don in Lambert 1824 (Western/giant red cedar, giant arborvitae, shinglewood, canoe cedar)
Cupressaceae (cypress family)
Heartwood and leaves
Toxic to nymphal and larval ticks (Ixodes scapularis (Say)) (LC50 = 0.821 and 0.022% wt : vol, resp.)
USA
[139]
Thylachium africanumLour.
Capparidaceae
Aerial parts/oil
Repellency of their essential oil
Kenya
[104]
Turnera ulmifoliaL. (ramgoat dashalong)
Turneraceae
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Turpentine, name applied to numerous semifluid, yellow or brownish oleoresins obtained from various coniferous trees in Asia, Europe, and America Turpentine,Syncarpia glomulifera
Myrtaceae
—
Acaricide
USA
[150]
Urena lobata L. (bur mallow)
Malvaceae
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Vernonia amygdalina L. (bitter-leaf tree)
Asteraceae (also known as Compositae or daisy family)
Leaf
Juice
Ethiopia
[149]
Vitex agnus-castus L. (chaste tree, chasteberry, Abraham’s balm, or monk’s pepper)
Lamiaceae
Aerial parts
Ethanol, propylene carbonate,Vitex agnus-castus concentrate, topical application, repelling horseflies, flies and mosquitoes
Switzerland
[203]
Wedelia trilobataL. (yellow marigold)
Asteraceae (also known as Compositae or daisy family)
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]
Zingiber officinaleWild. (Ginger)
Zingiberaceae
Fresh leaf
Topical application of crude ethanol extracts. Being toxic and inhabitant of oviposition and embryogenesis ofBoophilus microplus Canst.
Jamaica
[58]This review provides a list of plants (Table3) with leading information on how they affect and modify the behaviours of various livestock tick species under different geographical and environmental conditions. In addition, the review gives a basis for scientific research on the development of natural products for tick control and management and tick-borne diseases.


## 5. Plant Species with Prospects for Tick Control and Management in Africa: Opportunities and Threats

Table3 presents a list of enumerated 209 plant species with their correct botanical and common names arranged in the first column, followed by family names in the second column, plant part(s) used in the third column, application form and action in the fourth column, location in the in the fifth column, and references made in the last column. Practically, all these plants have been “discovered” through information derived about their use in traditional medicine sense. The plant species showed a wide range of bioactive properties on different livestock tick species with 40% of 210 reported research on ethnobotanical acaricides being conducted in Africa, which is the most affected continent with tick infestation and tick-borne diseases, and henceforth, the associated socioeconomic losses [23]. This provides for the feasibility of controlling livestock ticks in Africa with plants and their products as components of an integrated tick control and management programme. This feasibility is justified by numerous scientific and socioanthropological reports of surveys and laboratory studies on African plants with effects on livestock ticks [104, 126, 127, 129, 149, 151, 165, 166, 199, 204–210]. A number of plants that have been conventionally examined for acaricidal properties includeMelinis minutiflora [119, 211],Commiphora erythraea andC. myrrh [116],Ocimum suave [179],Margaritaria discoidea [174],Tephrosia vogelii [199],Azadirachta indica [46, 141, 142, 212],Nicotiana tabacum [43],Gynandropsis gynandra [44, 109, 120],Euphorbia candelabrum [140], andAgeratum houstonianum [126]. Other many African plant species with potential for use in tick control and management programmes have been documented and recorded during the many ethnoveterinary survey studies conducted in local African communities [47, 67, 104, 117, 127, 151, 153, 165, 166, 198, 199, 208]. These surveys play a key role in providing a common ground for conventionally trained researchers and ethnopractitioners (rural resource-poor livestock farmers) to meet and interact as equal partners in the war against T&TBDs. However, this is not the case. The rural resource-poor livestock farmers feel that they are being short-changed and exploited during such useful interactions and that their ethnoknowledge may be patented by researchers without their consent and earning any benefits accruing from it on which their entire livelihood is dependent [213]. Bridging this gap of mistrust between ethnopractitioners and researchers poses great challenges and, nevertheless, it remains the biggest stumbling block and threat to any fruitful development of ethnoknowledge in Africa.Extracts from plants in Table3 have been shown to possess strong acaricidal and/or tick-repellent bioactivities. Some of the plant extracts are capable of affecting and modifying tick feeding behaviours, molting processes, fecundity, and viability of eggs, and so forth. Some of these plants are suitable forage and due to secondary metabolites they secrete as viscous, adhesive, odorous, or toxic substances; they have been found to be capable of repelling, trapping, and killing different host-seeking tick species [110, 131, 136, 206, 209, 214]. Some plants possess hairs (trichomes) that prevent ticks from climbing to the top in order to attain a suitable posture for attaching to any passing suitable host animal [44]. The existence of plants with these multiple bioactive properties in Africa offers challenges and opportunities to save African countries the high costs for importing acaricides and to replace those rendered unusable with tick resistance by critically considering the possibilities of using indigenous African plants as sources of acaricides [209]. These many bioactive properties indicate that the plants or the resultant herbal products can be integrated in various combinations for the control and management of different tick species especially by rural resource-poor livestock farmers at affordable or no cost at all. For instance, antitick grasses such asM. minutiflora and shrubs such asGynandropsis gynandra andOcimum suave could be planted in pastures to repel, immobilize, and kill ticks, thus reducing the number of ticks attaching on cattle. This option, in combination with tick attractant shrub,Acalypha fruticosa [122], can be used by rural resource-poor livestock farmers to develop livestock pastures free from tick infestation. Additionally, antitick plants, which serve as forage can also be used in pasture-spelling systems with species suitable for tropical and subtropical regions in an integrated tick management (ITM) control system [33, 108, 132, 136, 206, 209, 214]. On the other hand, botanical extracts (e.g., neem, Kupetaba,G. gynandra, O. suave,M. minutiflora, andM. discoidea) would be applied directly on cattle to repel, to disrupt feeding and molting behavioural processes, and to kill the on-host ticks without ticks developing resistance and extracts causing any side effects and environmental pollution. Other traditional methods of tick control and management, for example, hand deticking and intergrazing (grazing sheep ahead of cattle), could also be integrated into the above-mentioned management system options. These control strategies would be effective and affordable by many rural resource-poor livestock farmers in Africa and elsewhere since the seeds of grasses and other antitick plants are inexpensive, locally available, and easily accessible and the technology is simple and easy to apply without the assistance of an external personnel. The technology would also be easily adopted by rural resource-poor livestock farmers since most of them are familiar with the plant materials and are already using one or more of these traditional methods for tick control and management on their farms or within their homesteads (Author’s experience in Bukusu and Wanga communities in western Kenya).Unfortunately, in Africa, there are no commercial uses of these ethnobotanicals and awareness campaigns for their integration into tick control and management systems. The application of ethnobotanicals for tick control and management is still confined to individual rural resource-poor livestock farmers or ethnopractitioners and researchers in their respective institutions. Researchers and rural resource-poor livestock farmers are still independent and closed, each group working on its own without letting the information to benefit either side with critical and open mind. The plants in Table3 and others yet to be discovered from African communities will only be of value to and benefit African livestock industry if the gap of mistrust between ethnopractitioners and researchers is amicably bridged and the active participation of natural custodians of biodiversity and ethnopractitioners (rural resource-poor livestock farmers) of valuable knowledge is guaranteed in the generation of research focusing on screening programmes dealing with the isolation of bioactive principles and the development of new livestock ectoparasiticides [213].


## 6. Potential and Future Prospects for the Use of Antitick Plants in Tick Control and Management

From the foregoing, the list of antitick plants or plants with acaricidal properties shown in Tables2 and 3 is not yet exhaustive as more plant species with such activities may be discovered. Efforts to promote hands-on use of antitick plants at community level have clearly increased as signaled by a worldwide documentation of the plants (Tables 2 and 3) and many more studies being conducted on field surveys and trials [58, 109, 122, 129, 149] and laboratory tests [73, 96, 215–220]. The ongoing workshops, community-based training seminars, and novel projects on antitick plants at the Intermediate Technology Development Group-Eastern Africa (ITDG-EA), an international nongovernmental organization [129], are other promising proliferation signals in this area. The many ethnoveterinary projects and proposals identified at the November 1997 Pune conference in India signaled a worldwide recognition and appreciation of the potential of EVK in the development of livestock industry [221]. This recent and renewed interest in herbal products as a reemerging animal health aid has been fueled by the rising costs of livelihood-dependent conventional products, their adverse side effects, genetic selection for resistance by target organisms, and continued unavailability in time and quantity to meet the health needs of the growing population. The situation has been exacerbated by continued lack of trained veterinary personnel in remote rural areas and bioprospecting and biopiracy of new herbal products by researchers mainly from industrialized societies [213, 222]. As the focus increasingly concentrates on exploitation of herbal products, the stakeholders should be made aware of the risks involved in and limitations of using these products.Side effects and toxic reactions to herbal products are considered rare [223–225], albeit their existence being as old as human history [226]. There are claims that toxic effects of herbal products are often not the fault of the herb itself per se but are caused by products containing misidentified plants or contaminants such as bacteria and heavy metals during the preparation of the remedy [227, 228]. Allergic reactions to herbal products following contact during preparation and or application can occur, as with any other plant material. Toxic problems associated with particular plants or product types are well documented and understood [229–232]. Some plants are inherently toxic, containing naturally occurring toxins, often with cytotoxic or carcinogenic effects. While the identities of the more common toxic plants are generally known, at least to plant phytochemists, older herbal texts may not reflect this knowledge [224].However, risks involved in using herbal products originate from three main groups of causes. The first group of cause is intrinsic toxicity of several plants that has been outlined since the 1960s [228, 231]. For instance, active ingredient in the antitick and mange castor-oil plant(Ricinus communis), ricin, is very poisonous and provides an example of an EVK agent that must be handled with care while applying to the animal, just like conventional acaricides [233, 234]. The second cause of risks involves herbal products responsible for many dermatitis, psychological, and neurological side effects. While the third one is a result of inconsistence prescription and qualitative and quantitative measures due to ethnicity, culture, picking time, stage of growth, processing, storage, place, and altitude of growth and pollution by other pesticides, and so forth. Other risks include the following: (a) contamination by other plants, botanical confusion, and confusion between two almost similar names such asStephania tetrandra andAristolochia fangchi which are, in Chinese, “Han Fang Ji” and “Gang Fang Ji,” respectively [231, 235–239]. The confusion may also be induced by (a) same vernacular name for two species, for example, “Copalchi” refers toCoutarea latiflora (not toxic) andCroton niveus (toxic), (b) adulteration by allopathic drugs, (c) circumstances of use, this may result in misuse of herbal products or excessive drenching of animals at times, (d) many unknown factors related to the affected animals’ habits/history, and (e) uncontrolled delivery of herbal products via Internet [228]. Some herbal products contain phytochemicals that have strong effects on the animals’ body as part of their therapeutic action, that is, purgatives [240]. Highly purified or isolated extracts of plants, such as essential oils or other concentrated isolates, may have markedly different effects on the body or may even be quite toxic compared to less refined extracts of the same herb [241, 242]. Dose-related toxicity is of particular concern with any potent herbal product. As with all acaricides, following the recommended dose guidelines included with all herbal products would be a first line of defense against overdose.In practice, EVK is not without disadvantages and limitations. Certain particular EVK application methods are often very much localised, harmful, and unhygienic and the scope for their further dissemination is limited. The EVK cures are variable in their effectiveness according to season, method of preparation, ethnicity, person’s own experience, and so forth and very few plant products have been validated in the same way in which synthetic drugs must be validated. While some remedies are just inconvenient to prepare or use. From a technical standpoint, some plant products are totally ineffective and acute cases have very little if not nothing to benefit from EVK [234, 243, 244]. One of the most limiting factors of ethnobotanical acaricides is that they are not always practical on a large scale and dosages are uncertain and remedies are not standardized since the concentration of a critical ingredient in a plant often varies from one location to another and from one season to another. A particular EVK method may require considerable amounts of leaves, seeds, or even roots, which might not be possible to get. Further, certain plants are available only at some times of the year and the resource base is ever deteriorating, making ingredients unavailable for preparing products [234].Although EVK has its limitations, there is tremendous scope for its use in interventions either singly or being integrated with scientific knowledge [245]. EVK practices are often cheap, time-tested, environment-friendly and safe, cost-effective, readily available, location-specific, and based on familiar local resources and strength. Currently, a large segment of the world’s livestock population is still dependent on traditional knowledge and ethnoveterinary practices for its healthcare (more than 80% of the world population relies on it). Many of these ethnopractices offer viable alternatives to conventional western-style animal healthcare and are especially convenient to use and relevant in developing countries with limited financial resources. Local livestock keepers are already familiar with the plant products, which have been effectively and efficiently used over many generations and withstood the test of time. Most of the plant products are freely available or at a cost in proportion to the value of the animal to be treated and are easily administered, usually topically or orally. But unfortunately these ethnopractices are little documented in some cases and increasingly lost through poor storage means and their passage from generation to generation by word of mouth [246]. It is necessary therefore to have extensive documentation, campaign awareness, evaluation, and validation of the EVK and make it more homogeneous, more efficient, less mysterious, and more profitable to holders and users [219]. In addition, an interdisciplinary approach is essential because of the multiplicity of factors and a wide spectrum of techniques and insights (validation, enterprise, environment, health care delivery, public health, education, socioeconomics, sociocultural, networking, planning, and clear policies) involved in EVK [48, 101]. There is need therefore for protection and conservation of EVK genetic resources for sustainable utilization and development [99].With regard to the control and management of ticks and tick-borne diseases using antitick plants, future field and laboratory experiences should target and focus on, at least, the following points:(i)
Specific target tick species and or related arthropod species that are concerned, namely, the generaAmblyomma,Haemaphysalis, Rhipicephalus, Boophilus, Hyalomma, Dermacentor andIxodes; mites; biting insects/livestock biting flies; lice; fleas, and so forth(ii)
Whole plant or plant parts/products to be used, namely, barks, leaves, flowers, buds, roots, stems, fruits, seeds, bulbs, juice, latex, gum, sap, and so forth(iii)
The active compounds produced by the plants as well as methods of extraction, isolation, and formulation(iv)
Other products to be associated and integrated with the chosen plant parts’ products, namely, soot, salt, soap, soil, charcoal, ash, smoke, dew, any ritual performed, and so forth(v)
Application form, namely, drinking in water, drenching, decoction, infusion, pulverisation, dust, powdered, bolus, paste, juice, poultice, fomentation, compress, rubbing, pour-on, fumigation, hanging bouquet, steaming, and so forth(vi)
Application rate that is the amount of the preparation to apply and the rate of application(vii)
Action being toxic, repellent, acaricidal, antifeedant, antiovipositant, acute and residual effects, and so forth(viii)
Collection and storage of antitick plants by sustainable harvesting of the plants, protection and conservation of the plants, and preservation of harvested and prepared materials(ix)
Simple technologies of processing and applying the preparations, familiar to local resource livestock farmers(x)
Side effects of the preparations being short- and long-term effects(xi)
Whether or not a given preparation is safe for human healthHowever, scientific validation of promising antitick ethnobotanicals on their efficacy and formulation of packages easily handled by local communities is necessary for a significantly increased use of such remedies, as they will be more feasible, and the results obtained would be more comparable [99]. Consequently, the value of antitick ethnobotanicals will become more easily recognized and understood by professionals from all walks of life in livestock health. However, even when funding for such work is available the researcher is faced with a level of variability that virtually defies control as required in traditional scientific experiments, for example, plant species, time of year of harvesting and growing, growing conditions, method of collection, storage, preparation, and administration [243]. This, however, makes herbal products very unique and thus very difficult to standardize and bring them at the same level as conventional products; hence the termcomplementary fits them best in their differentiation with synthetic products.


## 7. Conclusion

The antitick ethnobotanical plants offer great potentials in tick control programmes and management strategies. The traditional ways of using such antitick plants in the community can overcome many obstacles such as cost-related production problems, formulation, availability, accessibility, and environmental pollution and contamination. Moreover, their applications are simple and could be used by local communities with minimal external help. In addition, ethnobotanicals are biodegradable, holistic and additive, synergetic, and nutritive in their action and, because of these properties, they do not allow the development of resistance problems like their synthetic counterparts. However, little attention has been given to assess the effectiveness and efficacy of antitick ethnobotanicals in an integrated tick management programmes. For this to be realized, both at local and at global levels, there is need to evaluate the traditional knowledge and explain its scientific rationale where possible with a view to ascertaining safety and preventing abuse so that the “best bets” can be identified for integration into livestock health primary delivery systems. The effectiveness of these “best bets” ethnopractices can be greatest if appropriately blended with conventional technologies and active involvement of the livestock-holding communities. Based on findings of this review article, herbal products will seemingly play a greater role in animal health industry than ever before in this millennium. The impact of this role will be greatest if the active participation of such natural custodians and ethnopractitioners of valuable knowledge is guaranteed in the generation of research focusing on screening programmes dealing with the isolation of bioactive principles and the development of new livestock ectoparasiticides [213].



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