Repellent and Larvicidal Activity of the Essential Oil From Eucalyptus nitens Against Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract

Dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever are important vector-borne diseases transmitted by female mosquitoes when they feed on humans. The use of repellents based on natural products is an alternative for personal protection against these diseases. Application of chemicals with larvicidal activity is another strategy for controlling the mosquito population. The repellent and larvicidal activities of the essential oil from Eucalyptus nitens were tested against Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, the main vectors of these arboviruses. The essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation and then analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The main components of Eucalyptus nitens essential oil were found to be terpenes such as 1,8-cineole and p-cymene, followed by β-triketones and alkyl esters. The repellent activity of the essential oil against both species was significantly higher when compared with the main component, 1,8-cineole, alone. These results indicate that the repellent effect of E. nitens is not due only to the main component, 1,8-cineole, but also that other compounds may be responsible. Aedes aegypti was found to be more tolerant to the essential oil larvicidal effects than Ae. albopictus (Ae. aegypti LC50 = 52.83 ppm, Ae. albopictus LC 50 = 28.19 ppm). The repellent and larvicidal activity could be associated to the presence of cyclic β-triketones such as flavesone, leptospermone, and isoleptospermone.

Larvicidal, Ovicidal, Synergistic, and Repellent Activities of Sophora alopecuroides and Its Dominant Constituents Against Aedes albopictus

“…In previous studies, a similar trend was observed when the essential oils of Eucalyptus, Camaldulensis, Eucalyptus nitens, and Cinnamomum osmophloeum were evaluated against Ae. albopictus, respectively [55][56][57]. Although our results of different levels of mortality achieved by different plant derivatives are in accordance with other reports, further studies are required to find out the mode of action of the extract and the constituents of S. alopecuroides toward the overall toxicity.…”

“…The repellent activity provided by S. alopecuroides extract was also better than previously used repellents against Ae. albopictus, such as the E. nitens essential oil, and its main component, 1,8-cineole [57].…”

Oviposition Deterrent and Larvicidal and Pupaecidal Activity of Seven Essential Oils and their Major Components against Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae): Synergism–antagonism Effects

“…This suggests that the other constituents of the essential oil have antagonistic interactions with eucalyptol. The low larvicidal activity of eucalyptol (1,8-cineol) has been reported previously against larvae of Aedes aegypti [ 33 ], Anopheles anthropophagus [ 34 ] and Culex pipiens [ 35 ], however it has been shown to be effective as a repellent in foods and highly effective as an ovipositional repellent [ 33 ], however the effect did not last for more than 30 min [ 36 ].…”

Plant Natural Products for the Control of Aedes aegypti: The Main Vector of Important Arboviruses

“…had the highest larvicidal activity while Eucalyptus saligna Sm. displayed higher repellency than Eucalyptus nitens (H. Deane & Maiden) Maiden [61][62][63].…”

“…The main constituents were carvone (11) (48.6%), cis-carveol (12, 21.3%) and limonene (13, 11.3%) [72]. Another spice with larvicidal acitivity was turmeric [Curcuma longa L. (Zingiberaceae)] whose rhizome essential oil demonstrated LC 50 65.51 µg/mL [62]. Similarly, Porophyllum ruderale (Jacq.)…”