<i>Ligusticum sinense</i> Nanoemulsion Gel as Potential Repellent against <i>Aedes aegypti</i>, <i>Anopheles minimus</i>, and <i>Culex quinquefasciatus</i> (Diptera: Culicidae)
Anuluck Junkum,
Wanchai Maleewong,
Atiporn Saeung,
Danita Champakaew,
Arpaporn Chansang,
Doungporn Amornlerdpison,
Arunee Kongdee Aldred,
Udom Chaithong,
Atchariya Jitpakdi,
Doungrat Riyong,
Benjawan Pitasawat
Affiliations
Anuluck Junkum
Center of Insect Vector Study, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Wanchai Maleewong
Department of Parasitology and Excellence in Medical Innovation, and Technology Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Mekong Health Science Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
Atiporn Saeung
Center of Insect Vector Study, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Danita Champakaew
School of Public Health, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
Arpaporn Chansang
Center of Insect Vector Study, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Doungporn Amornlerdpison
Center of Excellence in Agricultural Innovation for Graduate Entrepreneur, Maejo University, Chiang Mai 50290, Thailand
Arunee Kongdee Aldred
Program in Industrial Chemistry and Textile Technology, Faculty of Science, Maejo University, Chiang Mai 50290, Thailand
Udom Chaithong
Center of Insect Vector Study, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Atchariya Jitpakdi
Center of Insect Vector Study, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Doungrat Riyong
Center of Insect Vector Study, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Benjawan Pitasawat
Center of Insect Vector Study, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Ligusticum sinense Oliv. cv. is a species of Umbelliferae (Apiaceae), a large plant family in the order Apiales. In this study, L. sinense hexane extract nanoemulsion gel (LHE-NEG) was investigated for mosquito repellency and compared to the standard chemical, N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET), with the goal of developing a natural alternative to synthetic repellents in protecting against mosquito vectors. The results demonstrated that LHE-NEG afforded remarkable repellency against Aedes aegypti, Anopheles minimus, and Culex quinquefasciatus, with median protection times (MPTs) of 5.5 (4.5–6.0), 11.5 (8.5–12.5), and 11.25 (8.5–12.5) h, respectively, which was comparable to those of DEET-nanoemulsion gel (DEET-NEG: 8.5 (7.0–9.0), 12.0 (10.0–12.5), and 12.5 (10.0–13.5) h, respectively). Evaluation of skin irritation in 30 human volunteers revealed no potential irritant from LHE-NEG. The physical and biological stability of LHE-NEG were determined after being kept under heating/cooling cycle conditions. The stored samples of LHE-NEG exhibited some changes in appearance and differing degrees of repellency between those kept for 3 and 6 heating/cooling cycles, thus providing slightly shorter MPTs of 4.25 (4.0–4.5) and 3.25 (2.5–3.5) h, respectively, when compared to those of 5.0 (4.5–6.0) h in fresh preparation. These findings encourage commercially developed LHE-based products as an alternative to conventional synthetic repellents in preventing mosquito bites and helping to interrupt mosquito-borne disease transmission.
