Malaria Research Unit, Medical Research Council, 491 Ridge Road, Overport, Durban 4001, South Africa.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2011 Oct 11;137(3):1516-20. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2011.08.040. Epub 2011 Aug 24.
The aim of the study was to document plants traditionally used to repel mosquitoes in the uMkhanyakude district, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The specific objectives of the study were to: (1) identify plant species and their parts being used; (2) determine the condition of plant material used and the method of application.
Data was collected from 60 respondents in five villages in the district using standardised and pre-tested questionnaires.
Thirteen plant species are used in the study area to repel mosquitoes. These species belong to 11 genera from 9 families. Meliaceae and Anacardiaceae were the most represented families with two species each. The most frequently recorded species were Lippia javanica (91.67%), followed by Aloe ferox (11.67%), Sclerocarya birrea (5%), Melia azedarach (3%), Balanite maughamii (3%) and Mangifera indica (3%). Leaves were the most (38%) common plant part used. The majority (82%) of the plant parts were used in a dry state. Burning of plant materials to make smoke was the most (92%) common method of application. Nine plant species, namely: A. ferox, Calausena anista, Croton menyharthii, S. birrea, B. maughamii, Olax dissitiflora, Trichilia emetic, M. indica, and Atalaya alata are documented for the first time as mosquito repellents.
This documentation provides the basis for further studies in developing new, effective, safe and affordable plant-derived mosquito repellents especially for Africa where malaria is highly prevalent. The study also plays a part in documenting and conserving traditional knowledge of mosquito repellent plants for future use.
本研究旨在记录南非夸祖鲁-纳塔尔省乌姆坎亚库德地区传统上用于驱蚊的植物。研究的具体目标是：(1) 确定使用的植物物种及其部位；(2) 确定所用植物材料的状况和应用方法。
使用标准和预先测试的问卷，从该地区的 5 个村庄的 60 名受访者那里收集数据。
在所研究的区域中，有 13 种植物被用于驱蚊。这些物种属于 9 个科的 11 个属。桃金娘科和漆树科的物种各有两种，是记录最多的科。记录最多的物种是狭叶茉莉（91.67%），其次是费氏龙舌兰（11.67%）、非洲吊灯树（5%）、楝树（3%）、巴兰蒂树（3%）和芒果（3%）。叶片是最常用的植物部位（38%）。大多数植物部位（82%）以干燥状态使用。燃烧植物材料产生烟雾是最常用的应用方法（92%）。有 9 种植物物种，即费氏龙舌兰、卡劳塞纳·安尼斯塔、克罗通·门雅什蒂、非洲吊灯树、巴兰蒂树、奥拉克西·迪西特里弗劳、希利亚·埃梅蒂、芒果和阿塔拉亚·阿拉塔，首次被记录为驱蚊植物。
本研究为进一步开发新的、有效、安全和负担得起的植物衍生驱蚊剂提供了基础，特别是在疟疾高度流行的非洲。该研究还有助于记录和保护传统的驱蚊植物知识，以备将来使用。
