Catnip Essential Oil and Its Nepetalactone Isomers as Repellents for Mosquitoes

Abstract

The effect of catnip Nepeta cataria essential oil and two isomers of nepetalactone, the major components, on the distribution of Aedes aegypti (yellow fever mosquito) mosquitoes in a static-air olfactometer response was examined to determine their activity as spatial repellents. A glass cylinder was used as a choice-test chamber. The catnip (Nepeta cataria) essential oil, as well as the E,Z-and Z,E-isomers of nepetalactone were significantly repellent after application of one ml of 1% and 0.1% solution to filter paper (conc. of 157 and 15.7 µg/cm2). Diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) a positive control was significantly repellent at 157 µg/cm2 in this assay. Both nepetalactone isomers and the catnip essential oil had excellent spatial repellency while DEET only exhibited spatial repellency at higher concentrations. The bioassay allowed for definition of and delineation between spatial and contact repellency. The effect of catnip Nepeta cataria essential oil and two isomers of nepetalactone, the major components, on the distribution of Aedes aegypti (yellow fever mosquito) mosquitoes in a static-air olfactometer response was examined to determine their activity as spatial repellents. A glass cylinder was used as a choice-test chamber. The catnip (Nepeta cataria) essential oil, as well as the E,Z-and Z,E-isomers of nepetalactone were significantly repellent after application of one ml of 1% and 0.1% solution to filter paper (conc. of 157 and 15.7 µg/cm 2 ). Diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) a positive control was significantly repellent at 157 µg/cm 2 in this assay. Both nepetalactone isomers and the catnip essential oil had excellent spatial repellency while DEET only exhibited spatial repellency at higher concentrations. The bioassay allowed for definition of and delineation between spatial and contact repellency.

Comparative Efficacy of Some Insecticidal Plant Materials against Dry Wood Termite (Cryptotermes cavifrons BANKS (Insecta: Isoptera: Kalotermitidae) Infestation

“…These results are confirmation of earlier reports by (Sanaa, et al, 2008;Abdullah, et al, 2014 on the use of biopesticides in the management of wood termites. It is evident from these results that extracts did pose a hindrance to activities of the termites (Peterson & Ems-Wilson, 2003;Mao & Henderson, 2007), but the termites, however, may become insensitive towards the extracts upon longer period of exposure and this period depends upon termites species. In order to find out alternative to synthetic insecticides, anti termite properties from plants will continue to expand base of the effective molecules to be developed to go well with the ecology of termites.…”

Repellency Assessment of Nepeta cataria Essential Oils and Isolated Nepetalactones on Aedes aegypti

“…Botanicals from the Lamiaceae family have also demonstrated that their essential oils can act as a mosquito repellent comparable to DEET 41,42 . One member of this family, Nepeta cataria (catnip), has had its essential oils containing various nepetalactone stereoisomers tested and the results showed that it is comparable to DEET at repelling mosquitoes, while offering better spatial repellency 43–45 . Nepetalactones are the distinguishing natural compounds associated with catnip and are the euphoria-inducing agent in felines responsible for their characteristic behavior 46 .…”

A review on multifaceted approaches for effective control of mosquitoes: From conventional and biological to phytochemical methods

“…i. Medicated net: Medicated nets made up of 25% deltamethrin which made by K-O tablets. One tablet is properly mixes in one litter water for ten minutes and after it dried and placed at chilled area to make medicated nets [38] . Medicated nets life only six months, which is approved by WHO [39] .…”