Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41654632›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2026

Harnessing insect-derived oils for enhanced efficacy of plant-based repellents against disease-transmitting mosquitoes.

John Bwire Ochola, Cynthia M Mudalungu, Hosea O Mokaya, Xavier Cheseto, Gilvian N Onsomu, Subramanian Sevgan, Segenet Kelemu, Baldwyn Torto, Chrysantus M Tanga

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

John Bwire OcholaInternational Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Environmental Health Unit, P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya. jbwire@icipe.org.
Cynthia M MudalunguInternational Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Environmental Health Unit, P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya.
Hosea O MokayaInternational Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Environmental Health Unit, P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya.
Xavier ChesetoInternational Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Environmental Health Unit, P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya.
Gilvian N OnsomuInternational Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Environmental Health Unit, P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya.
Subramanian SevganInternational Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Environmental Health Unit, P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya.
Segenet KelemuInternational Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Environmental Health Unit, P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya.
Baldwyn TortoInternational Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Environmental Health Unit, P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya.
Chrysantus M TangaInternational Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Environmental Health Unit, P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever pose a growing global health threat, worsened by resistance to synthetic pesticides. This study evaluated insect oils from Schistocerca gregaria, Ruspolia differens, and Macrotermes spp. as adjuvants in plant-based mosquito repellents. The formulations were tested for complete protection time (CPT) against Anopheles gambiae, Aedes aegypti, and Culex quinquefasciatus, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from treated volunteers were analyzed. Incorporating insect oils doubled CPT compared to essential oils alone. The most effective blend of Macrotermes oil with Cymbopogon nardus (1:1) achieved CPTs of 3.50 h for An. gambiae, 2.56 h for Ae.aegypti, and 2.81 h for Cx. quinquefasciatus, showing repellency comparable to 20% DEET during the first 3.5 h. Blends retained three times more VOCs than plant oils alone, prolonging repellent activity. Key compounds such as geranyl acetate, citronellyl acetate, and geranyl propanoate persisted on skin for over 180 min. These findings highlight the potential of insect oils, particularly from Macrotermes spp., to enhance the efficacy and longevity of plant-based mosquito repellents, offering a sustainable, eco-friendly alternative amid growing pesticide resistance.

Indexed as

Insect RepellentsOils, VolatilePlant OilsAedesAnimalsAnophelesCulexHumansMosquito-Borne DiseasesMosquito ControlMosquito VectorsVolatile Organic CompoundsInsect RepellentsOils, VolatilePlant OilsVolatile Organic CompoundsAedes aegyptiAnopheles gambiaeCulex quinquefasciatusInsect oilsMacrotermes sppMosquito-borne diseasesPlant repellents

Identifiers

PMID41654632
PMCPMC12946274

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.