Botanical Mosquito Repellents: A Sustainable Approach to Vector Control - A Review

Malaria, dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever are among the mosquito-borne illnesses that continue to pose a serious threat to worldwide public health, especially in tropical and subtropical areas. Despite the widespread usage and effectiveness of synthetic repellents like DEET, there is a need for safer alternatives due to their potential negative health effects, environmental toxicity, and the emergence of insect resistance. This paper assesses the potential of aromatic medicinal plants as natural mosquito repellents, concentrating on their active phytochemical components, methods of action, effectiveness, and limits. The literature on often investigated plants, such as Azadirachta indica (neem), Cymbopogon spp. (citronella), Lavandula spp. (lavender), Tagetes erecta (marigold), Eucalyptus citriodora (lemon eucalyptus), and Mentha spp. (peppermint), was thoroughly examined.Findings indicate that plant-derived essential oils contain bioactive compounds such as terpenoids, aldehydes, phenols, ketones, and monoterpenes that exhibit significant mosquito-repellent and insecticidal properties by disrupting olfactory receptors, masking human attractants, altering host-seeking behaviour, and inducing toxic or irritating effects on mosquitoes. However, there are drawbacks to plant-based repellents, such as inconsistent efficacy, a shorter protective duration, environmental instability, potential skin irritation, and difficulties with large-scale formulation and standardization. Overall, aromatic medicinal plants constitute a promising, eco-friendly alternative to synthetic repellents, but further study is required to optimize formulation stability, efficacy, and safety for practical public health applications.