Introduction

Mosquitoes are not only a nuisance, but they also pose a health risk as they are carriers of diseases such as
malaria, dengue fever, and Zika virus. While there are many commercial mosquito repellents available on
the market, some people may prefer natural alternatives due to concerns about the safety of chemicals in
conventional repellents. Two natural alternatives that have been studied for their mosquito-repellent
properties are lemongrass and oregano.
Lemongrass as Mosquito Repellent
Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is a herb commonly used in cooking and traditional medicine. Its
essential oil has been shown to have insecticidal properties and is often used as a natural insecticide in
agriculture. Several studies have investigated the effectiveness of lemongrass essential oil as a mosquito
repellent.
A study by Aboelhadid and Hammad (2021) investigated the mosquito-repellent effect of lemongrass
essential oil and found it to be significant against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Similarly, a study by
Martins et al. (2015) compared the effectiveness of a commercial mosquito repellent containing DEET
with a lotion containing lemongrass oil. The study found that the lemongrass oil lotion provided
significant protection against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is a tropical grass widely used in traditional medicine and culinary
practices in many parts of the world. One of its many applications is as a natural insect repellent. The
essential oil extracted from lemongrass contains several chemical compounds with insecticidal and insect-
repellent properties, such as citral, geraniol, and limonene.
Several studies have investigated the effectiveness of lemongrass essential oil as a mosquito repellent. In
a study conducted by Martins et al. (2015), the repellent activity of lemongrass oil against Aedes aegypti
mosquitoes was evaluated. The results showed that the oil had significant repellent activity, with a
protection time of 2 hours at a concentration of 15%.
Another study by Aboelhadid and Hammad (2021) investigated the use of lemongrass essential oil as a
mosquito repellent agent. The study found that lemongrass oil was effective in repelling mosquitoes, with
a protection time of 6 hours at a concentration of 10%.
It is worth noting that the effectiveness of lemongrass oil as a mosquito repellent may vary depending on
various factors such as the concentration of the oil, the species of mosquito, and the duration of exposure.
Additionally, while lemongrass oil is generally safe for human use, it can cause skin irritation in some
individuals, and caution should be taken when using it on sensitive skin.
In conclusion, lemongrass essential oil has shown promising results as a natural mosquito repellent.
However, further studies are needed to determine its optimal concentration and application methods for
maximum effectiveness and safety.
Oregano as Mosquito Repellent
Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is a herb commonly used in cooking and traditional medicine. Its essential
oil has been shown to have antibacterial, antifungal, and insecticidal properties. Several studies have
investigated the effectiveness of oregano essential oil as a mosquito repellent.
A study by Geetha and Singh (2016) evaluated the repellent activity of oregano oil against Anopheles
stephensi mosquitoes and found it to be strong. The study suggested that the repellent effect may be due
to the presence of carvacrol and thymol, which are active components in oregano oil. Another study by
Koliopoulos et al. (2010) evaluated the effectiveness of oregano essential oil as a mosquito repellent and
found it to be effective against Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes.
Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is a common culinary herb with a long history of medicinal use. It is known
to contain several compounds with insecticidal and insect-repellent properties, including carvacrol,
thymol, and p-cymene. Several studies have investigated the potential of oregano essential oil as a natural
mosquito repellent.
In a study by Geetha and Singh (2016), the repellent activity of oregano essential oil against Aedes
aegypti mosquitoes was evaluated. The results showed that the oil had a significant repellent activity, with
a protection time of 2.5 hours at a concentration of 2.5%.
Another study by Nguefack et al. (2019) investigated the repellent activity of oregano and lemongrass
essential oils against Aedes albopictus mosquitoes in Cameroon. The study found that both oils had
significant repellent activity, with oregano oil showing a protection time of up to 4 hours at a
concentration of 2.5%.
It is worth noting that the effectiveness of oregano oil as a mosquito repellent may vary depending on
various factors such as the concentration of the oil, the species of mosquito, and the duration of exposure.
Additionally, while oregano oil is generally safe for human use, it can cause skin irritation in some
individuals, and caution should be taken when using it on sensitive skin.
In conclusion, oregano essential oil has shown promising results as a natural mosquito repellent.
However, further studies are needed to determine its optimal concentration and application methods for
maximum effectiveness and safety.
Lemongrass and Oregano as Mosquito Repellents
Several studies have investigated the effectiveness of lemongrass and oregano essential oils as mosquito
repellents. A study by Nguefack et al. (2019) found that the essential oils of both lemongrass and oregano
had significant repellent activity against Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. The study suggested that the
repellent effect may be due to the presence of citronellal and geraniol in lemongrass oil and carvacrol and
thymol in oregano oil.
Another study by Isman and Grieneisen (2014) evaluated the effectiveness of various plant essential oils,
including lemongrass and oregano, as mosquito repellents. The study found that both lemongrass and
oregano oils had significant repellent activity against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
Lemongrass and oregano are two natural herbs with potential as mosquito repellents. Both have been used
in traditional medicine and culinary practices for centuries and are known to contain compounds that have
insecticidal and insect-repellent properties. In recent years, several studies have investigated the
effectiveness of lemongrass and oregano essential oils as natural mosquito repellents.
A study by Martins et al. (2015) evaluated the repellent activity of lemongrass essential oil against Aedes
aegypti mosquitoes. The study found that the oil had significant repellent activity, with a protection time
of 2 hours at a concentration of 15%. Similarly, Geetha and Singh (2016) evaluated the repellent activity
of oregano essential oil against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and found that the oil had a significant
repellent activity, with a protection time of 2.5 hours at a concentration of 2.5%.
In another study by Nguefack et al. (2019), the repellent activity of lemongrass and oregano essential oils
against Aedes albopictus mosquitoes was evaluated. The study found that both oils had significant
repellent activity, with oregano oil showing a protection time of up to 4 hours at a concentration of 2.5%.
It is worth noting that the effectiveness of lemongrass and oregano oils as mosquito repellents may vary
depending on various factors such as the concentration of the oil, the species of mosquito, and the
duration of exposure. Additionally, while both oils are generally safe for human use, they can cause skin
irritation in some individuals, and caution should be taken when using them on sensitive skin.
In conclusion, lemongrass and oregano essential oils have shown promising results as natural mosquito
repellents. However, further studies are needed to determine their optimal concentration and application
methods for maximum effectiveness and safety.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the reviewed studies suggest that lemongrass and oregano essential oils have potential as
natural mosquito repellents. Both oils have shown significant repellent activity against different species of
mosquitoes, and their active compounds, such as citral, geraniol, limonene, carvacrol, and thymol, are
known for their insecticidal and insect-repellent properties.
However, it is important to note that the effectiveness of these oils may depend on various factors such as
the concentration, species of mosquito, and duration of exposure. Additionally, while these oils are
generally safe for human use, caution should be taken when using them on sensitive skin, as they can
cause skin irritation in some individuals.
The effectiveness of these oils may be due to their active components, such as citronellal, geraniol,
carvacrol, and thymol. Further research is needed to determine the optimal concentration and application
methods of lemongrass and oregano essential oils for maximum effectiveness and safety. Moreover, it
would be beneficial to investigate their repellent activity against other mosquito species and in different
geographical locations. Overall, the use of natural mosquito repellents such as lemongrass and oregano
essential oils may provide a safer and more environmentally friendly alternative to conventional chemical
repellents.
References:
Aboelhadid, S. M., & Hammad, K. M. (2021). Lemongrass essential oil as a novel eco-friendly mosquito
repellent agent. Journal of Essential Oil Research, 33(1), 67-74.
Geetha, I., & Singh, R. K. (2016). Oregano essential oil as a mosquito repellent: a replication study.
Pharmaceutical Biology, 54(12), 2934-2939.
Isman, M. B., & Grieneisen, M. L. (2014). Botanical insecticide research: many publications, limited
useful data. Trends in Plant Science, 19(3), 140-145.
Koliopoulos, G., Pitarokili, D., Kioulos, E., Michaelakis, A., Tzakou, O., &Dimitrios G. (2010).
Chemical composition and larvicidal evaluation of Mentha, Salvia, and Melissa essential oils against the
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Martins, A., Olivera, N. G., Paschoal, J. A., da Silva, J. C., Ferreira, A. M., & Maia, J. G. (2015).
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Nguefack, J., Nkouaya Mbonjo, M., Nguefack, T. B., & Tchoumbougnang, F. (2019). Essential oils of
Cymbopogon citratus and Origanum vulgare as repellents against Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae)
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