Pediculicidal Activity Assessment of Four Essential Oil Terpenoids Using Filter Contact and Immersion Bioassays

Despite several reports of successful pediculicidal activity of essential oils, the role of their major components (terpenoids), attributed to be most effective molecules on head lice, are little known. Herein, we evaluated pediculicidal effectiveness of  four  terpenoids  (linalool,  geraniol,β-caryophylleneandterpinen-4-ol) derived from most commonly used essential oils  against  head  lice.  Totally,  300  adult  lice  were  collected  from  infested  patients.  Then  for  each  evaluation  method  of  filter contact and immersion, five series of 30 samples were examined separately using four terpenoids and sterile water as control. All samples affected by geraniol, linalool and terpinen-4-ol and 97% of lice treated by β-caryophyllene were dead at the end of immersion experiment. Geraniol and linalool were able to kill head lice on filter contact bioassay. Ter-pinen-4-ol and β-caryophyllene were ineffective on 2 and 12 specimens respectively. Consequently, Geraniol, linalool and terpinen-4-ol demonstrated to be high effective in immersionand filter contact bioassays.

Also published as Letters to the Editor in 2020 see also https://phthiraptera.myspecies.info/node/95439