COMPOSICIóN QUíMICA Y ACTIVIDAD ACARICIDA DEL ACEITE ESENCIAL DE CYMBOPONGON CITRATUS STAPF CONTRA EL ACARO INTRADOMICILIARIO DERMATOPHAGOIDES FARINAE (ACARI:PYROGLYPHIDAE)

dust mites are an important source of intradomiciliary allergens reason why their the biological control is a priority in the prevention and control of allergic sensitization. the purpose of this work was to obtain the essential oil of leaves of cymbopongon citratus stapf and evaluate its acaricidal activity on dermatophagoides farinae mite. the essential oil was obtained through hydrodistillation and extraction with dichloromethane. the relative chemical composition of the oil was determined by gc-ms. concentration-response bio essays were carried out in filter paper treated with 5, 0.5, 0.05, and 0.005 μl of essential oil/cm2. the absence of dust mite movement when they touched with a fine needle was considered as an indicator of death. the oil extraction yield was 1.22 % v/w of fresh leaves. the gc-ms analysis revealed citral (41.8% of geranial over 34.9% of neral) as a major component. the toxic effect of the c. citratus stapf essential oil on dust mites d. farinae was proportional to concentration and time exposure. using a 0.5 μl/cm2 concentration of essential oil, 46.67% of dust mites died after 60 minutes exposure. these results allowed the verification of a high toxic activity of c. citrates stapf essential oil on d. farinae mites; this effect may be related to the presence of geranial and neral monoterpenes analogue to octopamine, an peripheral neurotransmitter in insect.