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Mosquitoes repellent activity of essential oils from leaves of Tithonia diversifolia

 

Insect repellents reduce malaria transmission by minimizing mosquito-human contacts. The most commercially available repellent formulations are either synthetic such as N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide-DEET or derived from plant extracts like Neem, Citronella, fennel or Pyrethrum grasses. N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide-DEET is the oldest and most effective insect repellent available on the market, but research have reported occasional mild-to-severe toxicity reactions following the application of DEET on the skin. Essential oils from plants represent suitable alternatives for repellent as they are less expensive and relatively safe.

Recently, scientists have analyzed the mosquitoes repellent activity of essential oils from leaves of a plant namely Tithonia diversifolia against Anopheles coluzzii which is a major vector of malaria in Africa. Anopheles coluzzii is one of the main mosquito species responsible for malaria transmission in endemic countries. Malaria is an infectious disease caused in humans by protozoan parasites belonging to the genus Plasmodium, Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax being the two species accounting for the bulk of malaria burden. Malaria is an important public health concern with nearly 229 million cases and 409,000 deaths worldwide, especially in children aged less than 5 years.

Malaria burden is dramatically high in sub-Saharan Africa which bears > 90% of global morbidity and mortality cases. The emergence and spread of ACT-resistant P. falciparum populations and insecticide-resistant Anopheles mosquitoes hindered enormous efforts made in malaria control and elimination. Additionally, LLIN-based mosquito control in African countries is compromised by the change in biting behavior of Anopheles vectors which increasingly choose to bite humans indoors in the early evening or bite outdoor, thereby limiting the positive impact of LLINs.

According to the results of this study, essential oils from leaves of T. diversifolia could be used as an effective vector control tool at the individual level to complement conventional control methods at the community level. However, the limited time of protection compared to controls outlines the need for extensive research on development of release-control formulations and inocuity before its potential introduction as a commercial repellent.

 

Source

Akeumbiwo Tchumkam, C., Kojom Foko, L.P., Ndo, C. et al. Chemical composition and repellent activity of essential oils of Tithonia diversifolia (Asteraceae) leaves against the bites of Anopheles coluzzii. Sci Rep 13, 6001 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-31791-6 


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