Research Article

In vitro insecticidal activity of lavender, thyme, peppermint and clove essential oils against Ctenocephalides felis collected from cats and dogs in Istanbul

Volume: 10 Number: 2 October 24, 2026

In vitro insecticidal activity of lavender, thyme, peppermint and clove essential oils against Ctenocephalides felis collected from cats and dogs in Istanbul

Abstract

Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate the in vitro insecticidal activity of essential oils obtained against adult Ctenocephalides felis collected from cats and dogs in Istanbul, Türkiye, and to investigate the potential of these four plant species (Lavandula angustifolia (lavender), Thymus vulgaris (thyme), Mentha piperita (peppermint), and Syzygium aromaticum (clove)) as plant-based candidates for flea control. Materials and Methods: Adult fleas were collected from cats and dogs housed in two animal shelters in Istanbul and morphologically identified as C. felis. Essential oils were obtained by steam distillation and chemically characterized using an Agilent 8890 GC-FID system coupled with a 5977B MS and 16ALS Extractor Source. The insecticidal activity of the oils was evaluated using a filter paper impregnation assay at ten two-fold serial concentrations ranging from 800-1.56 μg cm-2. Acetone and fipronil (8 μg cm-2) were used as negative and positive controls, respectively. Mortality was recorded at 15, 30, and 45 min and at 1, 2, and 12 h after exposure. Statistical analyses were performed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test and two-way ANOVA to evaluate the effects of concentration and exposure time. Results: All tested essential oils demonstrated insecticidal activity against adult C. felis. Clove oil, characterized mainly by eugenol (82.26%), exhibited the strongest and most rapid activity, causing 100% mortality within 30 min at 800 μg cm-2. Thyme oil, rich in thymol (43.84%) and γ-terpinene (32.59%), achieved 100% mortality within 1 h at both 800 and 50 μg cm-2. Lavender oil, containing linalool (38.62%) and linalyl acetate (33.41%) as major constituents, showed moderate efficacy, whereas peppermint oil, characterized by menthol (38.85%) and menthone (29.89%), exhibited comparatively slower insecticidal activity. Mortality increased significantly with both concentration and exposure time (p < 0.05); at 12 h, thyme and clove were most potent (LC50 = 5.6 and 6.8 µg cm⁻²), followed by lavender (9.0) and peppermint (18.7 µg cm-2). Conclusions: Clove and thyme essential oils demonstrated potent and rapid insecticidal effects against adult C. felis, highlighting their potential as promising natural alternatives to conventional synthetic insecticides. The findings support further in vivo investigations and formulation studies for the development of plant-based flea control products. More broadly, these findings support essential oils as a rational and sustainable basis for developing resistance-mitigating alternatives in flea control.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Project Number

Project No: 1919B012464551

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa Local Ethics Committee for Animal Experiments (Approval no: 2025-46).

Thanks

Not applicable.

References

  1. Akküçük Ş, Kaya ÖM, Karagöz M, Zerek A, Yaman M. The louse and flea infestations in cats and dogs in Antakya animal shelter. Van Vet J. 2019; 30:37-40.
  2. Bakkali F, Averbeck S, Averbeck D, Idaomar M. Biological effects of essential oils – a review. Food Chem Toxicol. 2008; 46:446-475.
  3. Bass C, Schroeder I, Turberg A, Field LM, Williamson MS. Identification of mutations associated with pyrethroid resistance in the para-type sodium channel of the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis. Insect Biochem Mol Biol. 2004; 34:1305-1313.
  4. Benelli G, Pavela R. Beyond mosquitoes–essential oil toxicity and repellency against bloodsucking insects. Ind Crops Prod. 2018; 117:382-392.
  5. Beugnet F, Franc M. Insecticide and acaricide molecules and/or combinations to prevent pet infestation by ectoparasites. Trends Parasitol. 2012; 28(7):267-279.
  6. Çetin H, Cilek JE, Aydın L, Yanıkoğlu A. Acaricidal effects of the essential oil of Origanum minutiflorum (Lamiaceae) against Rhipicephalus turanicus (Acari: Ixodidae). Vet Parasitol. 2009;160:359–361.
  7. Coles TB, Dryden MW. Insecticide/acaricide resistance in fleas and ticks infesting dogs and cats. Parasit Vectors. 2014; 7:1-10.
  8. Conceicao CL, de Morais LA, Campos DR, et al. Evaluation of insecticidal activity of thyme, oregano, and cassia volatile oils on cat flea. Rev Bras Farmacogn. 2020; 30:774-779.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Veterinary Pharmacology

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

October 24, 2026

Submission Date

June 24, 2026

Acceptance Date

October 1, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 10 Number: 2

APA
Demiryürek, E., Güneş, Y., Yoldaş, D., & Üstüner Keleş, O. (2026). In vitro insecticidal activity of lavender, thyme, peppermint and clove essential oils against Ctenocephalides felis collected from cats and dogs in Istanbul. Turkish Journal of Veterinary Research, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.47748/tjvr.1978147
AMA
1.Demiryürek E, Güneş Y, Yoldaş D, Üstüner Keleş O. In vitro insecticidal activity of lavender, thyme, peppermint and clove essential oils against Ctenocephalides felis collected from cats and dogs in Istanbul. TJVR. 2026;10(2). doi:10.47748/tjvr.1978147
Chicago
Demiryürek, Esmanur, Yiğit Güneş, Denizhan Yoldaş, and Oya Üstüner Keleş. 2026. “In Vitro Insecticidal Activity of Lavender, Thyme, Peppermint and Clove Essential Oils Against Ctenocephalides Felis Collected from Cats and Dogs in Istanbul”. Turkish Journal of Veterinary Research 10 (2). https://doi.org/10.47748/tjvr.1978147.
EndNote
Demiryürek E, Güneş Y, Yoldaş D, Üstüner Keleş O (October 1, 2026) In vitro insecticidal activity of lavender, thyme, peppermint and clove essential oils against Ctenocephalides felis collected from cats and dogs in Istanbul. Turkish Journal of Veterinary Research 10 2
IEEE
[1]E. Demiryürek, Y. Güneş, D. Yoldaş, and O. Üstüner Keleş, “In vitro insecticidal activity of lavender, thyme, peppermint and clove essential oils against Ctenocephalides felis collected from cats and dogs in Istanbul”, TJVR, vol. 10, no. 2, Oct. 2026, doi: 10.47748/tjvr.1978147.
ISNAD
Demiryürek, Esmanur - Güneş, Yiğit - Yoldaş, Denizhan - Üstüner Keleş, Oya. “In Vitro Insecticidal Activity of Lavender, Thyme, Peppermint and Clove Essential Oils Against Ctenocephalides Felis Collected from Cats and Dogs in Istanbul”. Turkish Journal of Veterinary Research 10/2 (October 1, 2026). https://doi.org/10.47748/tjvr.1978147.
JAMA
1.Demiryürek E, Güneş Y, Yoldaş D, Üstüner Keleş O. In vitro insecticidal activity of lavender, thyme, peppermint and clove essential oils against Ctenocephalides felis collected from cats and dogs in Istanbul. TJVR. 2026;10. doi:10.47748/tjvr.1978147.
MLA
Demiryürek, Esmanur, et al. “In Vitro Insecticidal Activity of Lavender, Thyme, Peppermint and Clove Essential Oils Against Ctenocephalides Felis Collected from Cats and Dogs in Istanbul”. Turkish Journal of Veterinary Research, vol. 10, no. 2, Oct. 2026, doi:10.47748/tjvr.1978147.
Vancouver
1.Esmanur Demiryürek, Yiğit Güneş, Denizhan Yoldaş, Oya Üstüner Keleş. In vitro insecticidal activity of lavender, thyme, peppermint and clove essential oils against Ctenocephalides felis collected from cats and dogs in Istanbul. TJVR. 2026 Oct. 1;10(2). doi:10.47748/tjvr.1978147