Exposure to house dust mites is closely connected with allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, and asthma. House dust mites (Dermatophagoides farinae and D. pteronyssinus) act as allergens even after their death. Therefore, repelling the house dust mites is more effective method than killing them. Many chemical agents have been used in killing house dust mite. However, it is usually reported that these chemical agents (acaricides) exhibit adverse effects and toxicity toward animals and human. For these reasons, we carried out the experiments for measuring the repellent activity of Mate tea and Jasmine tea against house dust mites in this experiment. In order to determine the concentration having the most effective repellent effect of Mate and Jasmine tea, house dust mites (D. farinae and D. pteronyssinus) were exposed at different concentrations (0, 0.015625, 0.03125, 0.0625, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5 mg/40 μL) of Mate tea and Jasmine tea extracts, respectively, for different hours (0.5, 1, 2, 3 hours). The most effective repellent effect (%) against house dust mite in 0.25 mg/40 μL of Mate tea for 2 hours was 73.5%, Jasmine Petal tea in 0.0625 mg/40 μL for 1 hour was 84.1% and Pearl Jasmine tea in 0.125 mg/40 μL for 0.5 hour was 82.8%. These results suggest that Mate tea and Jasmine tea extracts have potential effect to repel the house dust mites (D. farinae and D. pteronyssinus)

The essential oils of three Coriandrum sativum seeds cultivated from India, Russia and America were evaluated for acaricidal toxicities against Dermatophagoides farinae, D. pteronyssinus, and Tyrophagus putrescentiae. The oils of three C. sativum seeds were analyzed by gas chromatography. The oil of C. sativum seeds cultivated from India included substantially linalool (66.8%) and camphor (6.46%). In the fumigant bioassay, based on the LD50 values against D. farinae, D. pteronyssinus, and T. putrescentiae, the oil of C. sativum seeds cultivated from America (LD50, 2.62, 2.74, and 2.88 μg/cm3) was about 3.75, 3.32, and 4.17 times more active higher than benzyl benzoate (9.85, 9.10 and, 12.01 μg/cm3). The acaricidal activity of the oil of C. sativum seeds cultivated from India was 2.27, 2.03, and 2.64 times higher than that of the benzyl benzoate, followed by Russia oil. These results suggest that the oils of three C. sativum seeds might be used as suitable acaricides.

House dust mites (HDMs) play an important role in the occurrence of allergic diseases such as asthma and atopic dermatitis. Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) is one of the most prevalent HDMs. It mediates the activation of T cells and monocytes, and induces the elevation of immunoglobulin E levels in allergic diseases. However, the effects of Der p on human monocytes have not been fully understood. In the present study, we investigated whether or not Der p has a great effect on the chemotactic activity of the human monocytic cell line, THP-1 cells, as induced by CC chemokines. We also show that the Der p extract (DpE) increased the chemotactic activity of THP-1 cells in response to MCP-1, RANTES, MIP-1α, and TARC, but has no effect on the expressions of CC chemokine receptors (CCRs) binding to CC chemokines in THP-1 cells. Protease inhibitors, such as aprotinin and E64, blocked the increased chemotaxis, while cytoplasmic Ca2+ influx mediated by these chemokines was inhibited by DpE. These results indicate that DpE increases the chemotactic activity of THP-1 cells in response to CC chemokines by regulating the cells’ protease-dependent mechanism. This finding may be useful in identifying the pathogenesis of allergic diseases induced by Der p.

Various acaricidal agents have been used to reduce the dust mite population. On the point of keeping people away from mite allergens, however, repelling mites from the living space of human is more effective than just killing them, because the dead bodies of mites still act as allergen. To examine the potential of Artemisia in controling house dust mites, Artemisia extract was evaluated for its repellency to Dermatophagoides farinae and D. pteronyssinus. Repellency tests were performed using filter-paper circles cut in halves. The Artemisia extract was applied on each half at concentrations of 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8㎕/㎠. Proper repellent effects of Artemisia extract on house dust mites were observed at the concentrations of ＞0.4㎕/㎠. As a positive control, lavender essential oil was used at concentrations of 0, 0.0125, 0.025, 0.05 and 0.1㎕/㎠. Lavender oil showed proper repellent effects at concentrations of ＞0.05㎕/㎠. These results suggest that Artemisia extract has potential to control the house dust mites, and might be useful as a dust mite repellent.

Dyed loess and charcoal fabrics are sold in market as bedding. They have a lot of functions so that people are getting to increase their expenditure for them. Thus we investigated a repellent effect of loess fabrics and charcoal fabrics against house dust mites. The evaluation of the repellent effect of dyed loess fabrics and charcoal fabrics was conducted by using Dermatophagoides farinae and D. pteronyssinus. We compared the repellent effect of dyed loess fabrics at different doses of 0.3, 1.0, 3.2, 10.0 ㎎/㎠ and dyed charcoal fabrics at different doses of 0.3, 0.6, 1.0 ㎎/㎠. Commercial loess fabrics did not have a repellent effect against house dust mites. but commercial charcoal fabrics had the repellent effect by 78% against them. In case of dyed charcoal fabrics added with charcoal powder over 0.6 ㎎/㎠, they showed the repellent effect by over 80%. These results suggest that loess fabrics and charcoal fabrics have a repellent effect of against house dust mites and they can be commercially used for the purpose.

The acricidal potency of some essential oils can be applied to the control of house dust mites. But it is more effective keeping the house dust mites away than killing them because they remain as allergens even after death. The most efficient repellent concentration of lavender and tea tree in 10㎕ against house dust mites (Dermatophagoides farinae and D. pteronyssinus) were experimented by direct contact bioassay method at various doses ; 2.5, 1.25, 0.625, and 0.3125% and at vairous exposure times ; 15, 30, 60, 120, and 180 minutes. The most effective dose of essential oils (lavender and tea tree) against house dust were 0.625% and the repellent effectiveness at the mowt effective dose of 0.625% were 95.6% for lavander and 96.2% for tea tree, respectively. These results suggest that lavender and tee tree can be effectively used in the control of house dust mites.

The insecticidal potency of some essential oils have been suggested that they may find an application in the control of house dust mites. We compared the repellent effect of four essential oils ; lemon grass (Cymbopogon nardus), lavender(Lavandula vera), rosemary(Rosmarinus officinalis) and ylang ylang(Cananga odorata). The oils were exposed at different doses(0.1, 0.05, 0.025, 0.0125, and 0.00652 ㎕/㎠) and different times(1, 2, 3, 4, 5 hours) on house dust mites(Dermatophagoides farinae and D. pteronyssinus). The repellent effects(%) of essential oils that were exposed at 0.1 ㎕/㎠ and for 1 hours against house dust mites were lemon grass(63.3%) and rosemary(61%), lavender(40%), ylang ylang(40%) in the order named.