The Repellent Activity of Piper aduncum Linn (Family: Piperaceae) Essential Oil against Aedes aegypti Using Human Volunteers

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the repellency of Piper aduncum essential oil against Ae. aegypti under laboratory conditions, using human volunteers. Optimum repellency (ED₅₀ value 1.236 \µgcm⁻\² and ED₉₀ 0.845 \µgcm⁻\²) occurred at 90 seconds\’ exposure. Exposures of 60 and 120 seconds yielded much higher ED50 values (2.4170 \µgcm⁻\² and 1.8161 \µgcm⁻\², respectively). There was no significant difference between the ED₅₀ value of the essential oil and DEET (P \> 0.05). P. aduncum essential oil on human skin, at a concentration of 0.4 g, showed an immediate 100% reduction in Ae. aegypti mosquito bite, which reduced to 70.03% at hour 8 post-treatment. Treatment with 10% DEET yielded an immediate 100% reduction until hour 4, then reduced to 73.88% at hour 8 post-treatment. There was no significant difference between the plant essential oil and the commercial product DEET (p \> 0.05). Thus, P. aduncum essential oil is a potential repellent against dengue/dengue hemorrhagic fever vectors.