Potential of Mentha pulegium for mosquito control

Vector control remains an important strategy to fight mosquito-borne diseases, like malaria and dengue. Anopheles species are responsible for vast distribution of malaria, mainly in tropical areas, with dramatic infant morbidity and mortality. Aedes aegypti, the main vector of dengue, has a wide and expanding geographical distribution. It was found in Madeira Island, Portugal, in 2005, and in 2012 the first local dengue outbreak occurred. Also, in the African archipelago of Cape Verde, the first dengue epidemic in 2009, demonstrated that dengue virus is expanding. Phytochemicals offer not only effective mosquito control products, but are also biorational alternatives to organic synthetic pesticides. These chemicals from natural sources, with a high degree of biodegradation, are environmentally sound control agents. In the present study, Mentha pulegium essential oils (EOs) were assessed for larvicidal effects on third instar larvae of Anopheles atroparvus, Anopheles gambiae, Anopheles stephensi and Aedes aegypti (from Madeira and Cape Verde). The EOs chemical composition of M. pulegium from Portugal and Cape Verde was determined by 13C NRM and GC, GC-MS analysis. Larvicidal effect was observed on all species assayed with the strongest effect on Ae. aegypti from Cape Verde Islands.