Acaricidal potential of plants: a strategic alternative for efficient tick management

Ticks are major contributors to reduced productivity in ruminants, and their control is a priority to prevent the transmission of tick-borne diseases. The excessive use of chemical acaricides has resulted in the development of resistance in ticks, as well as adverse environmental impacts. This literature review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The search was restricted to studies published between 2014 and 2025 in English and French that evaluated the acaricidal and/or repellent activity of essential oils and pure compounds isolated from them against ticks. Out of 1143 articles retrieved, only 203 met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review. In total, 197 plant species, representing 41 families and originating from various countries worldwide, were reported to exhibit acaricidal or repellent properties against ticks in vitro. The majority of these plant species belong to the families Lamiaceae, Myrtaceae, Asteraceae, and Poaceae, with effectiveness varying by species and concentration tested. Furthermore, 57 compounds have been identified as possessing acaricidal or tick-repellent activity, with carvacrol, thymol, and eugenol being the most cited. The tick species most commonly investigated for the acaricidal activity of essential oils and their compounds is Rhipicephalus microplus, whereas Amblyomma americanum and Ixodes ricinus are the primary species studied for repellent activity. This article provides an overview of the current state of knowledge on the acaricidal and repellent properties of essential oils and/or their major constituents in tick control. We also examine the principal challenges associated with their use as acaricides, evaluate their potential for field application, and explore future perspectives for their valorization.