ABSTRACT
Abstract@#Introduction: Mosquitoes are important vectors responsible for transmission of many pathogens that cause major human morbidity and mortality. Natural repellents such as essential oils may provide a means of protection from mosquito bites that are safe and more pleasant to use. Methods: In this study, essential oils from the flowers of Jasminum officinale and Anthemis nobilis were characterised by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and were further tested for their repellent efficacy, individually and in combinations, against Aedes aegypti using a rat model. Results: Forty-two compounds accounting for 77.50% of J. officinale essential oil and fifty-one compounds representing 87.96% of A. nobilis essential oil were identified. Oxygenated monoterpenes and diterpenes constituted 31.14% and 21.20% of J. officinale essential oil, respectively. For A. nobilis essential oil, oxygenated monoterpenes accounted for 84.79% of the compounds identified. The essential oils of J. officinale and A. nobilis at 20% concentration provided repellency of 68.45% and 73.15%, respectively, against Ae. aegypti for 120 min. The mixture of essential oils in a 1:1 ratio (JC1) exhibited 88.20% repellency for 120 min, which was significantly higher than the repellency of 20% concentration of the individual oils. Conclusion: The synergistic interactions among the varied constituents of J. officinale and A. nobilis essential oils enhanced the mosquito repellent activity