Novel pediculicide from bark extract

A new publication reports on testing of a Brazilian tree-bark extract for treating lice infection.

The paper, by Rutkauskis et al., published in the March 2015 edition of Parasitology Research, tested an extract of Melia azedarach L for its chemical composition and insecticidal properties.

The analysis indicated the presence of flavonoids and terpenes, while a bioassay indicated that it induced lice death at a faster rate than a control of 1% permethrin.