Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) oil: A promising miticidal and ovicidal agent against Sarcoptes scabiei.

• Published in: PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
• Main Authors: Meilin Li, Buming Liu, Charlotte Bernigaud, Katja Fischer, Jacques Guillot, Fang Fang
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2020
• Subjects: Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270; Arctic; Mite
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0008225; https://doaj.org/article/cac2853954244b3698115fadff688733

BACKGROUND:Essential oils may represent an alternative strategy for controlling scabies, a neglected tropical disease caused by the infestation of mite from the species Sarcoptes scabiei. Lemongrass (Cymbopogen citratus) oil is reported to possess pharmacological properties including antiparasitc, antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. The aim of the present study was to assess the potential efficacy of lemongrass oil against the mites and eggs of Sarcoptes scabiei. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:Mass spectrometry analysis confirmed that the main component presented in lemongrass oil was citral. Lemongrass oil at concentrations of 10% and 5% killed all Sarcoptes mites within 10 and 25 min, respectively. The median lethal concentration value was 1.37%, 1.08%, 0.91%, 0.64%, and 0.48% at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h, respectively. Lemongrass oil at all concentrations (10%, 5%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.1%) was able to significantly decrease the hatching rate of Sarcoptes eggs. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:Lemongrass oil should be considered as a promising miticidal and ovicidal agent for scabies control.