Potential of coconut oil as a mosquito repellent.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Naturally derived products have become popular as a mosquito repellent in addition to mosquito nets and chemical repellents. Coconut-derived fatty acids have demonstrated repellent properties against various blood-feeding arthropods, including mosquitoes. Daily use moisturizers and body soaps containing coconut have displayed some repellent effect against mosquitoes. However, no studies have been conducted on coconut oil specifically, and the effects of pure coconut oil still remain unknown in the western Kenya region.

Methods

In this study, we investigated the effect of coconut oil on decreasing mosquito bites in a laboratory and field setting. Using Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes, the laboratory experiment compared coconut oil treated and non-treated membranes o

SUBMITTER: Hara S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12016410 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature