Evaluation of phytochemicals and essential oils of Cupressus semprevirens in controlling cattle tick Rhipicephalus annulatus (Acari: Ixodidae)

Abstract Background Cupressus sempervirens is one of the conifer plants, that is used as an antimicrobial, antioxidant, anthelminthic, and many other health purposes. Rhipicephalus annulatus is one of the hard tick genera affecting the production and health of domestic animals in Egypt. Extensive us...

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Main Authors: Mai Ahmed Taha, Asmaa Ali Baioumy Ali
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:BMC Plant Biology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06222-5
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author Mai Ahmed Taha
Asmaa Ali Baioumy Ali
author_facet Mai Ahmed Taha
Asmaa Ali Baioumy Ali
author_sort Mai Ahmed Taha
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Cupressus sempervirens is one of the conifer plants, that is used as an antimicrobial, antioxidant, anthelminthic, and many other health purposes. Rhipicephalus annulatus is one of the hard tick genera affecting the production and health of domestic animals in Egypt. Extensive use of chemical acaricides in the management of ticks caused acaricide resistance, environmental contamination, residues in meat and milk, and harmful effects on non-target species. For these reasons, there is an urgent need to create efficient, environmentally friendly acaricides. This work aimed to assay the essential oils and establish the phytochemical analysis of C. sempervirens extract, its effects against the semi-engorged females of R. annulatus, and discuss their possible control effects. Results Using the spray-dip method by C. sempervirens ethanol, methanol, distal water, and chloroform extracts at different concentrations (10–50%), revealed a decrease in the percentage of mobile female R. annulatius ticks, and increased mortality proportionally with days after treatments (14 days) and/or extract concentrations (10–50%). The ethanol extracts showed their strongest acaricidal effect, where the female mortality percentage reached 100% using all concentrations at the end of the examined period. In addition, the estimated LC50 and LC95 of C. sempervirens ethanolic extract were recorded as the lowest values (12.2% and 17%, respectively) after 14 days of treatment compared with other extract types. The 50% ethanolic extract of C. sempervirens (the most effective one) revealed the presence of bioactive metabolites i.e. flavonoids, tannins, and carbohydrates (TSS). Also, its total antioxidant capacity and potential free-radical activity (DPPH) were estimated. Using GC-MS, the extracted oil revealed the presence of four major compounds i.e., Eicosapentaenoic acid (50.85%), 10,12-Docosadiynedioic acid (27.58%),10-Undecynoic acid (14.28%) and Palmitic acid (5.42%). The efficiency of all phytochemicals and essential oils was discussed in the current study. Conclusion The phytochemicals and essential oils found in C. sempervirens could enhance our understanding and help in developing potential strategies for controlling ticks in general and for R. annulatus, in particular, using environmentally friendly agents.
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spelling doaj-art-faeb56a448854731b963ddfebcbb2df82025-08-20T02:56:08ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292025-03-0125111310.1186/s12870-025-06222-5Evaluation of phytochemicals and essential oils of Cupressus semprevirens in controlling cattle tick Rhipicephalus annulatus (Acari: Ixodidae)Mai Ahmed Taha0Asmaa Ali Baioumy Ali1Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams UniversityZoology Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams UniversityAbstract Background Cupressus sempervirens is one of the conifer plants, that is used as an antimicrobial, antioxidant, anthelminthic, and many other health purposes. Rhipicephalus annulatus is one of the hard tick genera affecting the production and health of domestic animals in Egypt. Extensive use of chemical acaricides in the management of ticks caused acaricide resistance, environmental contamination, residues in meat and milk, and harmful effects on non-target species. For these reasons, there is an urgent need to create efficient, environmentally friendly acaricides. This work aimed to assay the essential oils and establish the phytochemical analysis of C. sempervirens extract, its effects against the semi-engorged females of R. annulatus, and discuss their possible control effects. Results Using the spray-dip method by C. sempervirens ethanol, methanol, distal water, and chloroform extracts at different concentrations (10–50%), revealed a decrease in the percentage of mobile female R. annulatius ticks, and increased mortality proportionally with days after treatments (14 days) and/or extract concentrations (10–50%). The ethanol extracts showed their strongest acaricidal effect, where the female mortality percentage reached 100% using all concentrations at the end of the examined period. In addition, the estimated LC50 and LC95 of C. sempervirens ethanolic extract were recorded as the lowest values (12.2% and 17%, respectively) after 14 days of treatment compared with other extract types. The 50% ethanolic extract of C. sempervirens (the most effective one) revealed the presence of bioactive metabolites i.e. flavonoids, tannins, and carbohydrates (TSS). Also, its total antioxidant capacity and potential free-radical activity (DPPH) were estimated. Using GC-MS, the extracted oil revealed the presence of four major compounds i.e., Eicosapentaenoic acid (50.85%), 10,12-Docosadiynedioic acid (27.58%),10-Undecynoic acid (14.28%) and Palmitic acid (5.42%). The efficiency of all phytochemicals and essential oils was discussed in the current study. Conclusion The phytochemicals and essential oils found in C. sempervirens could enhance our understanding and help in developing potential strategies for controlling ticks in general and for R. annulatus, in particular, using environmentally friendly agents.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06222-5Acaricidal activityCupressus sempervirensEssential oilsFatty acidsPhytochemicalsRhipicephalus annulatus
spellingShingle Mai Ahmed Taha
Asmaa Ali Baioumy Ali
Evaluation of phytochemicals and essential oils of Cupressus semprevirens in controlling cattle tick Rhipicephalus annulatus (Acari: Ixodidae)
BMC Plant Biology
Acaricidal activity
Cupressus sempervirens
Essential oils
Fatty acids
Phytochemicals
Rhipicephalus annulatus
title Evaluation of phytochemicals and essential oils of Cupressus semprevirens in controlling cattle tick Rhipicephalus annulatus (Acari: Ixodidae)
title_full Evaluation of phytochemicals and essential oils of Cupressus semprevirens in controlling cattle tick Rhipicephalus annulatus (Acari: Ixodidae)
title_fullStr Evaluation of phytochemicals and essential oils of Cupressus semprevirens in controlling cattle tick Rhipicephalus annulatus (Acari: Ixodidae)
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of phytochemicals and essential oils of Cupressus semprevirens in controlling cattle tick Rhipicephalus annulatus (Acari: Ixodidae)
title_short Evaluation of phytochemicals and essential oils of Cupressus semprevirens in controlling cattle tick Rhipicephalus annulatus (Acari: Ixodidae)
title_sort evaluation of phytochemicals and essential oils of cupressus semprevirens in controlling cattle tick rhipicephalus annulatus acari ixodidae
topic Acaricidal activity
Cupressus sempervirens
Essential oils
Fatty acids
Phytochemicals
Rhipicephalus annulatus
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06222-5
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