Submit Manuscript | http://medcraveonline.com Introduction The cattle tick R. (B.) microplus is a hematophage ectoparasite of great importance worldwide because it causes considerable economic losses to the meat and dairy industry, 1 losses that they are directly associated with a lower weight gain and milk production. 2 In addition, it is a vector of zoonotic diseases, including anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis and Lyme disease. 3,4 Given the importance of this pest, chemically synthesized acaricides have traditionally been used to reduce infestations in cattle, generating a series of problems associated with environmental pollution, loss of food quality through the presence of agrochemicals in meat and milk, and signifcant economic losses worldwide. 5,6 Different authors have reported that R. (B.) microplus has generated resistance to acaricides as a result of continuous and improper use, 7 generating interest in investigating plant extracts with ixodicidal properties as a sustainable alternative with low or no toxicity to mammals, rapid degradation in the environment and greater impediment for the development of resistance that is economically viable. 8,9 Studies have used different species, showing high levels of developmental inhibitory action for eggs and adult control, suggesting that they are a viable alternative for the control of this tick. 9-11 Secondary metabolites such as isofavones, favones, favonols, neofavones and coumarins have been isolated from plant extracts. 12 Coumarins have been studied since 1860, revealing wide range of antiviral, antiparasitic, antifungal, and insecticidal activities, among others. 13 Because of their importance in different types of industries, there is a large amount of research on obtaining them, isolating them naturally or through chemical synthesis. As a result, there are approximately 1300 coumarins isolated from different plant families. 14-16 The various procurement processes have generated variations in structure and possible use, so the insecticidal activity has been studied, demonstrating great potential for the control of different species of mosquitoes, ticks and other pests that transmit diseases in humans, animals and plant species. 17 Materials and methods This paper was developed with a review of research literature and publications of scientifc importance that have impacted knowledge on the cattle tick R. (B.) microplus, mainly through exploration of types of control with an emphasis on plant extracts containing coumarins. The cited articles were considered for this review, but not all studies on which the research was based were included. Pharm Pharmacol Int J. 2020;8(4):215‒232. 215 ©2020 Rodríguez-Molano et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially. Background on the control of the cattle tick R. (B.) microplus and the use of coumarin substances as an alternative Volume 8 Issue 4 - 2020 Carlos-Eduardo Rodríguez-Molano, 1 Sergio Ulloa Torres, 2 Laura-Estefanía Niño Monrroy 2 1 Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia, Lead Researcher, Grupo de Investigación en Bioquímica y Nutrición Animal GIBNA, Colombia 2 Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia, Researcher, Grupo de Investigación en Bioquímica y Nutrición Animal GIBNA, Colombia Correspondence: Carlos-Eduardo Rodríguez, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia, Lead Researcher, Grupo de Investigación en Bioquímica y Nutrición Animal GIBNA, Tunja, Boyaca, Colombia, Tel +573044150615, Email Received: July 14, 2020 | Published: July 30, 2020 Abstract Rhicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (R. (B.) microplus) is a hematophagous ectoparasite of Indo-Asian origin that is found in tropical and subtropical regions, which has expanded its geographical distribution as a result of climate change, migrating to northern latitudes and higher altitudes. This species creates estimated economic losses between $13.9 and 18.7 million dollars per year, generating direct and indirect effects on livestock such as low productivity and production rates, decreased reproduction, and even death through the transmission of diseases associated with this species, including diseases known as TBD (tick borne diseases), which are a public health problem in countries with high rates of occurrence, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, France, Australia and Brazil. The chemical control of cattle ticks began in 1895 with the use of arsenic baths that reduced infestation of this species in herds in Australia. Today, many formulations and techniques have been developed to control of this species; however, malpractice, underdosing and/ or overuse of these substances have allowed this species to develop different types of resistance, which have documented worldwide. Countries with a high number of resistance reports include Mexico, Brazil and Australia. These factors serve as a starting point for research that seeks to provide economically and environmentally viable alternatives for the control of cattle ticks, which make use of different types of plant extracts obtained from many species. As a result, high control rates at different stages of this species using various compounds with a less harmful effect on the environment have been achieved, such as with coumarins, which are obtained from chemical reactions using methodologies designed with the concept of green chemistry. This paper sought to provide an overview and approximation of the traditional control of R. (B.) microplus and control alternatives that use coumarin compounds. Keywords: coumarins, control, resistance, acaricides, vector, environmentally viable alternatives Pharmacy & Pharmacology International Journal Review Article Open Access