Repellent, irritant and toxic effects of 20 plant extracts on adults of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae mosquito

Publication Type

Journal Article

Journal Name

PLoS ONE

Name of Author

• Emilie Deletre, Fonctionnement Agroécologique et Performances des Systèmes de Culture Horticoles (HortSys)
• Thibaud Martin, Fonctionnement Agroécologique et Performances des Systèmes de Culture Horticoles (HortSys)
• Pascal Campagne, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology Nairobi
• Denis Bourguet, L'Institut Agro Montpellier
• Andy Cadin, Fonctionnement Agroécologique et Performances des Systèmes de Culture Horticoles (HortSys)
• Chantal Menut, Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron
• Romain Bonafos, L'Institut Agro Montpellier
• Fabrice Chandre, CNRS Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

Publication Date

2-23-2013

Abstract

Pyrethroid insecticides induce an excito-repellent effect that reduces contact between humans and mosquitoes. Insecticide use is expected to lower the risk of pathogen transmission, particularly when impregnated on long-lasting treated bednets. When applied at low doses, pyrethroids have a toxic effect, however the development of pyrethroid resistance in several mosquito species may jeopardize these beneficial effects. The need to find additional compounds, either to kill disease-carrying mosquitoes or to prevent mosquito contact with humans, therefore arises. In laboratory conditions, the effects (i.e., repellent, irritant and toxic) of 20 plant extracts, mainly essential oils, were assessed on adults of Anopheles gambiae, a primary vector of malaria. Their effects were compared to those of DEET and permethrin, used as positive controls. Most plant extracts had irritant, repellent and/or toxic effects on An. gambiae adults. The most promising extracts, i.e. those combining the three types of effects, were from Cymbopogon winterianus, Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Thymus vulgaris. The irritant, repellent and toxic effects occurred apparently independently of each other, and the behavioural response of adult An. gambiae was significantly influenced by the concentration of the plant extracts. Mechanisms underlying repellency might, therefore, differ from those underlying irritancy and toxicity. The utility of the efficient plant extracts for vector control as an alternative to pyrethroids may thus be envisaged. © 2013 Deletre et al.

PubMed ID

24376515

Recommended Citation

Deletre, E., Martin, T., Campagne, P., Bourguet, D., Cadin, A., Menut, C., Bonafos, R., & Chandre, F. (2013). Repellent, irritant and toxic effects of 20 plant extracts on adults of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae mosquito. PLoS ONE, 8 (12) https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0082103

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