Plant-based Essential Oils in the Management of Dengue Vector, Aedesaegypti sp.

Abstract

Mosquito-borne communicable diseases are a potential threat to public health worldwide. Mosquitoes are vectors for various life-threatening diseases like malaria, dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, filariasis, Japanese encephalitis and Zika. Aedes mosquito-borne diseases are becoming deadly in most of the subtropical and tropical countries. Synthetic pesticides belonging to synthetic pyrethroids and organophospahtaes are used in use control of mosquitoes, which are effective but their continuous use has caused side effects on the environment, public health and non-target organisms. This prompts the researchers to find a safer way to control the mosquitoes to reduce the negative effects on environment and public health. Many phytochemicals have been known to cause harmful effects on mosquitoes. So far, plant essential oils have been reported to exhibit repellent effect against mosquitoes. Limitation on use of essential oils in pest management is due to its chemical instability, volatility, low water solubility and oxidation. To overcome these problems, incorporation of essential oils in Nan formulations, for example, microemulsions and nanoemulsions give many advantages like dissolution rate, dispersion uniformity and increase in water solubility and great bio viability on application. The present review would focus on the bioactivity of the essential oils and its nanoemulsions against dengue vector, Aedes mosquito.