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Laboratory Evaluation of a Eucalyptus‐based Repellent against Four Biting Arthropods
Author(s) -
Trigg J. K.,
Hill N.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1573(199606)10:4<313::aid-ptr854>3.0.co;2-o
Subject(s) - biting , deet , stomoxys , toxicology , biology , insect repellent , insect bites and stings , nuisance , stable fly , veterinary medicine , botany , medicine , ecology , immunology , muscidae
An evaluation of a new plant‐based biting insect repellent (PMD) with the princial active ingredient p‐menthane‐3,8‐diol is presented. Laboratory trials testing 50% active ingredient formulations of the repellent on a human forearm show good repellency against the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae Giles s.s. with an average ED 90 value of 0.68 μL/cm 2 and effective protection from biting for around 5 h. These results compare favourably with a 20% deet product, (ED 90 value of 0.48 μL/cm 2 with 5 h protection), and are far superior to the best known existing plant‐based product, citronella (ED 90 value of 1.37 μL/cm 2 and 2 h protection). PMD was also found to give total protection against the biting midge, Culicoides variipennis Coquillett, for at least 6 h at 0.35 μL/cm 2 . When evaluated against the deer tick, Ixodes ricinis L., attachment and subsequent feeding of I. ricinis nymphs was significantly reduced on rabbit ears treated with 0.36 μL/cm 2 of PMD. Against the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans L, an application of 0.5 mL PMD to a human forearm reduced biting to 6% of the control biting level. It is concluded that PMD is a broad spectrum repellent with considerable potential as means of personal protection against nuisance biting and insect‐borne disease.