International Journal of Research and Development in Pharmacy and Life Sciences

Available online at http//www.ijrdpl.com

December - January, 2013, Vol. 3, No.1, pp 741-747
ISSN: 2278-0238

Review Article

PLANT ESSENTIAL OILS AS MOSQUITO REPELLENT-A REVIEW

Bhupen Kalita, 1* Somi Bora, 1 Anil Kumar Sharma2

1. Girijananda Chowdhury Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, Guwahati, Assam-781017.

2. Kemwell Biopharm Pvt. Ltd. Bangalore, Karnataka-560022.

*Corresponding Author: Email [email protected]

(Received: September 11, 2013; Accepted: November 01, 2013)

ABSTRACT
Malaria is considered endemic in 104 countries and territories around the world nessessitating its control. Essential oils belonging to various plant species
and possessing mixtures of hydrocarbons have been seen to act as effective repellent against various pests. The monoterpenoids constituting the major component is
found to be cytotoxic to plant and animal tissue thus impairing the normal functioning of these tissues. The commercially marketed repellents basically consist of
essential oils from plants Cymbopogon nardus, Eucalyptus maculata, Cymbopogon excavatus, Mentha piperita, Azadirachta indica. The volatile nature of these
components due to their short duration of efficacy has urged for the development of novel formulations, use of fixatives such as vanillin and combination essential oil
plants as repellents. The easy availability and less adverse environmental impact have led to the increased interest in plant origin insecticides as an alternative to
chemical insecticides. The present article envisaged to review the reports of essential oils on its effectiveness as repellent.
Keywords: Repellent, pesticide, mosquito, repellent, essential oil.

INTRODUCTION alternative means of controlling nuisance mosquitoes and

Mosquito borne diseases are major human and animal health their property of rapid degradation in the environment has
problem in all tropical and subtropical countries. The favoured for its increased specificity [4]. The justification of
diseases transmitted include malaria, filariasis, yellow fever, essential oils as green pesticides lies in the fact that the
Japanese encephalitis and dengue fever. There has been constituents of all essential oils are moderately toxic or
exploration of various methods over the centuries to combat mostly found to be nontoxic to mammals, birds and the
threats from mosquito borne diseases. With the beginning of aquatic ecosystem [5].
the 20th century there grew an interest for use of biological Although there exist several advancements in the field of
control agents but this was declined with the discovery of synthetic drug chemistry and antibiotics but plants still
insecticidal properties of DDT in 1939. However its continue to be one of the major raw materials for drugs
deleterious impact on non-target population and the treating various ailments of human. In fact Clinical and
development of resistance prompted for the search of Pharmaceutical investigations have helped in elevating the
alternative, simple and sustainable methods of mosquito status of various medicinal plants by identifying the role of
control[1, 2, and 3]. active principles present in them and exploring their mode of
Considerable research efforts have proved that essential oil action in human and animal systems [6]. However essential
compound and their derivatives are an effective and oils due to their volatile nature demand for frequent re-
application to maintain its potency. They evaporate
©SRDE Group, All Rights Reserved. Int. J. Res. Dev. Pharm. L. Sci. 741
 Kalita B. et. al., December-January, 2013, 3(1), 741-747

completely and thereby their effectiveness is short lived and are assumed due to population growth, uncontrolled
so complete protection cannot be achieved [7]. The review urbanization in tropical and subtropical countries,
tries to compile the health scenario affected by mosquitoes proliferation of breeding sites for Aedes mosquitoes and the
and discusses the available methods of mosquito control with lack of effective mosquito control [12].
special focus on essential oils as alternative of synthetic One of the leading causes of acute encephalopathy is
chemicals. encephalitis affecting children and adolescents particularly in
Mosquito borne diseases: the tropics. Mosquitoes proliferate in close association with
Since ancient times, mosquitoes have been reported as the pigs & other animal reservoirs and are found to spread virus
source of various ailments affecting human. Comprising of Japanese encephalitis basically in malnourished children
approximately 3500 species, mosquitoes are found beyond of poor families from rural area [13].
the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The chief
genera which vector human disease causing pathogens are Table 1: Countrywide malaria surveillance data (1995-
Anopheles (malaria, filariasis), Aedes (yellow fever, dengue, 2008)
chikungunya) and Culex (West Nile, Japanese encephalitis, Year Total malaria cases Death due to malaria
filariasis). Over its life span a female mosquito repeatedly (million) (thousand)
takes a blood meal as protein source to complete egg 1995 2.93 1151
development. By injecting the saliva which may contain 1996 3.04 1010
pathogens into the host animal, the pathogens thus complete 1997 2.66 879
an obligatory life cycle phase and multiply in the mosquito’s 1998 2.22 664
salivary glands. This thereby makes female mosquito an 1999 2.28 1048
ideal transmitter of diverse blood borne pathogens and 2000 2.03 932
agents of devastating human diseases [8, 9]. Over the years 2001 2.09 1005
malaria have been considered as one of the leading cause 2002 1.84 973
of death in India (Table: 1).History reveals that the highest
2003 1.87 1006
incidence of malaria in India occurred in the 1950s with an
2004 1.92 949
estimated 75 million cases and 0.8 million deaths per year
2005 1.82 963
[10]. Malaria is caused by the protozoal parasites
2006 1.79 1707
Plasmodium vivax Grassi and Feletti, Plasmodium malariae
2007 1.51 1310
Feletti and Grassi, Plasmodium ovale Stephens, and
2008 1.52 924
Plasmodium falciparum Welch, which are transmitted by
Anopheles mosquitoes. Studies suggest that for any form of
malaria to be endemic in a certain area a number of
Table 2: Severe outbreaks of DF/DHF across India.
requirements must be fulfilled, it needs the presence of a
Year Number of Number of Region
large number of competent anopheline mosquitoes with a
DF/DHF death
sufficient preference for human blood and an exposed
cases
human population with enough number of malaria carriers
1996 10252 423 Delhi
and susceptible individuals for the chain of infection to persist
2006 12317 184 21 states/Union
[11].
Territories
Reports signify that annually 100 million cases of dengue
2007 5534 69 18 states
fever and half a million cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever
(DHF) occur globally (Table: 2), with an average case of
Control of Mosquitoes:
fatality rate around 5%. Potential reasons for the global
resurgence and spread of dengue fever and DHF epidemics

©SRDE Group, All Rights Reserved. Int. J. Res. Dev. Pharm. L. Sci. 742
 Kalita B. et. al., December-January, 2013, 3(1), 741-747

The efficient way to control these diseases is to control in the market in various form like mosquito repellent cream,
mosquito vector populations and prevent mosquito bites mosquito repellent patch, coils, spray, mosquito repellent
(Table: 3). Studies reflect that insect repellents play an wipe and mosquito repellent liquid that evaporate on
important role in preventing the mosquito vector, deterring heating. But most of the products are irritant to the users and
an insect from flying to, landing on or biting human and environment.
animal skin. Generally the widely used compounds as insect Essential oils as green pesticide:
repellents are synthetic chemical repellents but they bear the Essential oils are volatile naturally occurring, complex
disadvantage of being not safe for human, especially compounds characterized by a strong odour and are formed
children, domestic animals because they may cause skin by aromatic plants as secondary metabolites. They are
irritation, hot sensation, rashes or allergy [14]. liquid, volatile, rarely coloured, lipid soluble and soluble in
Table 3: Methods of mosquito control organic solvents with a density generally lower than that of
Chemical Non-chemical Biological water. There are 17,500 aromatic plant species among
methods methods methods higher plants and approximately 3,000 essential oils are
known out of which 300 are commercially important for
Synthetic Physical method: By growing some pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and perfume industries apart
repellents: Medicated net, Non- fish species that from pesticidal potential. In nature essential oils play an
DEET, medicated net, feeds on important role in the protection of the plants as antibacterial,
Permethrin Mosquito traps mosquito larvae antiviral, antifungal, insecticides and also against herbivores
in water bodies by reducing their appetite for such plants. They also may
Natural Mechanical methods: attract some insects to favour the dispersion of pollens and
repellents: Electric mosquito seeds or to repel the undesirable. Owing to the attraction for
Neem oil, zapper, Mosquito natural products like essential oils, despite their wide use and
Citronella magnet being familiar to us as fragrances, it is important to develop
oil a better understanding of their mode of biological action for
new applications in human health, agriculture and the
Fogging is a temporary method of controlling mosquitoes environment. Some of them constitute effective alternatives or
and such other pests but is particularly necessary in the complements to synthetic compounds of the chemical industry
context of health threats from severe bug populations and without showing the same secondary effects [15].
for an outdoor activity where these pests are unwanted. The Literature cited indicates that certain natural products
method employs a thermal fogger which produces a Zanthoxylum armatum (Rutaceae); Azadirachta indica
pesticide fog or smoke by heating the fogging solution with a (Maliaceae) and Curcuma aromatica (Zingiberaceae) have
coil inside the unit. It is ready-to-use fogging solution and been investigated for repellent activity against mosquitoes.
each gallon contains 0.5% Pyrethrins and 5.0% Piperonyl Callistemon rigidus (bottle brush), A. indica (neem) and Z.
Butoxide. Another revolutionary approach is the armatum (timur) have been reported to have repellent
transdermaltechnology to deliver a natural mosquito activity against land leeches also. Repellent action of neem
repellent nutrient directly into the blood stream for a oil in the form of mats and neem cream has been evaluated
complete 24-hour mosquito protection. The active ingredient against mosquitoes. Benzene and methanol extracts of
in the patch is Vitamin B1 or Thiamine as it is known to be the Artemisia vulgaris have been reported to have repellent
most effective natural mosquito repellent discovered to date. activity against Aedes aegypti. Quelling, an insect repellent
It was found that female mosquitoes are repulsive to the produced in China, derived from the extract of the lemon
scent of Thiamine, therefore the patch works by inducing a grass and eucalyptus plants were evaluated against
controlled amount of Vitamin B1 into the blood stream [7]. mosquitoes. Essential oil obtained from Vitex negundo was
Many synthetic chemicals as mosquito repellent are available used as repellent against Aedes aegypti. Repellent

©SRDE Group, All Rights Reserved. Int. J. Res. Dev. Pharm. L. Sci. 743
 Kalita B. et. al., December-January, 2013, 3(1), 741-747

properties of Lantana camara (Vervanaceae) flowers against The promising herbal medicines should be subjected to
Aedes mosquitoes have also been reported [16]. Most of the phytochemical analysis and identification of active
plant based insect repellents currently on the market contain ingredients and clinical trials to confirm their efficacy and
essential oils from one or more of the following plants: safety (Table: 4), and also to determine the recommended
citronella (Cymbopogon nardus), cedar (Juniper virginiana), doses in line with WHO guidelines [18].
eucalyptus (Eucalyptus maculata), geranium (Pelargonium Mode of action of essential oils:
reniforme), lemon-grass (Cymbopogon excavatus), peppermint Essential oils being complex mixtures of volatile organic
(Mentha piperita), neem (Azadirachta indica) and soybean compounds are generally produced as secondary
(Neonotonia wightii) [17]. metabolites in plants. They are constituted by hydrocarbons
Typically these oils are liquid at room temperature and get (terpenes and sesquiterpenes) and oxygenated compounds
easily transformed from liquid to gaseous state at room or (alcohols, esters, ethers, aldehydes, ketones, lactones and
slightly higher temperature without undergoing phenols). Essential oils extracted from different families have
decomposition. The aromatic characteristics of essential oils shown high repellency against arthropod species. Literature
provide various functions for the plants including attracting or has documented that essential oils and extracts from genus
repelling insects, protecting themselves from heat or cold and Eucalyptus and Cymbopogan have been traditionally used
utilizing chemical constituents in the oil as defence materials. as effective repellents. The metabolites like the
The concept of “Green Pesticides” refers to all types of monoterpenes such as α-pinene, cineole, eugenol, limonene,
nature-oriented and beneficial pest control materials that terpinolene, citronellol, citronellal, camphor and thymol are
can contribute to reduce the pest population. They are safe, the common constituents in a number of essential oils
ecofriendly and are more compatible with the environmental presenting mosquito repellent activity. Generally the
components than synthetic pesticides. The purified terpenoid monoterpenoids and sesquiterpenes are associated with
constituents of essential oils are moderately toxic to mammals repellent properties of several essential oils [19]. Amongst
but with few exceptions, the oils themselves or products the monoterpenes, a majority of them are cytotoxic to plants
based on oils are mostly nontoxic to mammals, birds and fish and animal tissue causing a dramatic reduction in the number
thereby, justifying their placement under “green pesticides” of intact mitochondria and golgi bodies thereby impairing
[5]. respiration, photosynthesis and decreasing the cell
Table 4: Mammalian toxicity of some essential oil compounds membrane permeability. Being volatile in nature so they also
Compound Animal Route LD50 act as chemical messengers for insects and other animals,
tested (mg/kg) serving as a signal of relatively short duration and alarm the
1,8 Cineole Rat Oral 2480 pheromones. Literature cites that hairs on the mosquito
Cinnamaldehyde Guinea Oral 1160 antennae are temperature and moisturesensitive. The
pig repellent molecules thus interacts with the female mosquito
Citral Rat Oral 4960 olfactory receptors thereby blocking the sense of smell
Eugenol Rat Oral 2680 which therefore comes as an hurdle in the recognition of host
d-limonene Rat Oral 4600 by the mosquitoes (Fig:1) [4].
Linalool Rat Oral >1000 Studies have indicated that terpenoids containing
Myrcene Rat Oral 5000 two functional groups are biologically active as mosquito
Thujone Mice Subcutaneous 87.5 repellents. The repellent activities of 20 synthesized
Thymol Rat, Oral 980,1800 terpenoids with two functional groups, one being negatively
Mice charged end containing either ester/ether bonds or an
(+) Carvone Rat Oral 1640 ethanol hydroxyl group and the other positively charged end
containing alkane groups were assessed. It was revealed
that the positive end is more favorable for receptor

©SRDE Group, All Rights Reserved. Int. J. Res. Dev. Pharm. L. Sci. 744
 Kalita B. et. al., December-January, 2013, 3(1), 741-747

interactions and its magnitude characterizes the electrophilic Formulation based on creams, polymer mixtures or
nature of the group, consequently the repellent-receptor microcapsules results in increase in repellency duration
interactions are most likely to be related to electrophilic through controlled release. An example is the successful
interactions. Also it was shown that molecular descriptors such microencapsulation of Zanthoxylum limonella oil in
as dipole moment and boiling point are closely related to glutaraldehyde crosslinked gelatin in order to improve
repellent activity. Generally the dipole moment is related to mosquito repellent properties. Development of new
lipophilicity or specific electrostatic interactions with receptor formulations, fixative additives and the production of
whereas boiling point/vapor pressure might determine combined repellents are the possibilities that add up for the
duration of contact with olfactory chemosensilla of effectiveness and greater economic value to repellents
mosquitoes [20].Although repellent activity of essential oils obtained from essential oils [23].
are generally attributed to some particular compounds but if CONCLUSION
a synergistic phenomenon is established among these Plants as alternative source of repellent agent reported in
metabolites then it may result in an increased bioactivity numerous ethnobotanical evaluation. They have been used
compared to isolated components. Also this synergistic effect traditionally in many parts of the world. The repellent
is showed with mixture of oils. The minor constituents found in properties of plant essential oils to mosquitoes andinsects
low percentages may also act as synergists enhancing the were well known before the advent of synthetic chemicals.
effectiveness of the major constituents through a variety of Plant-derived repellents usuallydo not pose hazards of
mechanisms [21]. Essential oils act at a vapor phase and are toxicity to humans and domestic animalsand are easily
generally effective when freshly applied as they usually biodegraded. Compared to synthetic compounds,
dissipate quickly within a short period of time due to their naturalproducts are presumed to be safer for human use.
high volatility. However this property can be improved Moreover, in contrast withsynthetic repellents which pose
through the development of formulations that would keep the environmental threat, lethal effects on nontarget organisms
active ingredients onto the skin for a longer period of time. and the resistance of mosquitoes to insecticides have
The product composition basically determines the increase in increased during the last five decades, the natural products
repellency property of essential oils [22].

Fig 1:Target sites in insects as possible neurotransmitter mediated action of essential oils.

©SRDE Group, All Rights Reserved. Int. J. Res. Dev. Pharm. L. Sci. 745
 Kalita B. et. al., December-January, 2013, 3(1), 741-747

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How to cite this article:

Kalita B., Somi Bora S., Sharma A.K., “Plant essential oils as mosquito repellent-A Review” Int. J. Res. Dev. Pharm. L. Sci.,
2013, 3(1), pp. 741-747.

©SRDE Group, All Rights Reserved. Int. J. Res. Dev. Pharm. L. Sci. 747