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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
Ethnobotanical study of some of mosquito repellent plants in north-eastern Tanzania
Malaria Journal, Volume 7, Article 152, Year 2008
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Description
Background. The use of plant repellents against nuisance biting insects is common and its potential for malaria vector control requires evaluation in areas with different level of malaria endemicity. The essential oils of Ocimum suave and Ocimum kilimandscharicum were evaluated against malaria vectors in north-eastern Tanzania. Methodology. An ethnobotanical study was conducted at Moshi in Kilimanjaro region north-eastern Tanzania, through interviews, to investigate the range of species of plants used as insect repellents. Also, bioassays were used to evaluate the protective potential of selected plants extracts against mosquitoes. Results. The plant species mostly used as repellent at night are: fresh or smoke of the leaves of O. suave and O. kilimandscharicum (Lamiaceae), Azadirachta indica (Meliaceae), Eucalyptus globules (Myrtaceae) and Lantana camara (Verbenaceae). The most popular repellents were O. kilimandscharicum (OK) and O. suave (OS) used by 67% out of 120 households interviewed. Bioassay of essential oils of the two Ocimum plants was compared with citronella and DEET to study the repellence and feeding inhibition of untreated and treated arms of volunteers. Using filter papers impregnated with Ocimum extracts, knockdown effects and mortality was investigated on malaria mosquito Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles gambiae, including a nuisance mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus. High biting protection (83% to 91%) and feeding inhibition (71.2% to 92.5%) was observed against three species of mosquitoes. Likewise the extracts of Ocimum plants induced KD90 of longer time in mosquitoes than citronella, a standard botanical repellent. Mortality induced by standard dosage of 30 mg/m2 on filter papers, scored after 24 hours was 47.3% for OK and 57% for OS, compared with 67.7% for citronella. Conclusion. The use of whole plants and their products as insect repellents is common among village communities of north-eastern Tanzania and the results indicate that the use of O. suave and O. kilimandscharicum as a repellent would be beneficial in reducing vector biting. The widespread use of this approach has a potential to complement other control measures. © 2008 Kweka et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Kweka, Eliningaya J.
Tanzania, Arusha
Tropical Pesticides Research Institute
Tanzania, Iringa
Tumaini University
Mosha, Franklin W.
Tanzania, Iringa
Tumaini University
Lowassa, Asanterabi
Tanzania, Arusha
Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute
Mahande, Aneth Mkunde
Tanzania, Arusha
Tropical Pesticides Research Institute
Tanzania, Iringa
Tumaini University
Kitau, Jovin A.
Tanzania, Iringa
Tumaini University
Matowo, Johnson J.
Tanzania, Iringa
Tumaini University
Mahande, Michael Johnson
Tanzania, Iringa
Tumaini University
Massenga, Charles P.
Tanzania, Arusha
Tropical Pesticides Research Institute
Tenu, Filemoni F.
Tanzania, Tanga
Joint Malaria Programme
Feston, Emmanuel
Tanzania, Tanga
Joint Malaria Programme
Lyatuu, Ester E.
Tanzania, Iringa
Tumaini University
Mboya, Michael A.
Tanzania, Iringa
Tumaini University
Mndeme, Rajabu
Tanzania, Tanga
Joint Malaria Programme
Chuwa, Grace
Tanzania, Tanga
Joint Malaria Programme
Temu, Emmanuel A.
Japan, Nagasaki
Nagasaki University
Statistics
Citations: 97
Authors: 15
Affiliations: 5
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1186/1475-2875-7-152
e-ISSN:
14752875
Research Areas
Infectious Diseases
Study Locations
Tanzania