Review on activity of medicinal plant extracts against mosquito genera Anopheles & Culex

Abstract

Abstract Vector-borne diseases are spreading all across the world, which results in economic and social disturbances. Anopheles is a genera of mosquitoes that are responsible for the transmission of Malaria worldwide that causes millions of deaths every year. Culex is another genera of mosquitoes that transmits Japanese encephalitis, the annual death rate due to JE is 30,000-50,000. However different insecticides are used to control these vector borne diseases successfully such as: Carbamates, Organophosphates, Organochlorines, Pyrethroids Pyrroles and Phenyl pyrazole. Insecticides may be used as indoor sprays or as insecticides treated nets, all these are proved to be effective in eradication of mosquitoes, but these insecticides have some bad impacts as they harms environment, interact with non-targeted species, the major reason of the reduction in use of insecticides is the development of resistance in insects. Insects have altered their target site by alteration in special proteins due to which insecticides are not much harmful for insects. Alternative of these insecticides are plants based products used as larvicides, ovicides, adulticides or as repellents against mosquitoes. Different plant parts are extracted for their use as mosquito codes. Plant parts may be used directly through extraction, or essential oils may be extracted to repel mosquitoes. Essential oils are volatile and are effective as mosquito codes, they possess different fragrances that interact with the olfactory receptors of mosquitoes and repel them. Different plant essential oils are used for this purpose, as Neem oil extracted through seeds of Azadirachta indica used to repel 96-100% mosquitoes of Anopheles genus and 61-94% mosquitoes of Culex genus. Extracts of Garlic plant (Allium sativum) are used for killing of larva of Anopheles stephensi and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes. Some other plants like Citrullus colocynthis, Ocimum basilicum, Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt, Dysoxylum malabaricum, Khaya senegalensis, Ficus benghalensis, Mentha piperita etc. are some plants used successfully for elimination of mosquitoes in a natu

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International Journal of Entomology Research
8
International Journal of Entomology Research
ISSN: 2455-4758
Impact Factor: RJIF 5.24
www.entomologyjournals.com
Volume 3; Issue 6; November 2018; Page No. 08-14
Review on activity of medicinal plant extracts against mosquito genera Anopheles & Culex
Sabila Afzal1*, Syed Shakil Shah2, Samia Ghaffar3, Sana Azam4, Faiza Arif5
1-5 University of Narowal Circular road Narowal Punjab, Pakistan
Abstract
Vector-borne diseases are spreading all across the world, which results in economic and social disturbances. Anopheles is a genera
of mosquitoes that are responsible for the transmission of Malaria worldwide that causes millions of deaths every year. Culex is
another genera of mosquitoes that transmits Japanese encephalitis, the annual death rate due to JE is 30,000-50,000. However
different insecticides are used to control these vector borne diseases successfully such as: Carbamates, Organophosphates,
Organochlorines, Pyrethroids Pyrroles and Phenyl pyrazole. Insecticides may be used as indoor sprays or as insecticides treated
nets, all these are proved to be effective in eradication of mosquitoes, but these insecticides have some bad impacts as they harms
environment, interact with non-targeted species, the major reason of the reduction in use of insecticides is the development of
resistance in insects. Insects have altered their target site by alteration in special proteins due to which insecticides are not much
harmful for insects. Alternative of these insecticides are plants based products used as larvicides, ovicides, adulticides or as
repellents against mosquitoes. Different plant parts are extracted for their use as mosquito codes. Plant parts may be used directly
through extraction, or essential oils may be extracted to repel mosquitoes. Essential oils are volatile and are effective as mosquito
codes, they possess different fragrances that interact with the olfactory receptors of mosquitoes and repel them. Different plant
essential oils are used for this purpose, as Neem oil extracted through seeds of Azadirachta indica used to repel 96-100%
mosquitoes of Anopheles genus and 61-94% mosquitoes of Culex genus. Extracts of Garlic plant (Allium sativum) are used for
killing of larva of Anopheles stephensi and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes. Some other plants like Citrullus colocynthis,
Ocimum basilicum, Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt, Dysoxylum malabaricum, Khaya senegalensis, Ficus benghalensis, Mentha
piperita etc. are some plants used successfully for elimination of mosquitoes in a natural way.
Keywords: Culex, Anopheles, essential oils, mosquito repellents, plant extracts
Introduction
Mosquitoes are of great importance due to the transmission of
various diseases like pathogens, species of virus, nematodes
and protozoa, they pose a great health threat till today.
Mosquitoes act as a vector for-fatal human diseases like
Malaria, filariasis, dengue, yellow fever, encephalitis and
virus infections etc. in all around the world [1]. Mosquitoes are
responsible for infecting more than 700 million people every
year in more than 80 countries, approximately 20% of the
world’s population is at risk of acquiring infections of
mosquito’s borne-diseases. Most of them live in Asia, the
Pacific, and the Americas, one third live in India and one third
in Africa [2]. This not only higher the Mortality rate but also
have economic and social disturbances in developing
countries like India and China etc. The global contribution of
India in Filariasis burden is 40% and the economic loss is
about 720 corers. The annual mortality rate is 30,000-50,000
and annual estimation for Japanese encephalitis (JE) is 10,000
[3].
Anopheles mosquitoes are distributed worldwide except in
cold temperate regions, over 400 species of Anopheles are
known that are pathogenic to humans. Almost 30 species
transmit Plasmodium significantly in nature [4]. Malaria is one
of the most important reasons of infant, child, and adult death
in India. Anopheles subpictus is scattered in India,
Afghanistan, Borneo, China, Malaysia, Philippines Si Lanka,
Java, and Indonesia. An. subpictus is the secondary vector for
Malaria in Sri Lanka, and An. culicifacies is the main vector
for Malaria. An. subpictus is identified as the secondary vector
for Malaria in South East Asia, most of the cases are reported
from India. Culex tritaeiniorhynchus is responsible for
Japanese encephalitis and distributing this virus to Southeast
Asia; and South Asia [5]. Virus that is responsible for Japanese
encephalitis is an Arbovirus which is spread by marsh birds
and transmitted through biting of infected Culex
tritaeiniorhynchus mosquitoes. 14 countries are at risk of
outbreaks of Japanese encephalitis with 3060 million people
are at risk of infection. Out of these 14 countries, China and
India are most susceptible for these outbreaks with 2 about
700 million people potentially at risk of infection [6].
Unfortunately, specific treatment for arbovirus is still
unknown. Therefore, the curtailment of mosquito vectors is
necessary for public health [7]. The infections spreading in
Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa and the Americas are 90% caused
by Wuchereria bancrofti, main vector for Wuchereria
bancrofti are mosquitoes of Culex specie i.e. Culex
quinquefasciatus [2].
Mostly the rate of prevalence of mosquitoes increase in fish
pond, irrigation ditches and rice fields during rainy season due
to poor drainage system, which provides mosquitoes a better
place for breeding [9]. Mosquitoes control is essential to
prevent these vector borne diseases [10]. So approaches to

International Journal of Entomology Research
9
interrupt the disease transmission by these vectors are killing
of mosquitos and preventing mosquito bites [8]. Mosquito
control has become more difficult due to the unsystematic use
of synthetic chemical insecticides which have inauspicious
effect on the environment; they also effect man and animals
because they are not properly degradable and spread their
toxic effect [7]. The larval stages of mosquitoes can easily
eradicated for control operations because they are less
movable in larval forms than the adults [12]. To control or
eliminate mosquito population highly efficacious pesticides
have been employed. These pesticides are threatened due to
the developing resistance of mosquitoes against them [15].
Different strategies are used to control these disease vectors.
One of which is indoor residual spraying and Insecticide
treated nets. DDT spray is used and have proven to be very
successful in executing disease vectors but also have been
resulted in the development of insecticide resistance in
Mosquitoes. Similarly some other compounds like
Organophosphates and Carbamates, have been introduced in
indoor residual spraying that eradicated mosquitoes
successfully but also have resulted in subsequent development
of resistance against these insecticides [13].
There are six classes of insecticides used against mosquitoes
these are; Organophosphates, Carbamates, Organochlorines,
Pyrethroids and synthetic Pyrethroids Pyrroles and Phenyl
pyrazole. Insects have developed metabolic detoxification of
insecticides that makes insects resistant, to insect these
insecticides act on special target proteins called target-site
insensitivity. Study of genes associated with resistance
development reveals how these high levels of resistance
develop in mosquitoes. Structural changes occur in proteins
made by genes are responsible for the resistance development,
gene over-expression, amplification and mutation in coding
regions of genes. Second reason of resistance development is
transcriptional over-expression of genes. Not only these
mechanisms are involved in the resistance development but
also the interaction of regulatory and resistance genes (that are
responsible for development of resistance). It is still unknown
how many genes are involved in resistance development [14].
Alternate to these, synthetic pesticides are plants and its
isolated compounds for the control of mosquitoes, due to the
presence of bio-active chemicals in them, these bio-actives are
eco-friendly and act against target insect species. Plants are
used for managing of insects for centuries in human
communities. Secondary metabolites of plants play a vital role
in defense mechanism against insect attacks. These alternative
agents may act as repellents, anti-feedants, moulting
hormones, juvenile hormone, growth inhibitors, anti moulting
hormones, attractants and insecticides [16].
Secondary Metabolites of plants are not for the growth and
development of plants in which they are present but they may
be associated with some kind of defense mechanism against
fungi, bacteria or viruses attack. As they cannot escape from
the attack of their predators, they do not have any immune
system for their survival but they possess some alternative
mechanism in the form of chemical defence. They have
allelochemicals in their cells that have some biological effects
on the interacting organism [17]. Plant extracts are best options
for eradication of mosquitoes as they are less harmful to
environment and non-targeted species. The top priority for
finding a new insecticide is that they may be originated from
plants and they must be eco-safe. Different plant extracts such
as Saponin, Steroids, Isoflavonoids, Essential oils, Alkaloids
and Tennis are used as mosquito larvicides [12].
Plant derived compounds used as mosquito codes
Different plant products are used either for killing larva or
adult mosquitoes, depending upon the activity of mosquitoes.
Plant products can also be used as repellents against mosquito
bites. A large number of medicinal plants have been reported
as mosquito codes and larvicides but only a few number of
plant parts are utilized practically for mosquito control.
Medicinal plant parts are used as insecticides including
Nicotine, Rotenone and Ryania. Nicotine is neurotoxic and
fast acting agent against mosquitoes. Symptoms are similar to
that of insecticides Organophosphates or Carbamates, which
work as contact poisons. Rotenone are derivatives of legume
plants, Derris and Lonchocarpus. Ryania is extracted by
South American shrub, Ryania sp. it is toxic as it blocks
Ca++. Pyrethrum is extracted by dried flowers of
Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium, all these components act as
insecticidal. P. longum fruit extracts have a strong mosquito
larvicidal activity at 40ppm. Oils and seeds of Neem tree has
been used against the An. stephensi and An. culicifacies
mosquitoes such as inhibiting the formation of their eggs, also
reduces the biting of An. gambiae to 20.8% . Thermal
expulsion to evaporate volatiles from the leaves of Lippia
uckambensis reduces biting of An. gambiae by 49.5%.
Repeating the same process with Neem oil reduces the biting
process to a modest extent (<25%). Neem oil in coconut oil at
different concentrations like 0.5, 1 and 2% provides 100%
protection against An. culicifacies for 12 hours. Leaves of
Lantana camara are used as An. gambiae repellent and
provide protection to about 42.4% [17] Fig.1
Essential oils contains complex mixtures of volatile
compounds and are derived from plants, essential oils consist
of Alcohols, Esters, Ether, Aldehyde, Ketones, Lactones,
Phenols, and Terpenes, Sesquiterpenes. All of these are
oxygenated compounds and hydrocarbons respectively.
Essential oils are derived from plants and have high repellency
against mosquitoes and other arthropods. These oils interact
with the hairs present on the antennae of mosquito. These
hairs are sensitive for temperature and moisture, when these
oils are applied they interact with the olfactory receptors of
female mosquitoes and block their sense of smell, which act as
an hurdle in the recognition of host body by the mosquitoes.
These volatile oils also lower the population of mosquitoes as
they disrupt the mating behavior of mosquito by blocking of
antennal sensilla that result in unsuccessful mating, ultimately
resulting in low population rate [16].
Allium sativum L.
Common name of Allium sativum L. is Garlic, extracts of
garlic are used for killing of larva of Anopheles stephensi and
Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes, also the oil bulbs
manifest to have larvicidal activity against Culex pipiens [18].
Citrullus colocynthis L. Schrad.
Common name of Citrullus colocynthis L. Schrad is bitter
apple, bitter cucumber or desert ground. Citrullus colocynthis

International Journal of Entomology Research
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is a medicinal plant used as a repellent for mosquitoes that
kills the egg and larva of mosquito, leaf extracts of Citrullus
colocynthis act as larvicidal against the early fourth instar
larva of Culex quinquefasciatus. Extracts of the whole plant
act as larvicidal against the early fourth instar larva of
Anopheles stephensi and the seed extracts kills the third instar
larvae of both Culex quinquefasciatus and Anopheles
stephensi [18].
Ocimum basilicum L.
Ocimum basilicum also known as great basil, essential oils of
this plant act as a repellent for mosquito specie Anopheles
stephensi, Culex quinquefasciatus and some females of Culex
pipiens. Extracts of stem of Ocimum basilicum plant exhibits
larvicidal activity against Culex quinquefasciatus [18].
Azadirachta indica
Azadirachta indica plant belongs to the family Meliaceae, it is
an ever green tree found in India and Southeast Asia. In
Pakistan known as Neem tree. The essential oil of Azadirachta
indica is Neem oil which acts as a pesticide and is extracted
from seed of the plant. It has been used for centuries to control
insects. It has a bitter taste due to the presence of triglycerides
and triterpenoid compounds. The main component of Neem
oil that makes it repellent for insects is Azadirachtin that kills
and repel pests. Neem oil is used against mosquitoes as well,
Kerosene lamp having 1% neem oil are effective for repelling
mosquitoes and it was proven by the Malaria Research Centre
of Delhi in 1994. The degree of repelling mosquitoes was
greater for the Anopheles specie and then for Culex specie.
Neem oil can be applied as a personal protective measure
against mosquitoes, if 2% Neem oil is mixed with Coconut oil
and this mixture is applied to the human body parts that are in
direct interaction with mosquitoes, it will provide 96-100%
protection against Anopheles mosquitoes and 61-94% against
Culex mosquitoes. Neem does not act as ovicidal or larvicidal
to mosquitoes because it cannot kill mosquitoes right away, it
only can repel them and prevent biting [19].
Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt
Commonly known as Citronella, a plant of family Cardio
Pteridaceae mostly found in India and tropical Asia. Citronella
gives an essential oil called citronella oil that is extracted by
Chopping small segments of dried grass. Citronella oil varies
in color from colorless to light yellow having a grassy or
lemony odour. Citronella is less toxic therefore can be used
easily around home. It is used to repel mosquitoes and
prevents biting it is used as an alternative of insect repellent
DEET (N,N-Diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) therefore it is used
more preferably in different form for example in citronella oil
repelling candles and cartridges. Citronella oil has some active
compounds that are necessary for its function to repel
mosquitoes, these compounds are camphor, eucalyptol,
eugenol, linalool, citronellal and citral. These compounds
interact with the olfactory receptors of mosquito, they have
olfactory co-receptors Or83b which responds to the synthetic
repellent DEET and thereby interferes the citronellal
repulsion. Recent studies have revealed that mosquito species
Anopheles gambiae have olfactory receptors that can sense
Citronellal molecules by olfactory neurons and this sense of
detection is controlled by TRPA1 gene that is activated
directly by molecules of high adequacy [19].
Dysoxylum malabaricum
Commonly known as white cedar, methanolic extracts of
leaves of this plant were investigated for larvicidal, pupicidal,
adulticidal and anti-ovipositional activity against An.
stephensi. 4% methanolic extracts of the plant gives 90%
larvicidal, pupicidal, adulticidal against An. stephensi. Also it
lowers the population rate by inhibiting the reproductive cycle
of adult mosquitoes. A research study was conducted in which
researchers treated ethyl acetated extracts of D. malabaricum
with 3β, 24, 25-trihydroxycycloartane and beddomeilactone to
test the larvicidal, pupicidal, adulticidal activity against An.
stephensi. At 10ppm concentration of 3β, 24, 25
trihydroxycycloartane and beddomeilactone they have shown
90% larval mortality rate, both these compounds inhibit the
growth of An. stephensi. Another plant is D. binectariferum,
leaf extracts of this plant at the concentration of 18000 ppm
reveals 97.5% larvicidal activity and the callus extracts have
shown 98.75% larvicidal activity at the rate of 20000 ppm [20].
Khaya senegalensis
Common names of K. senegalensis are African Mahogany or
Khaya wood, seed of this plant is extracted in different ways
that are in Acetone, ethanol, hexane and methanol. These
extracts were tested to check the larval mortality rate against
Cx. Annulirostris. Different seed extracts were used at
different concentrations as ethanol 5.1, hexane 5.08, methanol
7.62 and acetone 12mg/L. These extracts have 100% mortality
rate at the concentration of 100mg/L with LC50 [20].
Ficus benghalensis
Ficus benghalensis common name is Banyan, it has toxicity
levels for mosquito species Culex quinquefasciatus and
Anopheles stephensi. This plant was proved larvicidal against
different larval stages of both Culex and Anopheles
mosquitoes. The data were taken at LC50 and LC90 values
95% confidence limits were calculated by using chi-square
test. The methanolic extracts of Ficus benghalensis act as
larvicides against early, second, third and fourth instar larvae
of Culex quinquefasciatus and Anopheles stephensi, different
values of LC50 were given by Culex quinquefasciatus for
different larval stages, at second larval stage it gives 41.43
LC50 value, for third stage LC50 value is 58.21 and for fourth
instar larva value is 74.32ppm. Values given by Anopheles
stephensi for second stage 60.44, for third stage it was 76.41
and for fourth stage it was 89.55ppm. According to this
research study, second instar larval stages were more sensitive
as compared to third and fourth instar larval stages [21] Table.
I, II.
Mentha piperita
Common name of Mentha piperita is a pepper mint. It is a
perennial herb of Labiatae family which grows 30-90 cm high.
Leaf extracts of Mentha piperita gives peppermint oil, this
essential oil have remarkably strong repelling properties
against different mosquito species Aedes aegypti, Anopheles
stephensi and Culex quinquefasciatus. Peppermint oil when
applied to human skin that is in direct contact with

International Journal of Entomology Research
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mosquitoes, showed strong repellent action. 100% protection
is provided by peppermint oil against An. annularis, 92.3%
against An. culicifacies and 84.5% against Cx.
quinquefasciatus [19].
According to a recent research study, essential oils obtained
from Mentha longifolia, and Lavandula dentata have
insecticidal and repellent activity against female of Culex
pipiens, this study have shown essential oils from Lavandula
dentata have higher repellent activity against adults of Culex
pipiens than the oils obtained from Mentha longifolia. The
longest time of protection was given by L. dentata oil that was
recorded 165 min at μl/cm2, when it is mixed with paraffin
oil. Studies revealed that these two oils are more effective than
any other commercial material. Essential oils from different
plants like Mentha aquatica, M. longifolia, M. spicata, M.
suaveolens, M. piperita, M. piperita var. Crispa, M. villosa,
and Pulegium vulgare were taken as samples and tested for
their larvicidal activity against Culex quinquefasciatus. These
essential oils were obtained by hydro-distillation and then
analysed by Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, this
research revealed 50-90% larval mortality rate, from these
results researchers concluded that essential oil of M. longifolia
and M. Suaveolens have a highest level of piperitenone oxide
and thereby having a highest larvicidal effects [16].
Lansium Domesticum.
Langsat is the common name of Lansium Domesticum. Parts
of this plant are extracted in aqueous solution, and this
extracted material exhibits larvicidal properties against Cx.
quinquefasciatus [20].
Some other plants have repellent action against mosquito
specie Anopheles and Culex. Table. III
Comparison of plants for highest mortality rate
In another research study five plants were taken to check the
which one have essential oils with highest mortality rate for
Culex quinquefasciatus, these five plants were; Acorus
calamus, Mentha arvensis, Ocimum basilicum, Saussurea
lappa and Cymbopogon citratus, essential oils extracted from
various parts of plants and investigated their larvicidal
properties against Culex quinquefasciatus. From this
investigation researchers concluded that O. basilicum have the
highest larvicidal activity against Culex quinquefasciatus with
LC50 value (LC- lethal con centration). Some other essential
oils from different plants were investigated such as:
Zanthoxylum limonella, Zingiber officinale, Curcuma longa
and Cymbopogon citratus, at the end of this study researchers
have results about the essential oil from the plant Zanthoxylum
limonella has shown the highest larvicidal effect against Culex
quinquefasciatus with LC50 value [16].
Cymbopogon excavates plant is practiced as a mosquito
repellent in South Africa An. arabiensis, it is a good repellent
only for two hours, as the repellency is decreased to 59.3%
after four hours [17].
Fig 1: Nicotine, Rotenone, Ryanodine
Table 1: Larvicidal activity of Ficus benghalensis against different larval stages of Culex quinquefasciatus.
Instars
Solvents
LC50
(ppm)
95% confidence limits (ppm)
LC90
(ppm)
95% confidence limits (ppm)
χ2 value
LCL
UCL
LCL
UCL
2nd instar
Methanol
41.43
35.79
46.27
89.48
82.30
99.26
4.972a
Benzene
71.61
58.69
82.13
170.29
170.29
156.04
1.892a
Acetone
143.02
115.64
165.00
359.68
326.57
407.14
2.109a
3rd instar
Methanol
58.21
50.72
64.76
127.32
116.18
143.07
1.673a
Benzene
98.55
82.47
111.88
230.02
210.35
257.36
1.849a
Acetone
156.27
129.44
178.27
328.67
346.44
435.34
1.684a
4th instar
Methanol
74.32
65.66
82.10
157.66
143.86
177.20
1.035a
Benzene
104.77
88.07
118.68
246.83
224.68
278.31
0.712a
Acetone
177.17
152.84
198.28
403.58
365.57
458.81
0.470a
Significant at P<0.05 level. LC50: lethal concentration; LCL: lower control limit; UCL: upper control limit [21].

International Journal of Entomology Research
12
Table 2: Larvicidal activity of Ficus benghalensis against different larval stages of Anopheles stephensi.
Instars
Solvents
LC50
(ppm)
95% confidence limits (ppm)
LC90
(ppm)
95% confidence limits (ppm)
χ2
value
LCL
UCL
LCL
UCL
2nd instar
Methanol
60.44
55.27
65.65
115.55
105.46
129.26
1.544a
Benzene
125.19
112.94
136.43
249.36
226.52
283.48
1.881a
Acetone
193.27
115.83
223.46
430.91
392.25
485.25
4.283a
3rd instar
Methanol
76.41
69.29
83.64
153.39
138.49
175.35
0.383a
Benzene
145.83
120.02
166.86
354.23
322.47
399.28
5.084a
Acetone
275.43
242.37
306.37
617.17
551.42
717.76
0.355a
4th instar
Methanol
89.55
80.99
98.08
181.24
163.81
206.84
0.203a
Benzene
169.04
142.93
191.08
403.51
364.12
461.58
2.344a
Acetone
312.90
279.55
347.57
680.38
601.30
805.86
0.335a
A Significant at P<0.05 level. LC50: lethal concentration; LCL: lower control limit; UCL: upper control limit [21].
Table 3: Essential oils that have shown larvicidal and mosquito repellent activity
Mosquito specie Name
Plant specie
Family name
Plant part used
Reference
Anopheles stephensi
Kaempferia galanga
Lamiaceae
Rhizome
[16]
Anopheles stephensi
Syzygium aromaticum
Myrtaceae
Flower
[16]
Anopheles stephensi
Mentha piperita
Acoraceae
Commercial
[16]
Anopheles stephensi
Myrtus caryophyllus
Lauraceae
Commercial
[16]
Anopheles stephensi
Acorus calamus
Cardiopteridaceae
Commercial
[16]
Anopheles stephensi
Cinnamomum
Myrtaceae
Commercial
[16]
Anopheles stephensi
zeylanicum
Rutaceae
Commercial
[16]
Anopheles stephensi
Citronella mucronata
Rutaceae
Commercial
[16]
Anopheles stephensi
Eucalyptus tereticornis
Lamiaceae
Commercial
[16]
Anopheles stephensi
Citrus limon (L.)
Lamiaceae
Commercial
[16]
Anopheles stephensi
Citrus sinensis
Lauraceae
Leaves
[16]
Culex. quinquefasciatus
O. basilicum
Lamiaceae
Shoot
[16]
Culex. quinquefasciatus
Rosmarinus offinalis
Lamiaceae
Bark
[16]
Culex. quinquefasciatus
Cinnamomum
Lamiaceae
Stage of full Bloom
[16]
Culex. quinquefasciatus
Zeylanicum
Lamiaceae
Stage of full Bloom
[16]
Culex. quinquefasciatus
Mentha aquatica
Lamiaceae
Stage of full Bloom
[16]
Culex. quinquefasciatus
Mentha longifolia
Caryophyllaceae
Stage of full Bloom
[16]
Culex. quinquefasciatus
Mentha spicata
Lamiaceae
Stage of full Bloom
[16]
Culex. quinquefasciatus
Mentha suaveolens
Lamiaceae
Stage of full Bloom
[16]
Culex. quinquefasciatus
Mentha piperita
Myrtaceae
Stage of full Bloom
[16]
Culex. quinquefasciatus
Mentha villosa
Acoraceae
Stage of full Bloom
[16]
Culex. quinquefasciatus
Mentha pulegium
Lauraceae
Stage of full Bloom
[16]
Culex. quinquefasciatus
Mentha piperita
Cardiopteridaceae
Stage of full Bloom
[16]
Culex. quinquefasciatus
Myrtus caryophyllus
Myrtaceae
Stage of full Bloom
[16]
Culex. quinquefasciatus
Acorus calamus
Rutaceae
Stage of full Bloom
[16]
Culex. quinquefasciatus
Cinnamomum
Rutaceae
Stage of full Bloom
[16]
Culex. quinquefasciatus
zeylanicum
Lamiaceae
Stage of full Bloom
[16]
Culex. quinquefasciatus
Citronella mucronata
Lamiaceae
Commercial
[16]
Culex. quinquefasciatus
Eucalyptus tereticornis
Lauraceae
Commercial
[16]
Culex. quinquefasciatus
Citrus limon (L.)
Gramineae
Commercial
[16]
Culex. quinquefasciatus
Citrus sinensis
Zingiberaceae
Commercial
[16]
Culex. quinquefasciatus
Mentha piperita
Lamiaceae
Commercial
[16]
Culex. quinquefasciatus
O. basilicum
Solanaceae
Commercial
[16]
Culex. quinquefasciatus
Cinnamomum
Poaceae
Commercial
[16]
Culex. quinquefasciatus
Zeylanicum
Lamiaceae
Commercial
[16]
Culex. quinquefasciatus
C. citratus
Rutaceae
Fresh leaves
[16]
Culex. quinquefasciatus
Zingiber officinalis
Lamiaceae
Leaves
[16]
Culex. quinquefasciatus
Moschosma
Myrtaceae
Bark
[16]
Culex. quinquefasciatus
C. winterianus
Myrtaceae
Fresh Leaves
[16]
Culex. quinquefasciatus
Solanum
Myrtaceae
Rhizomes
[16]
Culex. quinquefasciatus
xanthocarpum
Myrtaceae
Fresh Leaves
[16]
Culex. quinquefasciatus
O. americanum
Myrtaceae
Leaves
[16]
Culex. quinquefasciatus
Z. limonella
Myrtaceae
Leaves
[16]
Culex. quinquefasciatus
Pogostemon cablin
Myrtaceae
Leaves
[16]
Culex. quinquefasciatus
Syzygium aromaticum
Myrtaceae
Commercial
[16]
Commercial—Essential oils purchased commercially

International Journal of Entomology Research
13
Conclusion
Chemical pesticides and insecticides are used now a days for
controlling vector borne diseases, these chemical insecticide
act as repellents, larvicidal, ovicidal and adulticides, they also
inhibit growth of these vectors to control their population, in
this way these synthetic insecticides are used to eradicate
mosquitoes to prevent different diseases. The high
consumption of these insecticides causes different harmful
effects in environment. One of these effects is that these
insecticides also interact with the non-target species along
with the target species in both terrestrial and aquatic
environment. Although the consumption of synthetic
insecticides have readily increased in both developing and
developing countries, that ultimately have led to the
development of resistance against these insecticides. (Basker
K et al., 2016). In this condition we have to find out more
effective strategies to eradicate these mosquitoes from our
environment, these strategies must be of eco-friendly and do
not harm public health. Synthetic insecticides have bad
impacts on soil, water, air and also on the food, they
contaminate the food that we eat. In order to avoid all these
hazardous effects of synthetic insecticides, we must use the
above mentioned plants and essential oils extracted by these
plants, these plant based insecticides are herbal based and do
not affect the environment and public health.
One of the best example of these plant derived insecticides is
“Neem” extracted from Azadirachta indica and have high
repellents, antifeedants, insecticidal, larvicidal activity and
also act as a growth inhibitor of mosquitoes. Several other
plants have been used as insecticides as mentioned above,
Allium sativum L. Citrullus colocynthis L. Schrad. Ocimum
basilicum L. Azadirachta indica. Cymbopogon winterianus
Jowitt. Dysoxylum malabaricum. Khaya senegalensis. Ficus
benghalensis. Mentha piperita etc.
Some plants have essential oils that repel mosquitoes, the
level of repellency of medicinal plant is tested as crude
material, essential oil or as individual segments. Essential oils
are volatile and found in most plant species, these oils have a
wide range of applications such as in pharmaceutical as an
enhancer in food products, as an odorant in fragrance and also
as insecticides. Essential oils as insecticides have many
beneficial effects as they are less toxic to mammals, they have
bioactive compounds that shows a high level of activity and
these oils are rapidly degradable in the environment. They
repel mosquitoes due to the presence of some phytochemicals
like; Citronellal, Azadirachtin, linalool and p-Menthane-3,8-
diol extracted form citronella plant, neem, lavender and
mentha plant. By applying these essential oils we can prevent
mosquito biting at different levels of protection depending
upon the oil or plant part used. Therefore, this review was
conducted to aware people how to keep mosquitoes away
from the environment that in turns will provide an
environment with much less levels of mosquitoes/vector borne
diseases (Geetha R V and Roy A. 2014). Keeping mosquitoes
away from the environment in a natural way also make
environmental conditions much better to live as the
natural/botanical procedures for eradication of mosquitoes is
not harmful for environment.
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