RETRACTED: Repellent active ingredients by comparative analysis of fresh and aged plant essential oils against Aedes albopictus

Abstract

Background The most efficient means of avoiding diseases like Dengue fever are mosquito vector control and personal protection against mosquito bites. Herein finding safe, green, and environmentally friendly plant-derived repellents to establish a unique protective barrier against mosquitoes has become a key challenge. The small molecules in plant essential oils often result in poor effectiveness of mosquito repellents due to their high volatility. Methods This study focused on Aedes albopictus, the primary mosquito species in the daily life, and analyzed three groups of 6 fresh/aged plant essential oils with potential good mosquito repellent activity using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography-electroantennography detection (GC-EAD). Results We identified the active ingredients and comparatively analyzed the differences in their repellent active ingredients. The potential compounds were patchouli alcohol, eugenol, curcumene, zingiberene, and sesquiphellandrene. Conclusions This research lays the foundation for the search for leading mosquito repellents in natural products and the formation of new mosquito repellent products. It can also serve as a solid protective barrier for many people who visit the forest for health and wellness purposes by cutting off the transmission route of mosquito-borne diseases.