Evaluation of anti-mosquito properties of essential oils

Abstract

Essential oils from <i style="">Cedrus deodara</i>, <i style="">Eucalyptus citriodora</i>, <i style="">Cymbopogon flexuous</i>, <i style="">C</i>. <i style="">winterianus</i>, <i style="">Pinus</i> <i style="">roxburghii</i>, <i style="">Syzygium aromaticum</i> and <i style="">Tagetes minuta</i> were evaluated for bioactivity against the adults of <i style="">Culex quinquefasciatus</i> and <i style="">Aedes aegypti</i>. Serial dilutions of the oils were made in deodorized kerosene to obtain a range of concentrations (0.5-10%) and the adults were exposed to the vapour of the different oils for 1h in WHO kits for sensitivity testing. <i style="">C</i>. <i style="">winterianus</i> and <i style="">S</i>. <i style="">aromaticum</i> oils were equi effective and found most effective with LC₅₀and LC₉₅ values respectively at 0.5 and 0.9 % for <i style="">C</i>. <i style="">quinquefasciatus</i> and 1.0 and 2.0 % for <i style="">A</i>. <i style="">aegypti</i>. Activity was found in the order: <i style="">S</i>. <i style="">aromaticum </i>> <i style="">C</i>. <i style="">flexuous</i> > <i style="">E</i>. <i style="">citriodora</i> > <i style="">C</i>. <i style="">winterianus</i> > <i style="">C</i>. <i style="">deodara </i>> <i style="">T</i>. <i style="">minuta</i>.