Formulation of A Plant Based Repulsive Candle from Oils of Azadirachta indica. JUSS (Meliaceae) Seeds and of Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) STAPF (Poaceae) Leaves

Abstract

Malaria is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa where it kills thousands of people every year mainly children under five years age. The burden of the disease has increased these recent years due to the rising costs as well as the development of resistances and toxicity associated with synthetic insecticides used to kill the malaria vector, the mosquitoes Anopheles. Therefore, it is important and urgent the search for other sources of insecticides. Plant-based products have emerged as a solution providing low-cost products with neglected side effects. In the present study, we prepared and evaluated repulsive candles containing oils of Azadirachta indica and Cymbopogon citratus, two plants well known for their repulsive effect against mosquitoes. Steam distillation of C. citratus dried leaves and mechanical pressing of dried seeds of A. indica afforded oils with a yield of 0.44 % and 16.98%, respectively. The presence of terpenoids was detected in both oils. The group of candles containing 2.5% of essential oils of C. citratus was found to be the most active exhibiting 80 - 95 % repellency. This study demonstrates the importance of using oils from medicinal plants for the formulation of repellent candles.