Evaluation of the repellent activity of 13 Achillea L. species from Turkiye against the Virus vector Aedes aegypti (L.) Mosquitoes

Authors: DEMIR, SERDAR - Ege University; KARAALP, CANAN - Ege University; Tabanca, Nurhayat; BERNIER, ULRICH - Retired ARS Employee; Linthicum, Kenneth - Ken

Submitted to: Kafkas Universitesi Veteriner Fakultesi Dergisi
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/19/2023
Publication Date: 2/2/2023
Citation: Demir, S., Karaalp, C., Tabanca, N., Bernier, U.R., Linthicum, K. 2023. Evaluation of the repellent activity of 13 Achillea L. species from Turkiye against the Virus vector Aedes aegypti (L.) Mosquitoes. Kafkas Universitesi Veteriner Fakultesi Dergisi. 29(1):33-40. https://doi.org/10.9775/kvfd.2022.28409.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.9775/kvfd.2022.28409

Interpretive Summary: Mosquitoes transmit numerous dangerous animal diseases, and some human diseases including malaria, filariasis, yellow fever, dengue, and other viral infections generally in tropical and temperate countries. Many synthetic chemicals have insecticidal and/or repellent effects that are used to control vectors and protect human populations from vector borne diseases. However, since some synthetic chemicals have undesirable qualities when used as repellents, attention has turned to developing biodegradable and non-toxic compoumds from various plants. In this study, different extracts obtained from 13 species of flowering plants know as yarrows, allheal and bloodwort were evaluated for their insect-repellent activity against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Several compouns were discovered that repelled mosquitoes.

Technical Abstract: Mosquitoes are vectors of numerous dangerous animal diseases, and some human diseases including malaria, filariasis, yellow fever, dengue, and other viral infections generally in tropical and temperate countries. Many synthetic chemicals have insecticidal and/or repellent effects that are used to control vectors and protect human populations from vector borne diseases. Since some synthetic chemicals have undesirable qualities when used as repellents, attention has turned to developing biodegradable and non-toxic essential oils, extracts and secondary metabolites of various plants. In this study, different extracts obtained from 13 Achillea L. species, including 4 taxa endemic to Turkey, were evaluated for their insect-repellent activity against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. N-hexane, CHCl3 and MeOH extracts were evaluated by a cloth-patch assay against Aedes aegypti to find new and alternative agents to control mosquitoes from natural sources. Among the tested samples, n-hexane extracts of A. multifida, A. crithmifolia, A. setacea and A. teretifolia (MED: 0.344, 0.375, 0.409 and 0.437 mg/cm2, respectively) showed higher repellency. These results indicate that the lipophilic components make a major contribution to repellency.