A Review on the Potential and Efficacy of Plant-Based Mosquito Repellents Against DEET-Based Mosquito Repellents

Proponent/s Name/s (Last Name, First Name, Middle Initial)

Andrea Ysobel T. Bacolor, De La Salle University Integrated School, Manila
Jenmond Alphine V. Guno, De La Salle University Integrated School, Manila
Dominic Kyle S. Rodriguez, De La Salle University Integrated School, Manila
Paula Justine F. Santos, De La Salle University Integrated School, Manila
Eula Kathrina M. Tizon, De La Salle University Integrated School, Manila

Document Types

Paper Presentation

School Code

N/A

School Name

De La Salle University Integrated School, Manila

Abstract/Executive Summary

The number of insect-borne diseases has brought many health-related issues, prompting the search, discovery, and formulation of insect repellents to prevent the acquisition of diseases. However, the preferred and conventional chemical-based repellent has downsides contrary to the benefits, such as the concern towards human and environmental safety. Meanwhile, scientific understanding of plants is mainly underexplored, resulting in people’s preferences for chemical-based insect repellents. The main objective of this review was to evaluate the efficacy of N, N-diethyl-3-methyl-benzamide (DEET), found in chemical-based repellents, and terpenes, found in plant essential oil-based repellents, to show the potential of both, along with the possibility of using plant-based repellents as an alternative to the conventional ones. The review was done by comparing and analyzing the fundamental data obtained from previous studies, focusing on the DEET or essential oil concentration, repellency rate, protection time for the efficacy, and the mosquito species that the tested repellents have shown to repel. After reviewing and comparing the results from primary sources, the researchers concluded that DEET-based and plant-based repellents both have potential depending on the concentration and the process of repellent formulation, as some plant-based repellents demonstrate longer protection times and thus greater potential than some of the DEET-based ones.

Keywords

DEET; terpenes; mosquito repellent; repellent-active compounds; efficacy

Research Theme (for Paper Presentation and Poster Presentation submissions only)

Sustainability, Environment, and Energy (SEE)

Initial Consent for Publication

yes