Using Garlic (Allium sativum)

as Alternative Mosquito
Repellent

An Investigatory Project – Final Paper Presented to the

Science Department, Philippine Southfield School
Bugo, Cagayan de Oro City

In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the
Science 9

By:

Hadjimalik, Alaisah M.
Manginsay, Gerard G.
Ragmac, Xymark T.
Juntillia ,Dan Vladimir
Grade 9- Aguinaldo

January 11, 2019

APPROVED:

Ms. Paula Marie M. Llido

Adviser

ACCEPTED:

_____________________
Reader/ Panelist
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
TITLE PAGE …………………………………………………………...………………. i
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS …………….………………………………………………... ii
ABSTRACT …………….……………………………………………………………..… iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS …………….………………………………………………… iv
CHAPTER
I. INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study …………………………………….….............. 5
B. Statement of the Problem ……………………………………….............. 5
C. Significance of the Study ……………….……………………….............. 5
D. Scope and Limitation …………………………………………….............. 6
E. Definition of Terms ……………………………………………….............. 6

II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE …………………………………...... 7-22

III. METHODOLOGY
A. Preparing the Materials ………….………….…………………….............. 23
B. Procedure in Making ………….…………………………………………..... 23
C. Procedure in Testing ………….…………………………………………..... 24
IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
A. Findings ………….……………………………………………….………..... 25
B. Analysis of Data ………….……………………………………….……..... 25
V. CONCLUSION ...……………………………………………………………… 26
VI. RECOMMENDATION ………….………………………………………..…… 26
BIBLIOGRAPHY …………………………………………………………….... 27
 ABSTRACT

Nowadays, Insecticides are getting harmful and hazardous to a person's health for
some contain chemical substances that can harm us. This research aims to produce a
cheaper alternative mosquito repellent to those commercial products. Mosquito
repellent was applied to the different parts of the body particularly in arms and legs. The
following are the experimental setups: twenty-five of the respondents rub their arms with
the product while the other twenty-five were in their legs. Itchy bites on the uncovered
skin were recorded and analyzed.

Results had showed that 62% of the respondents claimed that the said product is
very effective. This can be attributed to the additional repellent properties and
insecticidal value of garlic, lemon, and mineral oil which are not present in the other
commercial products. On the other hand, 7% of the respondents claimed that the
product is not effective. This suggests that the aroma of garlic and the citronella that is
present on the lemon are not comparable with the commercial ones.

This study is of great significance to the people who want to get rid of mosquito bites
and also to lessen their expenses when it comes in buying insecticides products but of
assured high quality and will help you avoid scratching the itchy skin.
 ACKNOWLEDGMENT

We would like to express our gratitude to our friends and classmates for giving us
feedbacks for our product, mosquito repellent. To our Science teacher, Ms. Paula Marie
Llido for guiding and teaching us the things we need to know about conducting the said
experiment and for introducing us the things that are needed in Science Investigatory
Project. Lastly, to Almighty God for giving us the wisdom and the capabilities needed to
make this project successful.
 CHAPTER 1- INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study

Garlic was originated in Central Asia and has now spread across the world. For use as

an insecticide it should not be grown using chemical fertilisers. This is because heavy doses

of fertiliser reduce the concentration of the effective substances in the garlic. It has anti-

feedant, bacterial, fungicidal, insecticidal, nematicidal and repellent properties. Garlic is a

broad spectrum insecticide. This means that it will kill beneficial insects as well as pests.

Nowadays, people are complaining about the annoying sound of mosquitoes and the

spread killer diseases of these. Some are often experienced mosquito bites and it is

because they are caused by female mosquitoes feeding on your blood. Female mosquitoes

have a mouthpart made to pierce skin and siphon off blood. Males lack this blood-sucking

ability because they don't produce eggs and so have no need for protein in blood. As a

biting mosquito fills itself with blood, it injects saliva into your skin. Proteins in the saliva

trigger a mild immune system reaction that results in the characteristic itching and bump.

Mosquitoes select their victims by evaluating scent, exhaled carbon dioxide and the

chemicals in a person's sweat.

Thus, this research aims to produce this garlic as cheaper alternative mosquito repellent to

those commercial products.Unlike the other commercial products which are toxic and can

be hazardous to a person’s health especially if that person has sensitive skin.By using our

product you can avoid scratching your skin.

Researchers will be using other substances such as lemon and mineral oil which are easy

to find for it contains citronella that has lemony scent and repels mosquitoes
B.Statement of the problem

Generally, the study seeks to find out if garlic,lemon,and oil can be used to make an

alternative mosquiot repellant.Specifically, it aims to answer the following questions;

1. How will a mosquito repellent be made using alternative product?

2. Is the product effective and useful to the people?

3.How long will alternative mosquito repellant lasts?

C.Significance of the study

With the increasing population of people who are experiencing mosquito bites,creation

of a homemade product mosquito repellent can be a help for you to avoid scratching

your skin.

For the people, with the help of this mosquito repellent made of garlic,lemon,and oil,

the mosquito will keep away from you due to the aroma of the garlic and lemon juice.

And for the future researchers, the result of the study will serve as their baseline

information for further research which can be a source of information that will be

relevant for their studies with similar topic.

D.Scope and limitation

The study is only limited to making a natural mosquito repellent as help to prevent

mosquito bites.It does not include mosquito repellent that are used in severe diseases

caused by mosquitoes such as malaria,dengue,yellow fever,and etc.The product only

lasts for 8hrs.Furthermore,the product does not contain harmful chemicals and

materials that may irritate your skin and it is environment friendly because natural

ingredients are and ingredients can easily be find because every home have it.

E.Definition of terms

 Citronella

- A Citronella oil is a plant-based insect repellent

 Malaria

- Malaria is an infectious disease caused by a parasite, called Plasmodium that

invades red blood cells and liver cells.

 Dengue

- Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease that has rapidly spread in all regions

of WHO in recent years.

 Yellow fever

- The disease is caused by the yellow fever virus and is spread by the bite of an

infected female mosquito.

CHAPTER II- REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Many repellents are nowadays available which can easily fend off the mosquitoes

but are not good for the health as it contain a harmful chemical called DEET.According

to EK. Patel, A. Gupta (2012), It is fine to use a natural repellent which can make you

unattractive in the eyes of mosquitoes. Mosquito-repellent candles containing citronella

oil are sold widely in the U.S. The advantages are the following; non-sticky; non-toxic

and environmentally friendly; safer on sensitive skins and some can be used on children

as young as 3 months; reduced irritation; harmless to most plastics and fabrics.

However, there are also disadvantages. It is more expensive; may need more frequent

re-application to maintain full protection. Essential oil repellents can be short-lived in

their effectiveness, since essential oils can evaporate completely may need more

frequent re-application to maintain full protection and cannot apply directly on the skin, if

applied can cause rashes on skin.

Other than that, Pohlit, A. M. et al. (2011) also stated that for more than 50 years, the

synthetic compound DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), has been the most effective

single repellent for mosquito species and is the basis for many commercial repellent

products on the market. Despite reports of severe toxic properties which can

dramatically affect adults and especially young children including dermatitis, allergic

reactions, neurological (seizures, coma) and cardiovascular toxicity, the risk of serious

toxic effects from DEET is considered slight. Nevertheless, DEET should always be

used at the lowest effective dose possible. Also, dimethyl and di-n-butyl phthalates

(DMP and DBP, respectively), which are effective mosquito repellents and were widely
used in the last century, are no longer generally recommended for use as mosquito

repellents due to their toxicity.

Also based on Leal, W. S. et al,(2008),the insect repellent DEET is effective against a

variety of medically important pests, but its mode of action still draws considerable

debate. The widely accepted hypothesis that DEET interferes with the detection of lactic

acid has been challenged by demonstrated DEET-induced repellency in the absence of

lactic acid. The most recent hypothesis suggests that DEET masks or jams the olfactory

system by attenuating electrophysiological responses to 1-octen-3-ol. Our research

shows that mosquitoes smell DEET directly and avoid it. We performed single-unit

recordings from all functional ORNs on the antenna and maxillary palps of Culex

quinquefasciatus and found an ORN in a short trichoid sensillum responding to DEET in

a dose-dependent manner. The same ORN responded with higher sensitivity to

terpenoid compounds. SPME and GC analysis showed that odorants were trapped in

conventional stimulus cartridges upon addition of a DEET-impregnated filter paper strip

thus leading to the observed reduced electrophysiological responses, as reported

elsewhere. With a new stimulus delivery method releasing equal amounts of 1-octen-3-

ol alone or in combination with DEET we found no difference in neuronal responses.

When applied to human skin, DEET altered the chemical profile of emanations by a

“fixative” effect that may also contribute to repellency. However, the main mode of

action is the direct detection of DEET as indicated by the evidence that mosquitoes are

endowed with DEET-detecting ORNs and corroborated by behavioral bioassays. In a

sugar-feeding assay, both female and male mosquitoes avoided DEET. In addition,

mosquitoes responding only to physical stimuli avoided DEET.

 Moreover, there are natural substances that could repel mosquitoes.One example

of this is the published journal of Gama, R. A (2011), the Citronella essential oils (EOs)

are obtained mainly from varieties of Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle (Ceylon

citronella) and C. winterianus Jowitt ex Bor (Java citronella). They have been used in

mosquito repellency for more than a century in much of the world and are the most

widely used natural repellents today. According to a recent review of the scientific

literature, the most frequently studied repellent EOs are those obtained from species

belonging to the genera Cymbopogon Spreng.,Ocimum L. and Eucalyptus L'Hér. spp.

and a number of mosquito repellent EOs have been identified in recent years having

known active repellent chemical component. Mosquito repellency is believed to be due

to the synergistic interactions of the chemical components in EOs. Furthermore, strong

synergistic effects between EOs and isolated natural or synthetic substances have been

reported.

If natural substances were used to repel mosquitoes, synthetic chemicals

substances were used as well. According to the published journal of Stashenko, E. et al.

(2010), the use of synthetic chemicals to control insects and arthropods raises several

concerns related to environment and human health. An alternative is to use natural

products that possess good efficacy and are environmentally friendly. Among those

chemicals, essential oils from plants belonging to several species have been

extensively tested to assess their repellent properties as a valuable natural resource.

The essential oils whose repellent activities have been demonstrated, as well as the

importance of the synergistic effects among their components are the main focus of this

review. Essential oils are volatile mixtures of hydrocarbons with a diversity of functional
groups, and their repellent activity has been linked to the presence of monoterpenes

and sesquiterpenes. However, in some cases, these chemicals can work synergistically,

improving their effectiveness. In addition, the use of other natural products in the

mixture, such as vanillin, could increase the protection time, potentiating the repellent

effect of some essential oils.

In addtion, Currently, the use of synthetic chemicals to control insects and

arthropods raises several concerns related to environment and human health. (Nerio, L.

S.,et al, 2010). Repellent activity of essential oils: a review. Bioresource technology,

101(1), 372-378.An alternative is to use natural products that possess good efficacy and

are environmentally friendly. Among those chemicals, essential oils from plants

belonging to several species have been extensively tested to assess their repellent

properties as a valuable natural resource. The essential oils whose repellent activities

have been demonstrated, as well as the importance of the synergistic effects among

their components are the main focus of this review. Essential oils are volatile mixtures of

hydrocarbons with a diversity of functional groups, and their repellent activity has been

linked to the presence of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. However, in some cases,

these chemicals can work synergistically, improving their effectiveness. In addition, the

use of other natural products in the mixture, such as vanillin, could increase the

protection time, potentiating the repellent effect of some essential oils. Among the plant

families with promising essential oils used as repellents, Cymbopogon spp., Ocimum

spp. and Eucalyptus spp. are the most cited. Individual compounds present in these

mixtures with high repellent activity include α-pinene, limonene, citronellol, citronellal,

camphor and thymol. Finally, although from an economical point of view synthetic
chemicals are still more frequently used as repellents than essential oils, these natural

products have the potential to provide efficient, and safer repellents for humans and the

environment.

While based on Ansari, M. A et al, (2005), Various plant-based products are safe

and biodegradable alternatives to synthetic chemicals for use against mosquitoes.Oil of

Pinus longifolia is traditionally used for protection against mosquitoes in some rural

areas but there is no documented report of its use against mosquitoes. The present

study was undertaken to scientifically evaluate the activity of Pine oil against

mosquitoes.

Suitable methodology is needed in determining the effectiveness of a certain

mosquito repellent being studied.One example of this is based on the published paper

of Chandra, G. Et al (2012) According to her, Fresh seeds of ripe fruits of C. papaya

were randomly collected during March and April 2012. Crude extract of seeds were

prepared in an electric blender and the plant juice was filtered by passing through the

Whatman no. 1 filter paper. The filtrate was used as stock solution and required

concentration (0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, and 0.5%) were prepared through mixing of

stock extract with variable amount of distilled water and 250 g dried seeds of C. papaya

were put in a Soxhlet apparatus and the plant extracts were prepared using six different

solvents namely petroleum-ether, benzene, ethyl acetate, chloroform: methanol (1:1

v/v), acetone and ethanol applying one after another on same seeds. The period of

extraction for each solvent was 72 h. The extracts were collected separately, and the

column of the Soxhlet apparatus was washed with 200 mL of water and 100 mL of a

similar solvent as an eluent after each type of solvent extraction procedure. The eluted
materials and each type of extract were concentrated in combination at 40℃ to 100 mL

of extract by evaporation in a rotary evaporator. Then each of the extracts was filtered

and dried. The yield of each solvent extract was noted separately.

Another methodology is stated in the published paper of Mittal et al.(2005), the oil

was procured from the market and its contents were chemically analysed. Larvicidal

activity of oil was tested in laboratory bioassays, while repellent action was studied

during whole night bait collections in field by direct application on the skin and after its

impregnation on mats. The results showed varying degree of larvicidal activity of Pine

oil against mosquitoes with LC50 values ranging between 82 and 112 ppm. The Pine oil

had strong repellent action against mosquitoes as it provided 100% protection against

Anopheles culicifacies for 11 h and 97% protection against Culex quinquefasciatus for

nine hours respectively. Electrically heated mats prepared from Pine oil provided, 94

and 88% protection against An. culicifacies and Cx. quinquefasciatus for 10 and seven

hours respectively.

But there are also other methods that determine the mosquito control.One of the

example is based on the published paper of Oswal, R. J. (2012), Mosquito-borne

diseases affect millions of people worldwide each year. The bite of a mosquito can

result in anything from a skin irritation to contracting malaria. Clearly, mosquitoes are

not just a nuisance, but also potentially harmful. By taking measures such as wearing

long pants in wooded areas or disposing of standing water, you can minimize the

chances of attracting mosquitoes. These measures, however, are often not enough, and

specialty products like mosquito repellent used to combat mosquitoes are required.
Each of the products used for mosquito control have varying degrees of effectiveness,

and it is important to know that some may be better than others.

Fortunately, further studies from different researchers around the world have been

made to contribute knowledge about the chemical and natural substances that can kill

mosquitoes.One example of this is the study of Techadamrongsin, Y. (2001) which

demonstrates the potential of volatile oils extracted from turmeric, citronella grass and

hairy basil as topical repellents against both day-and night-biting mosquitoes.Volatile

oils extracted by steam distillation from four plant species turmeric (Curcuma longa),

kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix), citronella grass (Cymbopogon winterianus) and hairy basil

(Ocimum americanum)), were evaluated in mosquito cages and in a large room for their

repellency effects against three mosquito vectors, Aedes aegypti, Anopheles dirus and

Culex quinquefasciatus. The oils from turmeric, citronella grass and hairy basil,

especially with the addition of 5% vanillin, repelled the three species under cage

conditions for up to eight hours. The oil from kaffir lime alone, as well as with 5% vanillin

added, was effective for up to three hours. With regard to the standard repellent, deet

alone provided protection for at least eight hours against Ae. aegypti and Cx.

quinquefasciatus, but for six hours against An. dirus. However, deet with the addition of

5% vanillin gave protection against the three mosquito species for at least eight hours.

The results of large room evaluations confirmed the responses for each repellent

treatment obtained under cage conditions. The three volatile oils can be formulated with

vanillin as mosquito repellents in various forms to replace deet (N,Ndiethyl

3methylbenzamide), the most common chemical repellent currently available.

 Above all, descriptive analysis of data is required to answer the research

questions.One example of this is the published journal of Oyedele, A. et al. (2002),

Ointment and cream formulations of lemongrass oil in different classes of base and the

oil in liquid paraffin solution have been evaluated for mosquito repellency in a topical

application.Mosquito repellency was tested by determining the bite-deterrence of

product samples applied on an experimental bird's skin against a 2-day starved culture

of Aedes aegypti L. mosquitoes. The 1%v/v solution and 15%v/w cream and ointment

preparations of the oil exhibited ≥50% repellency lasting 2–3 h, which may be attributed

to citral, a major oil constituent.

Another example is the published journal of YUN, H. K. et al. (2005), repellent

efficacies of two natural aroma compounds, citronella and citronellal, against

mosquitoes, Culex pipiens pallens, were evaluated both in field and in vitro. In vitro, the

experiment was conducted with three controlled bands impregnated with 30% citronella

extract, 15% citronella extract and 30% citronellal extract, and with bands impregnated

30% citronella in field. Data was obtained by the means of counting numbers bitten by

mosquitoes per unit time, namely human bait method. Percentage repellencies of above

three controlled bands were calculated at 86%, 73%, and 78%, respectively in vitro, and

80% in field, showing high repellent effectiveness against mosquitoes. This estimation

was also confirmed by t‐test compared between control group and each experimental

group.

In addition, the published journal of Carroll, S. P.& Loye, J. (2006) cited that para-

Menthane-3,8-diol(PMD) is a monoterpene spent product of the distillation of leaves of

the Australian lemon-scented gum tree (updated nomenclature Corymbia citriodora ssp.
citriodora). In April 2005, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

endorsed two non-deet mosquito repellents, including PMD. However, few mosquito

professionals have in-depth familiarity with the history and efficacy of PMD. In this

article, we describe the origin and development of PMD as a repellent and offer a

comprehensive review of its performance against Aedes, Anopheles, Culex, and

Ochlerotatus. In addition, we present original data from field and laboratory studies

involving large numbers of subjects and comparisons with high-concentration deet and

other repellents. We conclude that not only is the CDC endorsement warranted but also

that it probably underestimates the value of PMD as a deet alternative for public health

applications.

Mosquitoes in the larval stage are attractive targets for pesticides because

mosquitoes breed in water, and thus, it is easy to deal with them in this habitat.As

stated in the published journal ofAmer, A., & Mehlhorn, H. (2006), The use of

conventional pesticides in the water sources, however, introduces many risks to people

and/or the environment. Natural pesticides, especially those derived from plants, are

more promising in this aspect. Aromatic plants and their essential oils are very important

sources of many compounds that are used in different respects. In this study, the oils of

41 plants were evaluated for their effects against third-instar larvae of Aedes aegypti,

Anopheles stephensi and Culex quinquefasciatus. At first, the oils were surveyed

against A. aegypti using a 50-ppm solution. Thirteen oils from 41 plants (camphor,

thyme, amyris, lemon, cedarwood, frankincense, dill, myrtle, juniper, black pepper,

verbena, helichrysum and sandalwood) induced 100% mortality after 24 h, or even after

shorter periods. The best oils were tested against third-instar larvae of the three
mosquito species in concentrations of 1, 10, 50, 100 and 500 ppm. The lethal

concentration 50 values of these oils ranged between 1 and 101.3 ppm against A.

aegypti, between 9.7 and 101.4 ppm for A. stephensi and between 1 and 50.2 ppm for

C. quinquefasciatus.

But other substances such as oil was found to be more repellent.The published paper of

Odalo, J. O.,et al (2005) stated that Volatile oils extracted by hydrodistillation from six

plant species growing in the Kenyan coast, Croton pseudopulchellus Pax, Mkilua

fragrans Verdc. (Annonaceae), Endostemon tereticaulis (poir.) Ashby, Ocimum forskolei

Benth., Ocimum fischeri Guerke and Plectranthus longipes Baker (Labiateae), were

evaluated for repellency on forearms of human volunteers against Anopheles gambiae

sensu stricto. All oils were found to be more repellent (RC50 range = 0.67–9.21 × 10−5

mg cm−2) than DEET (RC50 = 33 × 10−5 mg cm−2). The individual components of the

oils were identified by GC–MS and GC co-injections with authentic standards. The

repellency of 15 of the main constituents of the different oils (which had not been

previously assayed) was evaluated. Although some of these showed relatively high

individual repellencies, none was comparable to the parent essential oils. Partial

synthetic blends of selected constituents with moderate or relatively high individual

repellency against the vector were also assayed. Four of these exhibited activities

comparable to or higher than those of the corresponding parent oils, indicating

interesting blend effects in the repellent action of the oils against the mosquito. The

implication of these results in the utilization of the plants is discussed.

Also as stated by E Kaufman, P. et al. (2012), Natural chemicals have considerable

potential for vector management because these chemicals are safer than conventional

insecticides on account of their rapid environmental biodegradation and low toxicity to

natural enemies, humans and other mammals and they suffer less from problems of

registration difficulties. However, isolation and chemical characterization of the active

compounds from plants with strong biological activities can be a tedious process

compared to synthesizing new synthetic compounds because natural compounds are

generally isolated in small amounts. In addition, the purity of natural products is highly

variable and is dependent upon the extraction method, plant part, plant age, geographic

origin and location, climate and the overall growth and health of the plant from which the

chemical is extracted. Furthermore, the research and development of natural pesticides

against insect vectors is constrained because of the perceived lack of economic return

to the manufacturers on investment in insect vector control and also due to the

difficulties in registration. Despite these difficulties, research in plant-derived pesticides

has increased considerablly. In this paper we provide an overview of the compounds

isolated from plants that have been evaluated for control of insect vectors of human and

animal pathogens.

The study of Ukeh, J. A. (2012) was conducted between June and December 2010 in

the laboratory of the Department of Crop Science, University of Calabar, Nigeria.

Sitophilus oryzae used in this study was obtained from laboratory cultures maintained

on untreated rice at 25 ± 1 ºC, 65-70% relative humidity. Three day old male and female

adult weevils were used for the experiments. Untreated rice was purchased from Obudu

Local Government Foodstuff market, and matured ripe fruits of X. aethiopica and D.
tripetala were bought from Marian Foodstuff Market Calabar. The identity of plant

materials was confirmed in the Department of Crop Science, University of Calabar. The

fruits were rinsed with tap water and oven dried at 30 ºC for 3 d. Dried fruits were milled

into powder with a mechanical blender, weighed into several doses and sea.

Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) are a key threat for millions of people worldwide, since

they act as vectors for devastating pathogens and parasites.(Benelli, G. ,2015). In this

scenario, vector control is crucial. Mosquito larvae are usually targeted using

organophosphates, insect growth regulators, and microbial agents. Indoor residual

spraying and insecticide-treated bed nets are also employed. However, these chemicals

have negative effects on human health and the environment and induce resistance in a

number of vectors. Newer and safer tools have been recently implemented to enhance

control of mosquitoes. Here, I focus on some crucial challenges about eco-friendly

control of mosquito vectors, mainly the improvement of behavior-based control

strategies (sterile insect technique (“SIT”) and “boosted SIT”) and plant-borne

mosquitocidals, including green-synthesized nanoparticles. A number of hot areas that

need further research and cooperation among parasitologists, entomologists, and

behavioral ecologists are highlighted.

According to Benelli, G., & Mehlhorn, H. (2016), the fight against mosquito-borne

diseases is a challenge of huge public health importance. To our mind, 2015 was an

extraordinary year for malaria control, due to three hot news: the Nobel Prize to Youyou

Tu for the discovery of artemisinin, the development of the first vaccine against

Plasmodium falciparum malaria [i.e. RTS,S/AS01 (RTS,S)], and the fall of malaria

infection rates worldwide, with special reference to sub-Saharan Africa. However, there
are major challenges that still deserve attention, in order to boost malaria prevention

and control. Indeed, parasite strains resistant to artemisinin have been detected, and

RTS,S vaccine does not offer protection against Plasmodium vivax malaria, which

predominates in many countries outside of Africa. Furthermore, the recent outbreaks of

Zika virus infections, occurring in South America, Central America and the Caribbean,

represent the most recent of four arrivals of important arboviruses in the Western

Hemisphere, over the last 20 years. Zika virus follows dengue (which slyly arrived in the

hemisphere over decades and became more aggressive in the 1990s), West Nile virus

(emerged in 1999) and chikungunya (emerged in 2013). Notably, there are no specific

treatments for these arboviruses. The emerging scenario highlights that the effective

and eco-friendly control of mosquito vectors, with special reference to highly invasive

species such as Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, is crucial. The concrete potential

of screening plant species as sources of metabolites for parasitological purposes is

worthy of attention, as elucidated by the Y. Tu’s example. Notably, plant-borne

molecules are often effective at few parts per million against Aedes, Ochlerotatus,

Anopheles and Culex young instars, can be used for the rapid synthesis of

mosquitocidal nanoformulations and even employed to prepare cheap repellents with

low human toxicity. In addition, behaviour-based control tools relying to the employ of

sound traps and the manipulation of swarming behaviour (i.e. “lure and kill” approach)

are discussed. The importance of further research on the chemical cues routing

mosquito swarming and mating dynamics is highlighted. Besides radiation, transgenic

and symbiont-based mosquito control approaches, an effective option may be the

employ of biological control agents of mosquito young instars, in the presence of ultra-

low quantities of nanoformulated botanicals, which boost their predation rates.

Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) are a key threat for millions of people worldwide as said

by M. Benelli, G. (2016).Since they act as vectors for devastating parasites and

pathogens. Mosquito young instars are usually targeted with organophosphates, insect

growth regulators and microbial control agents. Indoors residual spraying and

insecticide-treated bed nets are also employed. However, these chemicals have strong

negative effects on human health and the environment. Newer and safer tools have

been recently implemented to enhance control of mosquitoes. In this review, I focus on

characterization, effectiveness, and non-target effects of mosquitocidal nanoparticles

synthesized using botanical products (mosquitocidal nanoparticles, MNP). The majority

of plant-fabricated MNP are silver ones. The synthesis of MNP is usually confirmed by

UV-visualization spectroscopy, followed by scanning electron microscopy or

transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier

transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction studies. Interestingly, plant-

synthesized metal nanoparticles have been reported as effective ovicides, larvicides,

pupicides, adulticides, and oviposition deterrents against different mosquito species of

medical and veterinary importance. Few parts per million of different MNP are highly

toxic against the malaria vector Anopheles stephensi, the dengue vector Aedes aegypti,

and the filariasis mosquito Culex quiquefasciatus. However, despite the growing

number of evidences about the effectiveness of MNP, moderate efforts have been

carried out to shed light on their possible non-target effects against mosquito’s natural

enemies and other aquatic organisms. In the final section, particular attention was
dedicated to this issue. A number of hot areas that need further research and

cooperation among parasitologists and entomologists are highlighted.

In the last few years more and more studies on the biological properties of essential oils

have been published and it seemed worthwhile to compile the studies of 2009, 2008

and the second part of 2007.According to Buchbauer, G. et al (2010), It is such an

overview covering the scientific literature mainly from 2000 onwards, up to the first half

of the year 2007, has been published recently. The focus of this overview lies on the

anti‐nociceptive, anticancer, anti‐inflammatory, penetration‐enhancing, insect repellent,

antiviral and antioxidative properties of essential oils. Many essential oils have been

used for centuries in folk medicine and in recent years the biological properties of

various essential oils have been proved by a number of studies. Their use in the

treatment of pain, inflammation, viral diseases and cancer and their potential to

enhance the penetration of other drugs, their insect repellent activity and their

antioxidative effects were confirmed. Nonetheless, more studies are necessary to

analyse the biological properties of other essential oils or to prove their mechanism of

action.

Mosquitoes are important vectors of diseases and nuisance pests stated byZygadlo, J.

A. (2008).Repellents minimize contact with mosquitoes. Repellents based on essential

oils (EO) are being developed as an alternative to DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-

methylbenzamide), an effective compound that has disadvantages including toxic

reactions, and damage to plastic and synthetic fabric. This work evaluated the

repellency against Aedes aegypti of EO from aromatic plants that grow in Argentina:

Acantholippia seriphioides, Achyrocline satureioides, Aloysia citriodora, Anemia

tomentosa, Baccharis spartioides, Chenopodium ambrosioides, Eucalyptus saligna,

Hyptis mutabilis, Minthostachys mollis, Rosmarinus officinalis, Tagetes minuta and

Tagetes pusilla. Most EO were effective. Variations depending on geographic origin of

the plant were detected. At a 90% EO concentration, A. satureoides and T. pusilla were

the least repellent. At concentrations of 12.5% B. spartioides, R. officinalis and A.

citriodora showed the longest repellency times. Comparisons of the principal

components of each EO suggest that limonene and camphor were the main

components responsible for the repellent effects.