Hazarika Hemanga, Krishnatreyya Harshita
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Girijananda Chowdhury University, Constituent campus-Tezpur, Tezpur, 784501, Assam, India.
National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Guwahati (NIPER-G), Guwahati, 781101, Assam, India.
Acta Parasitol. 2025 May 28;70(3):117. doi: 10.1007/s11686-025-01054-7.
The worldwide distribution of mosquitoes and their significant role in the transmission of diseases such as malaria, dengue, and chikungunya have resulted in substantial mortality, morbidity, and economic loss. This review aims to explore the challenges and opportunities associated with plant-based mosquito repellents as sustainable alternatives to conventional chemical insecticides.
A comprehensive analysis of recent literature was conducted to investigate the conventional technology available as well as novel techniques utilized to minimize man-mosquito contact and also to assess the efficacy, safety, and mechanisms of plant-derived mosquito repellents. Special attention was given to essential oils and their active constituents, as well as current advancements in formulation technologies, stability issues, and standardization practices.
The utilization of conventional chemical insecticides for controlling mosquitoes has resulted in the development of biological resistance and has detrimental environmental impacts. Consequently, researchers have made significant efforts in recent years to develop sustainable and economical alternatives, with a particular focus on botanical mosquito-repellent compounds. This has led to a marked increase in interest in the use of plant derieved products as mosquito repellents. Limonene, citronellol, eucalyptol, geraniol, eugenol, carvacrol, and citronellal are the primary essential oil components extracted from plants that exhibit mosquito repellent activity. Owing to their complex chemical structures, mosquitoes are unable to develop resistance to these molecules.
Plant-based mosquito repellents represent a promising and sustainable alternative to synthetic repellents. However, challenges such as variability in composition, lack of standardization, stability issues, and limited mechanistic understanding hinder their widespread adoption. Molecular and cellular mechanistic studies may increase product safety and efficacy by identifying specific targets and detoxification pathways.
蚊子在全球范围内分布广泛，且在疟疾、登革热和基孔肯雅热等疾病传播中发挥着重要作用，已导致大量死亡、发病和经济损失。本综述旨在探讨以植物为基础的驱蚊剂作为传统化学杀虫剂的可持续替代品所面临的挑战和机遇。
对近期文献进行全面分析，以研究现有的传统技术以及用于减少人与蚊子接触的新技术，并评估植物源驱蚊剂的功效、安全性和作用机制。特别关注了香精油及其活性成分，以及配方技术、稳定性问题和标准化实践方面的当前进展。
使用传统化学杀虫剂控制蚊子已导致生物抗性的产生，并对环境产生不利影响。因此，近年来研究人员做出了重大努力来开发可持续且经济的替代品，尤其侧重于植物性驱蚊化合物。这导致人们对使用植物衍生产品作为驱蚊剂的兴趣显著增加。柠檬烯、香茅醇、桉叶油素、香叶醇、丁香酚、香芹酚和香茅醛是从具有驱蚊活性的植物中提取的主要香精油成分。由于其复杂的化学结构，蚊子无法对这些分子产生抗性。
以植物为基础的驱蚊剂是合成驱蚊剂的一种有前景的可持续替代品。然而，诸如成分变异性、缺乏标准化、稳定性问题以及作用机制理解有限等挑战阻碍了它们的广泛应用。分子和细胞作用机制研究可能通过识别特定靶点和解毒途径来提高产品的安全性和功效。
