Comparative mosquito repellent efficacy of alcoholic extracts and essential oils of different plants against Anopheles Stephensi

Mosquitoes control and personal protection from mosquito's bites is one of the serious ways for preventing of contagious diseases distribution. Mosquitoes in addition to the localsymptoms (itching, redness and irritation) can cause transmission of fatal and dangerous disease especially in tropical areas. In recent years, interest in plant-based products has been revived because of the development of resistance, cross-resistance and possible toxicity hazards associated with synthetic insecticides and their rising cost. Various plant-based products as herbal repellents are safe and biodegradable alternatives to synthetic chemicals for use against mosquitoes. In the present study, essential oils and extracts of six plants "Melissa officinalis, Rosmarinus officinalis, Lavandula officinalis, Citrus limonum, Eucalyptus globulus and Ocimum basilicum" were evaluated compared against mosquitoes of Anopheles Stephensi. Finally, repellant properties of essential oils and extracts as experimental groups and of N, N-diethyl 3 - methylbenzamide (DEET) as a positive control group were compared.We used Duncan's multiple range tests to determine the significant differences at 1% level between the experimental group and the control group. Results of statistical analysis showedsignificant differences between the extracts and essential oils. Essential oils indicated moreeffectiveness rather than extracts.   Key words: Malaria, Anopheles stephensi, insect repellent, essential oil, plant extract.