Bioactivity of Meliaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Solanaceae and Amaranthaceae plant aqueous extracts against the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus.

Commercial synthetic acaricides have selected resistant populations of Rhipicephalus microplus, and generate residues in the environment or in milk/cattle products. In this study, aqueous extracts (AE) from Melia azedarach (Maz), Allium sativum, Capsicum chinense, Nicotiana tabacum (Nta) and Dysphania ambrosioides were evaluated for the bioactivity against the cattle tick. The treatment using Nta or Maz AE resulted in the lowest egg hatching rate (34.0 ± 11% and 25.0 ± 19%), and in the values of reproduction inhibition ranging from 89.0% to 85.3%. Phytochemical screening associated to RP-HPLC/DAD analysis suggested the presence of alkaloids for Nta and gallic acid derivatives and catechins, for Maz. Such results highlighted that the use of Nta and Maz AE can be a promising source of bioactive compounds for the control of infections caused by the cattle tick.

Chemical composition and effect of Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) mosyakin & clemants essential oil on Biomphalaria tenagophila (D'Orbigny, 1835).

Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants, known as santa maria herb, is a medicinal plant used on pest control and to treat parasitic diseases. Due to its potential for pest control, the aim of this work was to determine the chemical composition of D. ambrosioides essential oil and evaluate its molluscicidal effect on Biomphalaria tenagophila, which is an intermediate host for the Schistosoma mansoni trematode, that is responsible for causing human schistosomiasis. The essential oil extracted from its leaves showed 87% of (Z)-ascaridole and 100% of mortality against B. tenagophila at 10 ppm after 24 h of experiment. LC50 and LC90 values were, respectively, 2.40 (1.90-2.99) ppm and 8.75 (6.39-14.12) ppm. D. ambrosioides essential oil proved to be a promising natural molluscicide against schistosomiasis when compared with commercial products.

Environmental risk assessment for sustainable pesticide use in coffee production.

The extensive use of pesticides in agricultural practices has been associated with human health problems and environmental contamination worldwide. Brazil is the largest consumer of pesticides in the world and Espírito Santo State stands out as the second Brazilian producer of coffee. However, there is no information about environmental impact of coffee producing at Itapemirim River Basin (IRB) region, Espírito Santo State, Brazil; hence a simple and quick method using open access softwares (AGROSCRE and ARAquá Web) to estimate surface entrainment and pesticide leaching potential was carried out. AGROSCRE evaluates the contamination risk of superficial and groundwater by Active Ingredients (AIs), using GOSS Method, GUS index and US EPA criteria, while ARAquá Web estimates AI concentrations in water resources, indicating their suitability based on water quality requirements for different uses. Regarding pesticides used in coffee plantations, there is 44.7% chance of surface water and 23.7% chance of groundwater contamination. Results showed that ametryne, cyproconazole, diuron, epoxiconazole, flutriafol, triadimenol and triazophos pose contamination risk to both surface water and groundwater in the IRB region. Of these, 10.5% of the total AIs are triazoles and fall under environmental classes II and III (Product Very/Dangerous to the Environment). The AIs ametryne, thiamethoxam, iprodione, flutriafol, triazophos, endosulfan, triadimenol, cyproconazole, diuron, pendimethalin, chlorpyrifos, copper II hydroxide, etion, epoxiconazole and paraquat dichloride, were found to be potentially toxic, presenting environmental concentrations ranging from 123.40 µg L-1 to 0.14 µg L-1, which are higher than the safety standard for potable water (0.1 µg L-1). With respect to these AIs, chlorpyrifos, ethion and triazophos showed concentrations higher than EC50 values for aquatic invertebrates and ametryne and diuron for algae. Thus, local residents and environment may be at high risk of pesticide exposure, when these AIs are used in coffee plantations next to surface water or groundwater.