Mosquito Repellency and Toxicity of Hyptis Suaveolens (leaves) Against Culex Mosquito

Human pathogens that are transmitted by insects are a global problem, particularly those vectored by mosquitoes. Hyptis suaveolens (bush mint) has long been known for its powerful repellent action on insects, and mosquitoes in particular. Leaves of Hyptis suaveolens were obtained from Katsina-Mani Road, Katsina State. Phytochemical screening of the plant extracts was carried out employing standard procedures and tests (Vishnoi et al., 1979, Sofowora et al., 1993, Trease et al. 1989; Aliyu et al. 2022), (Shinada et al.1962). The repellency test was carried out using the cage test of World Health Organization (WHO 2009). Test for toxicity was carried out using the procedure of (Ajelara et al. 2018.). The result of phytochemical screening of crude extract of dried leaves of Hyptis suaveolens revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, reducing sugar, steroids, saponins, and tannins. Total numbers of mosquitoes landed on control arm are 15 (60%), followed by arm treated with 20% repellent cream which is 3 (12%) while none (0%) landed on 40%, 60% and 100% arm treated with repellent cream. The toxicity of hyptis suaveolens leaves against culex mosquito was recorded at different concentration where the effect of hyptis suaveolens leaf smoke is higher at higher concentration and lower at lower concentration. And 100% toxicity was obtained at 80 and 100% concentration. This study show that extract obtain from dried leaves of Hyptis suaveolens has the ability to repel adult culex mosquito even at low concentration (40%) and can serve as replacement of synthetic insect repellent like DEET (N, N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide).