Acaricidal activities of β‐caryophyllene oxide and structural analogues derived from Psidium cattleianum oil against house dust mites

BACKGROUND: This study was to evaluate the acaricidal activities of an active compound isolated from Psidium cattleianum and structural analogues against Dermatophagoides farinae and D. pteronyssinus. β‐Caryophyllene oxide was isolated using chromatographic techniques. RESULTS: Based on the 50% lethal concentration (LD₅₀) values against D. farinae using the fumigant method, β‐caryophyllene oxide (1.36 µg cm⁻²) was ∼ 7.52 times more toxic than benzyl benzoate (10.23 µg cm⁻²), followed by α‐caryophyllene (1.75 µg cm⁻²) and β‐caryophyllene (3.13 µg cm⁻²). Against D. pteronyssinus, β‐caryophyllene oxide (1.38 µg cm⁻²) was ∼ 7.22 times more toxic than benzyl benzoate (9.96 µg cm⁻²), followed by α‐caryophyllene (1.71 µg cm⁻²) and β‐caryophyllene (3.58 µg cm⁻²). In the contact toxicity method against D. farinae, β‐caryophyllene oxide (0.44 µg cm⁻²) was ∼ 17.27 times more active than benzyl benzoate (7.60 µg cm⁻²), followed by α‐caryophyllene (0.67 µg cm⁻²) and β‐caryophyllene (0.91 µg cm⁻²). Against D. pteronyssinus, β‐caryophyllene oxide (0.47 µg cm⁻²) was ∼ 13.06 times more effective than benzyl benzoate (6.14 µg cm⁻²), followed by α‐caryophyllene (1.71 µg cm⁻²) and β‐caryophyllene (3.58 µg cm⁻²). CONCLUSION: β‐Caryophyllene oxide and structural analogues have potential for development as preventive agents for the control of house dust mites. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry