Preliminary bioassay of Neem (Azadirachta indica) bark extract as a phytoacaricide against test species Boophilus microplus

ABSTRACT

This paper describes the extraction of the Neem (Azadirachta indica) bark and the determination of any statistically significant ascaricidal activity in the extract. The hexane extract of a bark sample, after reconstitution in dimethlysufoxide, was used to perform a bioassay on tick (Boophilus microplus) specimens, which were collected from cattle that had not been exposed to any acaricide for six weeks preceding (tick) collection. The percentage mortality of Boophhilus microplus obtained post administration were 100% for the pyrethroid cypermethrin, 56% for Azadirachta indica bark extract, distilled water- 8% and dimethylsulfoxide-16%. These differences in results were statistically significant at p<0.001.