Some plants, like rosemary, contain compounds that repel mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes transmit diseases like West Nile virus, encephalitis and malaria. Finding plant extracts that repel or kill mosquitoes has several benefits. Repellents made from plant extracts would be safer for humans than ones based on chemicals. In addition, they could be better for the environment and more economical to make. Does this Spark an idea?
Rosemary
Rosemary is an evergreen shrub that grows all over the world. It contains many compounds that are poisonous to insects, including borneol and camphor. A concentration of 17 percent rosemary protects against mosquitoes for almost six hours, according to one study.
Mexican Marigold
Mexican marigold contains several compounds that inhibits mosquitoes from feeding. One of them, borneol, is also a natural insect repellent.
Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus
Oil of lemon eucalyptus provides similar protection to low concentration DEET products. However, it should not be given to children under three years old. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends oil of lemon eucalyptus and says it's an effective mosquito repellent. However, it's important to note that the CDC only recommends its use when it's an active ingredient in a product. The CDC hasn't tested pure oil of lemon eucalyptus as a repellent by itself.
Catnip
Researchers at Iowa State University, testing catnip as a possible mosquito repellent, found that catnip oil repels mosquitoes better than DEET. Researchers used a concentration containing one to five percent of the oil because pure catnip oil is too strong to put right on the skin.
Tags: compounds that, lemon eucalyptus, mosquito repellent, plant extracts, that repel