The acaricidal activity of materials derived from the roots of
Ostericum koreanum (Apiaceae) towardadults of
Dermatophagoides farinae and
Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus was examined by directcontact and vapor phase toxicity bioassays. Results were compared with those of three acaricides:benzyl benzoate, dibutyl phthalate, and
N,
N-diethyl-
m-toluamide (DEET). The active principle wasidentified as the sesquiterpenoid bisabolangelone by spectroscopic analysis. In fabric-piece contacttoxicity bioassays using adult
D. farinae, bisabolangelone (1.88
gif">g/cm
2) was more toxic than benzylbenzoate (11.91
gif">g/cm
2), DEET (62.20
gif">g/cm
2), or dibutyl phthalate (79.54
gif">g/cm
2), based on 24-hLD
50 values. Against adult
D. pteronyssinus, bisabolangelone (1.79
gif">g/cm
2) was similarly more activethan benzyl benzoate (9.65
gif">g/cm
2), DEET (64.45
gif">g/cm
2), and dibutyl phthalate (77.79
gif">g/cm
2). Invapor phase toxicity tests with both mite species, bisabolangelone was equitoxic in closed versusopen containers. These results indicate that bisabolangelone was largely toxic through contact action.Bisabolangelone merits further study as a potential contact acaricide or lead for the control of housedust mites.Keywords:
Ostericum koreanum; Apiaceae; botanical acaricide; house dust mite;
Dermatophagoidesfarinae;
Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus; contact action; bisabolangelone