Essential oils as natural arsenal for mosquito management – chemical profiles, biological activities and application strategies – A review

The basic purpose of mosquito control is to restrict disease transmission potential by minimizing or eliminating human contact with the vector. Despite continuous efforts of the present interventions employed in the mosquito control programs, the agencies responsible are unable to eradicate mosquito populations and hence to control diseases transmitted by these vectors. Further, there are environmental and health related issues related with the extensive and indiscriminate use of synthetic insecticides. These issues have highlighted the need for alternative strategies to be developed. In this context essential oils and other botanical products have received much attention as useful bioactive compound against insects. Numerous ethnobotanical studies have found that plants can be used as an alternative source of mosquito control measures. Though they have a long history of traditional use in many parts of the world, the demand of natural products have increased over the last few decades on account of their safety for human consumption, environmentally friendly nature, minimal lethal effects on non-target organisms and almost no records of development of resistance against mosquitoes and other insects. Essential oils, the products of botanical origin have well documented background as ovicides, larvicides, adulticides or growth regulators on several species of insects and are reported to have active chemical like alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins and terpenoids.