Punica granatum peel ethanolic extract exhibits acaricidal activity against Rhipicephalus sanguineus: in vitro and in vivo study.

Pomegranate peel ethanolic extract shows promising in vitro and in vivo acaricidal activity against Rhipicephalus sanguineus in dogs.

This study evaluated the acaricidal potential of Punica granatum (pomegranate) peel ethanolic extract (PPE) against Rhipicephalus sanguineus, the brown dog tick, as a natural alternative to conventional chemical acaricides amid growing resistance concerns. PPE was chemically characterized via LC-ESI-MS/MS, identifying eight O-glycosylated flavonoids along with catechin, apigenin, luteolin, and procyanidin as key bioactive constituents. In vitro adult immersion testing demonstrated an LC50 of 35 mg/mL after 6 hours of exposure with a 5-minute immersion period. In a 7-day in vivo trial using artificially infested dogs, topical PPE spray at 35 mg/mL produced a significant reduction in tick burden compared to untreated controls, with the greatest effect on day 7 (mean tick count: 4.67 ± 1.53 in treated dogs vs. 81.7 ± 5.0 in controls). Additionally, PPE treatment was associated with improved antioxidant status in infested dogs, evidenced by elevated glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase activity, alongside reduced malondialdehyde levels, suggesting mitigation of tick-induced oxidative stress. The authors report this as the first study demonstrating acaricidal activity of PPE against tick species. While results are promising, further pharmacokinetic, safety, and efficacy studies—including dose optimization and comparison with standard acaricides—are needed before clinical adoption. This botanical byproduct may represent a sustainable, environmentally friendly adjunct or alternative for tick control in small animal practice.

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