Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Laboratory evaluation of traditionally used plant-based insect repellent against the malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis Patton (Diptera: Culicidae)

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Parasitology Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A laboratory study was carried out to evaluate the repellent efficacy of a methanol-leaf extract of Ethiopian traditionally used insect repellent plant viz., Lomi sar [vernacular name (local native language, Amharic); Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf. (Poaceae)] against Anopheles arabiensis at four different concentrations viz., 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 mg/cm2. The percentage protection in relation to the dose method was performed. C. citratus extract has shown various degrees of repellency impact against A. arabiensis. It provided the maximum total percentage protection of 78.83% at 2.5 mg/cm2 and followed 68.06% at 2.0 mg/cm2 for 12 h. All four tested concentrations of C. citratus extract offered significant protection and Student's t test results shows statistically significant (p value = 0.001) [1.0 mg/cm2 (t = 22.89; df = 4); 1.5 mg/cm2 (t = 24.03; df = 4); 2.0 mg/cm2 (t = 36.92; df = 4); 2.5 mg/cm2 (t = 22.31; df = 4)] difference between treated and control groups. The result suggests that it could serve as a potent insect repellent against vectors of disease. Globally, C. citratus is renowned for its therapeutic values. Above and beyond, due to its user- as well as environmental-friendly nature, it should be promoted among the marginalized populations in order to reduce man-vector contact. In addition, this appropriate strategy affords the opportunity to minimize chemical repellent usage and the risks associated with adverse side effects. At the end of the day, traditionally used plant-based insect repellents could be viable safer alternative sources for chemical insect repellents.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amer A, Mehlhorn H (2006) Repellency effect of forty-one essential oils against Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex mosquitoes. Parasitol Res 99(4):478–490

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brower J, Chalk P (2003) The global threat of new and re-emerging infectious diseases: Reconciling U.S. National Security and Public Health Policy. RAND Report MR-1602-RC. http://rand.org/publications/MR/MR1602. Accessed on 24th May 2009

  • Central Statistical Agency (CSA). The Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey 2005. Central Statistical Agency, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2006

  • Changonda LS, Makanda C, Claude JC (2000) J Essential Oil Res 12:78–480

    Google Scholar 

  • Christophers SR (1947) Mosquito repellents: being a report of the work of the mosquito repellent inquiry, Cambridge 1943–1945. J Hyg 45:176–231

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clayton WD (1968) Gramineae. In Flora of West Africa: Trop Afr 3(2):349–512

    Google Scholar 

  • Clem JR, Havemann DF, Raebel MA (1993) Insect repellent deet (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) cardiovascular toxicity in an adult. Ann Pharmacother 27:289–293

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gabel ML, Spencer IS, Akers WA (1976) Evaporation rates and protection times of repellents. Mosq News 36:141–146

    Google Scholar 

  • Garson LR, Winnike ME (1968) Relationships between insect repellency and chemical and physical parameters: a review. J Med Entomol 5:339–352

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Govere J, Durrheim DN, Du Toit N, Hunt RH, Coetzee M (2000) Local plants as repellents against Anopheles arabiensis, in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. Cent Afr J Med 46:213–216

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Guenier V, Hochberg M, Gue’gan JF (2004) Ecology drives the worldwide distribution of human diseases. PLoS Biol 2:740–746

    Google Scholar 

  • Karunamoorthi K, Bekele M (2009) Prevalence of malaria from peripheral blood smears examination: a 1-year retrospective study from the Serbo Health Center, Kersa Woreda, Ethiopia. J Infect Pub Health 2(4):171–176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karunamoorthi K, Ilango K (2010) Larvicidal activity of Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf. and Croton macrostachyus Del. against Anopheles arabiensis Patton (Diptera: Culicidae), the principal malaria vector. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 14(1):57–62

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Karunamoorthi K, Sabesan S (2009) Field trials on the efficacy of DEET-impregnated anklets, wristbands, shoulder, and pocket strips against mosquito vectors of disease. Parasitol Res 105(3):641–645

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Karunamoorthi K, Mulelam A, Wassie F (2008a) Laboratory evaluation of traditional insect/mosquito repellent plants against Anopheles arabiensis, the predominant malaria vector in Ethiopia. Parasitol Res 103(3):529–534

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Karunamoorthi K, Ramanujam S, Rathinasamy R (2008b) Evaluation of leaf extracts of Vitex negundo L. (Family: Verbenaceae) against larvae of Culex tritaeniorhynchus and repellent activity on adult vector mosquitoes. Parasitol Res 103(3):545–550

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Karunamoorthi K, Ilango K, Endale A (2009) Ethnobotanical survey of knowledge and usage custom of traditional insect/mosquito repellent plants among the Ethiopian Oromo ethnic group. J Ethnopharmacol 125(2):224–229, Sept 7

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Khans AA, Maibach HI, Skidmore DL (1972) A study of insect repellents the effect of temperature on protection time. J Econ Entomol 66:437–438

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambert PH. Malaria: past and present. http://nobelprize.org/medicine/educational/malaria; 2005 [accessed on April 24, 2009]

  • Lorenzetti BB, Souza GEP, Sarti SJ, Filho DS, Ferreira SH (1991) Myrcene mimics the peripheral analgesic activity of lemongrass tea. J Ethnopharmacol 34:43–48

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mishra AK, Dubey NK (1994) Evaluation of some essential oils for their toxicity against fungi causing deterioration of stored food commodities. Appl Environ Microbiol 60:1101–1105

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moody RP, Benoit FM, Riedel R, Ritter L (1989) Dermal absorption of the insect repellent deet (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) in rats and monkeys; effect of anatomical site and multiple exposure. J Toxicol Environ Health 26:137–147

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moore SJ, Lenglet A, Hill N (2002) Field evaluation of three plant-based insect repellents against malaria vectors in Vaca Diez Province, the Bolivian Amazon. J Am Mosq Control Assoc 18:107–110

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moore SJ, Hill N, Ruiz C, Cameron MM (2007) Field evaluation of traditionally used plant-based insect repellents and fumigants against the malaria vector Anopheles darlingi in Riberalta, Bolivian Amazon. J Med Entomol 44(4):624–630

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Negrelle RRB, Gomes EC (2007) Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf: chemical composition and biological activities. Rev Brasil Plant Med 9:80–92

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Onawunmi GO, Yisak WA, Ogunlana EO (1984) Antibacterial constituents in the essential oil of Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf. J Ethnopharmacol 12:279–286

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pattnaik S, Subramanyam VR, Kole CR, Sahoo S (1995) Antibacterial activity of essential oils from Cymbopogon: inter and intra-specific differences. Microbios 84:239–245

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Plant Resources of South-East Asia No 19. 1998

  • Pushpanathan T, Jebanesan A, Govindarajan M (2006) Larvicidal, ovicidal and repellent activities of Cymbopogan citratus Stapf (Graminae) essential oil against the filarial mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus (Say) (Diptera: Culicidae). Trop Biomed 23(2):208–212

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reiter P (2008) Global warming and malaria: knowing the horse before hitching the cart. Mal J 11(7 Suppl 1):S3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rueda LM, Rutledge LC, Gupta RK (1998) Effect of skin abrasions on the efficacy of the repellent deet against Aedes aegypti. J Am Mosq Control Assoc 14:178–182

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Santiwitchaya O, Punnakunta L, Sinchaisri P, Thavara U (2005) Efficacy of volatile oils derived from Cymbopogon citratus, Cymbopogon nardus and Litsea cubeba against mosquitoes. Presented in the fourth International Conference on Biopesticides Feb 13–18, 2005, Chiang Mai, Thailand

  • Seyoum A, Palsson K, Kunga S, Kabiru EW, Lwande W, Killeen GF, Hassanali A, Knols BGJ (2002) Traditional use of mosquito repellent plants in western Kenya and their evaluation in semi-field experimental huts against Anopheles gambiae: ethnobotanical studies and application by thermal expulsion and direct burning. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hygiene 96:225–231

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sharp L, Brian DL (1991) Behavioural variation of Anopheles arabiensis (Diptera: Culicidae) populations in Natal, South Africa. Bull Entomol Res 81:107–110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Snow RW, Guerra CA, Noor AM, Myint HY, Hay SI (2005) The global distribution of clinical episodes of Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Nature 434:214–217

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tawatsin A, Wratten ST, Scott RR, Thavara U, Techadamrongsin T (2001) Repellency of volatile oils from plants against three mosquitoes. J Vector Ecol 6:76–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Trigg JK (1996) Evaluation of a eucalyptus-based repellent against Anopheles spp. in Tanzania. J Am Mosq Control Assoc 12:243–246

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Venkatachalam MR, Jebanesan A (2001) Repellent activity of Ferronia elephantum Corr. (Rutaceae) leaf extracts against Aedes aegypti. Bioresour Technol 76:287–288

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vogel AI (1978) Text book of practical organic chemistry. The English Language Book Society and Longman, London, p 1368

    Google Scholar 

  • Waka M, Hopkins RJ, Curtis C (2004) Ethnobotanical survey and testing of plants traditionally used against hematophagous insects in Eritrea. J Ethnopharmacol 95(1):95–101

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • WHO (1996) Report of the WHO Informal Consultation on the Evaluation and Testing of Insecticides, CTD/WHOPES/IC/96.1, p.69

  • Wood PV (1968) The effect of ambient humidity on the repellency of ethylhexanediol to Aedes aegypti. Can Entomol 100:1331–1334

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu J, Zeng X, Yanma LT, Qian K, Han Y, Xue S, Tucker B, Schultz G, Coats J, Rowley W, Zhang A (2006) Adult repellency and larvicidal activity of five plant essential oils against mosquitoes. J Am Mosq Control Assoc 22(3):515–522

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

We are greatly indebted to Professor Dr. K. Sasikala, M.Sc., Ph.D., M.A.F.R.C, the Head, Department of Zoology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 641 046, Tamil Nadu, India, for her constant encouragement throughout my studies. The authors sincerely thank Ms. Mihiret, Mr. Admasu, and Mr. Abebe for their valuable contributions for the identification and collection of Ethiopian traditional medicinal plants. Our last but not least heartfelt thanks go to our colleagues from the School of Environmental Health Science, Faculty of Public Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia, for their kind support and cooperation.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Vector Biology & Control, Department of Environmental Health Science, College of Public Health & Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia

    Kaliyaperumal Karunamoorthi

  2. Research and Development Center, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

    Kaliyaperumal Karunamoorthi

  3. Zoological Survey of India, 130, Santhome High Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

    Kandan Ilango

  4. Department of Zoology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

    Kadarkarai Murugan

Authors
  1. Kaliyaperumal Karunamoorthi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kandan Ilango
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kadarkarai Murugan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kaliyaperumal Karunamoorthi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Karunamoorthi, K., Ilango, K. & Murugan, K. Laboratory evaluation of traditionally used plant-based insect repellent against the malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis Patton (Diptera: Culicidae). Parasitol Res 106, 1217–1223 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-010-1797-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-010-1797-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation