Essential Oil from Citrus medica Waste and Its Repellent Activity Against Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae)

Nor Hisam, Zamakshshari and NURHAZIQAH, MD YAZID and Kho, Swen Jack and Surisa, Phornvillay and DIANA KERTINI, MONIR and Nurainee, Salaemae (2025) Essential Oil from Citrus medica Waste and Its Repellent Activity Against Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae). Borneo Journal of Resource Science and Technology, 15 (2). pp. 1-10. ISSN 0128-2972 (In Press)

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Abstract

Citrus medica is enriched with beneficial antioxidant agents and has promising potential as a mosquito repellent. Most commercial mosquito repellents contain N,N,-diethyl-3-methybenzamide (DEET), damaging the synthetic fabric and plastic, thus producing toxic reactions. This study was conducted to identify the application of C. medica peels as new mosquito repellents formulated using essential oil of C. medica peels. Methodologically, the essential oil of C. medica peels was extracted via hydro-distillation method and analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The insect repellent of C. medica essential oil nanoemulsion (EON) spray was formulated. This EON was further characterized and assessed for its stability as well as mosquito repellency properties. Major chemical constituents were successfully identified in C. medica peels, in which D-Limonene constituted almost 64.57%. The formulated EON was found to be slightly turbid, bluish-white, and isotropic. The pH of EON was 5.45, which was skin-friendly, with 0.8896 ± 0.0016 cP viscosity at 27 °C, which was lower than water (0.8539 cP). The conductivity readings (- 234V) used to establish the oil-in-water nanoemulsion were substantiated by spherical and homogenous shapes with no aggregation seen on a scanning electron microscope. From the repellency test, EON showed good potential with more than 70% mosquito repellency. In conclusion, mosquito repellents formulated from C. medica peel essential oil showed good mosquito repellency that effectively reduces vector-borne diseases, which significantly threaten many lives.

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