Verbenone structural analogues isolated from Artemesia aucheri as natural acaricides against Dermatophagoides spp. and Tyrophagus putrescentiae

The acaricidal activities of Artemisia aucheri oil and (1S)-(-)-verbenone structural analogues were evaluated using a fumigant method against Dermatophagoides farinae , Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus , and Tyrophagus putrescentiae and then compared to those of benzyl benzoate. On the basis of the LD50 values against D. farinae , (1S)-(-)-verbenone (1.38 μg/cm(2)) was about 7.4 times more active than benzyl benzoate (10.15 μg/cm(2)), followed by (+)-trans-myrtanol (2.27 μg/cm(2)), (-)-trans-myrtanol (2.30 μg/cm(2)), and A. aucheri oil (8.75 μg/cm(2)). (1S)-(-)-Verbenone (1.25 μg/cm(2)) was approximately 7.8 times more effective against D. pteronyssinus than benzyl benzoate (9.80 μg/cm(2)), followed by (+)-trans-myrtanol (2.18 μg/cm(2)), (-)-trans-myrtanol (2.22 μg/cm(2)), and A. aucheri oil (8.46 μg/cm(2)). In the case of T. putrescentiae , (1S)-(-)-verbenone (3.75 μg/cm(2)) was roughly 3.5 times more toxic than benzyl benzoate (13.25 μg/cm(2)), followed by (+)-trans-myrtanol (12.57 μg/cm(2)), (-)-trans-myrtanol (12.95 μg/cm(2)), and A. aucheri oil (11.55 μg/cm(2)). These results indicate that A. aucheri oil and (1S)-(-)-verbenone structural analogues may be effective natural agents to control house dust and storage mites.