Orange peel extract is a safe, natural and effective alternative to chemical insecticides.
Oils derived from orange peels have shown insecticidal activities in several species of household pests. As an alternative to noxious chemical sprays, orange peel extract is a viable option since it is nontoxic to humans and pets, and has a relatively pleasant odor. Other than being toxic to insects, several compounds contained in orange peels inhibit the reproduction of pests.
Insecticidal Compound of Orange Peels
Orange peel contains a compound called pinene, which has insecticidal properties. A study published in the September 2009 issue of "Parasitology Research" investigated the effects of pinenes (isolated from the peel of Citrus sinesis) against mosquito larvae. The researchers found that pinene naturally occurred in the oil of the plant at a suitable concentration that was toxic to mosquito larvae. The study concluded that orange peel extract is an efffective mosquito insecticide.
Bitter Orange
The bitter orange, Citrus aurantium, was found to contain three active compounds that can be used as insecticides. An article appearing in the July 2008 issue of the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry" identified one component, 6',7'-epoxybergamottin, that was toxic to the olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae. The other two compounds, bergapten and osthol, were reported to act synergistically with 6',7'-epoxybergamottin as an effective insecticide for other species as well.
Several Species of Insects
A study included in the February 2001 issue of "Bioresource Technology" investigated the insecticidal effects of two species of oranges against mosquitoes, cockroaches and houseflies. The researchers found that extracts of Citrus sinesis and C. aurantifolia were both effective insecticides, 60 minutes after application. The study concluded that the extract of C. sinesis had greater insecticidal activity, and that cockroaches were the most susceptible to the oil extract of orange peels.
Interference with Reproduction of Insects
A report in the August 1998 issue of the "Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology" compared the insecticidal properties of oils from the peels of lemons, grapefruit and oranges against the mosquito, Culex pipiens. The researchers found that orange peel extract was the least effective of the three, but all of the oils interfered with the reproductive capabilities of the mosquito, and was toxic to the larval stage of the insects.
Tags: peel extract, found that, researchers found, researchers found that, against mosquito, Citrus sinesis