Plant derived essential oils against Aedes aegypti L. and their biotechnological production

Abstract

Aedes aegyti L. is the main vector of important viruses like Dengue, Yellow, Zika and Chikungunya fevers. In many countries, these diseases are considered as great public health problems due to the serious consequences they can cause such as Guillain-Barré syndrome, neurological disorders and internal hemorrhagic problems, which may lead to death. The transmission of these diseases occurs through the bite of infected female of A. aegypti. According to World Health Organization, the major way to avoid the spread of these diseases is to control the vector by using larvicides and insecticides products. Many efforts have been done to find natural products that can be used to eliminate different phases of the life cycle of this mosquito. Among these, essential oils are recognized as important plant-derived products to control A. aegypti. Essential oils are complex mixture of mono, sesquiterpenes and phenylpropanoids and normally have a nice odor. Several studies have shown the larvicidal and insecticides properties of essential oils in plants belonging to different families. The literature studies indicated that in most of the cases monoterpenes like geraniol and citronellol, and phenylpropanoids; eugenol were the main components of essential oils that can control A. aegypti spread. In vitro studies suggested that composition and production of essential oils could be manipulated by the use of different concentrations and combinations of growth regulators and elicitors.