Potentials of Ocimum Gratissimum Extracts as Mosquito Repellents and Mosquitocidal Candles

Abstract

Ethanol and distilled water extracts of the Ocimum gratissimum leaves were obtained using standard methods. The preliminary phytochemical analysis carried out showed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, glycosides, saponins, flavonoids and absence of steroids in both extracts. Three extractives were used in compounding candle samples. The produced candle samples were tested for their mosquitos’ repellent ability by knockdown effect. The knockdown effect result showed that the number of mosquitoes still flying for hot water extract after 5 minutes was 8(20%), then at 10 minutes was 6(20%). However, the highest mosquito’s knockdown effect was at 15 minutes which had 3 mosquitos knockdown. Cold water extract result showed the lowest knockdown effect at 10 minutes 9(10%) while for ethanol extract, there was highest knockdown effect at 10 minutes which have 4(40%). Studies revealed that occimum gratissimum has the tendency and ability of eliminating mosquitoes in less than 10 minutes of application with ethanolic extracts being the most efficient. However, the health implication of this research was not studied to ascertain possible implication on the person inhaling the product.