The American house dust mite, Dermatophagoides farinae Hughes, is the most important factor of allergic diseases, such as atopic dermatitis, rhinitis, and asthma. The protein-denaturing activity of nerolidol (1), chrysin (2), and spathulenol (3) identified in the Brazilian propolis against D. farinae was evaluated using SDS-PAGE and dot-blot immunoassay. Results were compared with those of the currently available dust mite protein-denaturing agent tannic acid. SDS-PAGE showed that application of test compounds and tannic acid (100 μg each) caused complete disappearance of D. farinae protein bands. In a dot-blot immunoassay, test compounds and tannic acid (100 μg each) strongly inhibited the IgE-binding reactivity to D. farinae protein of a highly mite-sensitive asthmatic patient. The Brazilian propolis constituents described merit further study as potential dust mite-allergen denaturants for protection from humans from various diseases caused by house dust mites.

The toxicity of materials derived from root of Asiasarum heterotropoides against early third instar larvae from susceptible Culex pipiens pallens, Aedes aegypti, and Ochlerotatus togoi was examined using direct contact mortality bioassays. Results were compared with those following the treatment with two currently used mosquito larvicides, temephos and fenthion. The bioactive principles of A. heterotropoides root were identified as asarinin, asarone, methyleugenol, pellitorine, and pentadecane by spectroscopic analysis. As judged by 24 h LC50 values, pellitorine (2.08-2.38 ppm) was the most toxic compound, followed by asarinin (10.49-16.49 ppm) and asarone (22.38-26.99 ppm). These compounds were less toxic than either temephos (0.16-0.20) or fenthion (LC50, 0.23-0.29). Weak activity was produced by methyleugenol (53.30-58.52 ppm) and pentadecane (96.71-99.19 ppm). A. heterotropoides root-derived materials, particularly pellitorine, merit further study as potential mosquito larvicides for protection from humans and domestic animals from vector-borne diseases and nuisance caused by mosquitoes.