New Candidates for Plant-Based Repellents Against Aedes aegypti.
Based on an ethnobotanical study on use for plant species against mosquito bites in the Kota Tinggi District, Johor State, Malaysia, 3 plants selected for study, Citrus aurantifolia (leaves), Citrus grandis (fruit peel), and Alpinia galanga (rhizome), were extracted using hydrodistillation to produce essential oils. These essential oils were then formulated as a lotion using a microencapsulation process and then tested for their repellent effect against Aedes aegypti. N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (deet) was also prepared in the same formulation and tested for repellency as controls. Four commercial plant-based repellent (KAPS(®), MozAway(®), BioZ Natural(®), and Mosiquard(®)) also were incorporated in the bioassay for comparison purposes. Bioassays revealed that at 20% concentration all repellent formulations demonstrated complete protection for 2 h and >90% for 4 h post-application. The A. galanga-based formulation provided the greatest level of protection (98.91%), which extended for 4 h post-application and was not significantly different from deet at similar concentration. When compared with commercial plant-based repellents (KAPS(®), MozAway(®), and BioZ Natural(®)), the 3 lotion formulations showed significantly better protection against Ae. aegypti bites, providing >90% protection for 4 h. In conclusion, our 3 plant-based lotion formulations provided acceptable levels of protection against host-seeking Ae. aegypti and should be developed.
1  Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.|2  Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor.
Norashiqin
N
Misni
1  Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Zurainee Mohamed
ZM
Nor
3  Medical Entomology Unit, Institute of Medical Research, 50588 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Rohani
R
Ahmad
D000330:Aedes / Q000187:drug effects*; D032429:Alpinia / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D002214:Capsules / Q000494:pharmacology; D002957:Citrus / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D007302:Insect Repellents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008296:Malaysia; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D027343:Rhizome / Q000737:chemistry
D002214:Capsules; D007302:Insect Repellents; D009822:Oils, Volatile
Aedes aegypti; essential oil; formulation; microencapsulation; repellent