Repellent activity of essential oils from Rutaceae plants against Aedes aegypti (Linn.) and Culex quinquefasciatus (Say).

Herbal essential oils derived from eight species of Rutaceae plants (Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.P Sketolen Shield ® ). Each herbal essential oil in ethyl alcohol was applied at 0.33 µl/cm 2 on the forearms of volunteers. On the protection time (in minutes) and biting rate (%) revealed that essential oil of C. aurantifolia was effective as repellent and feeding against Ae. aegypti (65.0±22.91 minutes protection times and 1.47±0.46% biting rate) and Cx. quinquefasciatus (71.67±5.77 minutes protection times and 1.73±0.23% biting rate). Thus, repellent activity indicated the order of protection time and biting rate against two mosquito species in eight essential oils as C. aurantifolia > C. microcarpa > C. maxima > C. reticulate > C. sinensis > C. hystrix > C. aurantium >C. medica var sarcodaclylis. Unfortunately, the period of protection time against two mosquito species of all herbal essential oil was lower than DEET (155.0±7.07 minutes for Ae. aegypti and 180.0±14.14 minutes for Cx. quinquefasciatus).