Preliminary investigation of acaricidal activity of leaf extract of Nicotiana tabacum on dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Tick infestation of domestic animals remains a major constraint to livestock productivity across all agro-ecological zones most especially in small animal practice. The most common method of tick control is the use of synthetic acaricide. However, a widespread increase of acaricidal resistance, scarcity and high cost of acaricides especially to farmers of low-income earnings in developing countries support the need for alternative tick control methods. Among the alternative methods for tick control is herbal therapy. In this study, we investigated the acaricidal activity of methanol and N-hexane leaf extracts of Nicotiana tabacum against dog ticks – Rhipicephalus sanguineus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Larvicidal and adulticidal activity of N. tabacum leaf extract were examined on the dog tick – R. sanguineus in an in vitro experiment using larval packet test and adult immersion test respectively. Phytochemical and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis of the leaf extract were also carried out using standard methods. RESULTS: We observed a tick mortality rate that was concentration-dependent. However, N-hexane extract showed a higher significant acaricidal effect than methanol extract. Lethal dose (LD(50)) of N. tabacum was 0.06. High quantity of terpenoids was obtained from N. tabacum. Lower tick glutathione S-transferase observed with varying concentration of N. tabacum. GC–MS revealed Pyridine, 3-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)-, (S) - Nicotine, Citronellyl propionate, Crotonaldehyde, Lavandulyl acetate, trans-Phytol and Amitrole (3-Amino-1, 2, 4-triazole) in N. tabacum. CONCLUSION: Both methanol and N-hexane leaf extracts of N. tabacum exhibited observable acaricidal property against the larvae and adult R. sanguineus of dog.