Activity of Tagetes minuta Linnaeus(Asteraceae) essential oil against L3 Anisakis larvae type 1

Objective:To evaluate in vitro effects of Tagetes minuta L. essential oil(TEO) on L3 Anisakis larvae type 1. Methods:In order to evaluate the potential use of Tagetes minuta essential oil against L3 Anisakis larvae three different media were tested:1) a saline solution(SS); 2) an industrial marinating solution; 3) sunflower seeds oil(SO). For each media and concentrations of TEO(0.1%,0.5%,1.0% and 5.0% v/v),20 parasites were introduced into plastic Petri dishes(diameter 90 mm) and maintained at room temperature. As controls,larvae were maintained without TEO under identical experimental conditions in SS,MS and SO. A total of 900 larvae were tested. The normalized mean viability,LT100,LT50 and the percentage of inactivation at 24 hours were calculated. Results:In vitro tests revealed a complete inactivation of parasites in saline solution after 2 hours with 5% and 1% of TEO. In marinating solution,a complete inactivation of parasites was observed after 4 hours at all concentrations used. A slower activity for all TEO concentration was reported in SO. Conclusions:The results obtained,showing a strong activity against Anisakis larvae,confirm TEO as a larvicidal agent in the treatment of human anisakidosis and in the industrial marinating process.