Activity of Origanum vulgare essential oil, as a safe green-friendly repellent for personal protection against common bed bug

Abstract

The common bed bugs have become a public health concern in urban communities recently. The use of repellent compounds is the recommended way to prevent biting and in order to personal protection against insect biting. So, we aimed to determine the protection time of oregano essential oil, Origanum vulgare, against the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius L. on animal and human hosts. Oregano essential oil 39% (99% repellency of bed bugs in Petri dish test) was used against 4th, 5th instar nymphs and adults of bed bug using rabbit and human host. The results were compared to a commercial insect repellent stick (DEET 33%). The data were recorded at 20 min intervals and continued until the second bed bug bite was happened. The protection times were calculated 454.33 ± 10.97 and 430.33 ± 16.5 min using oregano oil 39% and commercial insect repellent stick (DEET 33%) against the bed bug in the animal test, respectively. The protection times were decreased in the human test, hence calculated 175 ± 3 min for oregano oil 39% and 6.85 ± 1.34 min for commercial DEET 33% against the bed bug biting. The lower harmful side-effects of botanical products on humans and environment have attracted considerable attention in recent years. With a proper formulation of plant essential oils, these compounds can be recommended as potential repellents against the blood-sucking insects.