Repellent effect, knockdown study and electrophysiological responses of essential oils against Aedes aegypti

Abstract

Aedes aegypti mosquito is a major vector of dengue and chikungunya in tropical and sub-tropical region. Personal protection by using repellents is one of the effective ways to prevent epidemic dengue from mosquito biting. In the protection period essential oil of litsea at 20% was found effective till 2 hrs while DEET and DEPA provided complete protection ranging from 5 to 6 hrs against A. aegypti mosquito at same forngs litsea oil exhibited 10%, 76%, 100% knockdown effect at 0.1%, 1% and 5% concentrations and Malathion showed 50% 86%, 100% knockdown activity at above concentrations. Analysis by GC-EAD the dominant component of litsea oil i.e. Z-citral elicited strong antennal responses in the antenna of A. aegypti mosquito. Based on the study it may be concluded that essential oils are effective and safe to human being as a personal protection against mosquitoes.