Abstract
The hydrodistilled leaf essential oil (EO) of Tagetes patula L. was analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. The main components of the oil were characterized as caryophyllene oxide (18.4%), β-caryophyllene (18.0%) and spathulenol (9.1%). The EO was screened for its biting deterrent activity against Aedes aegypti L. using the in vitro K&D module system. T. patula EO exhibited good biting deterrent activity. The results suggest that these sesquiterpenes may contribute to biting deterrent activity, but the role of minor components cannot be excluded. T. patula EO also showed 100, 90 and 10% mortality at dosages of 125, 62.5 and 31.25 ppm, respectively, in 1-day-old larvae of Ae. aegypti.
