J Ethnopharmacol. 1989 Oct; 26(3): 293-8.

Laboratory evaluation of the acaricidal properties of extracts from Uraria picta (Leguminosae).

Igboechi AC, Osazuwa EO, Igwe UE.

Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Nigeria.

Ethomedical uses of the plant, Uraria picta (Leguminosae), in Nigeria include the control of ectoparasites in man and domestic animals. Total and fractionated extracts of this plant have been assessed for acaricidal activity on Ixodes ricinus. All the extracts were acaricidal to the test organisms. Methanolic extract of this plant is a more potent acaricide compared to the aqueous extract. Similarly, the alkaline-soluble non-polar fraction of the methanolic extract exhibited greater acaricidal activity than the alkaline-insoluble non-polar fraction. However, the polar fraction of the methanolic extract exerted no detectable acaricidal activity. The acaricidal property of this plant is attributable to more than one class of chemical compounds found to include phenolic, flavonoid, sterol and terpene derivatives.