Botanical derivatives in mosquito control: a review

Area of Science:

• Ethnobotany
• Medical Entomology
• Natural Product Chemistry

Background:

• Mosquitoes transmit numerous diseases globally, necessitating effective control strategies.
• Conventional insecticides face challenges like resistance and environmental impact.
• Botanical derivatives offer a promising alternative for mosquito management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and synthesize reported data on botanical sources used for mosquito control.
• To document plant parts, mosquito species, and observed bioactivities.
• To discuss factors influencing the efficacy of plant-derived mosquito control agents.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature search for studies on plant-derived chemicals against mosquitoes.
• Data extraction on plant species, botanical part, extraction solvent, mosquito species, bioactivity, and geographical origin.
• Categorization of bioactivities including general toxicity, growth inhibition, repellency, and oviposition deterrence.

Main Results:

• 344 plant species with reported mosquito bioactivities were identified.
• Diverse plant parts and phytochemicals demonstrated varied efficacy against different mosquito species and life stages.
• Solvent type, phototoxicity, and geographical origin influenced observed bioactivities.

Conclusions:

• Botanical sources represent a rich reservoir for developing novel mosquito control agents.
• Understanding factors like specificity and extraction methods is crucial for optimizing botanical insecticide development.
• Further research into plant-derived compounds can lead to sustainable and effective mosquito population management strategies.