Efficacy of Ertianyou Balm against ticks, mites, Solenopsis invicta and swelling

As an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Guangdong Province, Ertianyou Balm has a wide range of traditional applications, and this study investigated its potential for expanded use by examining its repellent effects against ticks, acarid and red imported fire ants, as well as its detumescent effects in a mouse model.

The area repellent method was used to assess the repellent efficacy of Ertianyou Balm against ticks, mites, and Solenopsis invicta. A knockdown test was conducted to evaluate its lethal effect on ticks and S. invicta. The xylene-induced ear swelling model in mice was employed to assess its anti-swelling properties.

Ertianyou Balm prolonged the time required for ticks, mites, and S. invicta to traverse a treated test area. Neither ticks nor mites were able to cross a filter paper barrier treated with the balm. Furthermore, no mite DNA was detectable at sampling sites coated with Ertianyou Balm. The mortality rate of ticks and S. invicta exposed to Ertianyou Balm reached 100 %. The median knockdown time (KT₅₀) for ticks was 274.67 minutes (spray method) and 281.20 minutes (volatilization method). For S. invicta, the KT₅₀ was 5.02 minutes with the spray method and less than 1 hour with the volatilization method. Additionally, Ertianyou Balm effectively reduced the swelling rate in the mouse model.

Ertianyou Balm demonstrated significant efficacy as a repellent and pesticide against ticks, mites, and S. invicta, and also exhibited notable anti-swelling properties.