(ORDO NEWS) — Mosquitoes carry a huge number of diseases and are considered a big problem in many countries.The best method of limiting disease transmission is to kill mosquito larvae, but synthetic insecticides are often used for this.
New work from scientists at the University of Guwahati, India, suggests a cheaper and safer alternative – clove oil.Mosquitoes are a real nightmare for health systems in many countries
Thanks to the chemical compound eugenol, clove oil is already known for its ability to kill mosquito larvae when added to standing water.
Not only is the oil safe for the environment, but the cloves from which it is made are reasonably cheap and readily available in regions where mosquito-borne diseases are widespread.
The only downside to oil is that it is not as effective as harsher synthetic insecticides. However, pesticides accumulate in soil, water and food, causing health problems in both humans and wildlife. In addition, mosquitoes tend to develop resistance over time.
But this is not the case with clove oil! Therefore, scientists decided to increase its effectiveness in the fight against mosquito larvae.
After experimenting with the addition of various synergistic chemicals to eugenol, a liquid organic compound called piperonyl butoxide (PBO) was found to have a pronounced lethal effect on Aedes aegypti mosquito larvae.
“The use of synergistic substances, synthetic or natural, helps prevent the development of resistance,” said author Bulbuli Khanikor. “In the present study, it was found that the combination of PBO with eugenol significantly increased the efficacy of the latter.”
It should be noted that while PBO is considered minimally toxic to humans, it is dangerous to aquatic invertebrates and tadpoles, so its use should ideally be limited to puddles where mosquitoes often breed.
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