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ARC Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences (AJPS)
Volume 2, Issue 2, 2016, PP 21-27
ISSN 2455-1538
DOI:
©ARC Page 21
Study of Citronella Mosquito Repellent Plants in Tubman
University, Harper, Maryland County, Liberia (Paper I)
Thomas – Connor I
*
Adetunde, I.
1, 2
1
WVS Tubman University, Harper, Maryland County, Liberia
1,
*College of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing
2
College of Engineering and Technology
Abstract:
Mosquito repellant plants should be of paramount importance in the present day in Africa where
there is rising number of mosquito borne illnesses. Alarming increase in the range of mosquitoes in Africa is as
a result of deforestation, stagnant waters, artificial containers, non-recyclableradial tires,trees holes, water
drainage systems, ditches, ponds, lakes, lagoons, marshes, swamps, floodwater sites, dirty environments,
industrialized farming/irrigated fields. This paper focuses on the Citronella Mosquito repellent plants, with a
special reference to Tubman University environments. The present Citronella mosquito repellant plants were
preferred over chemical mosquito repellents. It was observed that Citronella plants serve as retardant of
mosquitos’ growth where they were planted and also prevent the incidence of malaria among the residents.
Mortality of Mosquitos was found to increase proportionately with increase in planted Citronella plants.
Keywords:
Citronella Plants, Tubman University, Mosquito Borne Illnesses, Mosquito Repellents, Mosquitoes
in Africa, Malaria.
1. I
NTRODUCTION
Right from the ages immemorial our fore fathers during the ancient time have been using plants as
their prospective source of medicine; though in a crude form, to the present age it may look
unhygienic but it works for them to cure various ailments. The conventional herbal medical system
has been practiced internationally from ancient times; as a result, a great volume of literature is
available on the antimicrobial activity of a variety of plant species. It is supposed that drugs developed
from plant sources may have minimum and very slow to induce drug resistance among the pathogens.
From this perception, it is essential to screen a variety of plants with potential antimicrobial activity
for periodical introduction to control the drug resistance among the human pathogens. Bansode and
Chavan (2015), [5].The importance of plants led to research into citronella mosquito repellent plants.
Citronella plant is commonly found under a number of names, such as citronella plant, mosquito
plantGeranium, citrosa Geranium and Pelargonium Citrosum. Though many of its names leave the
impression that it contains citronella, which is a common ingredient in insect repellent, the plant is
actually a variety of scented geranium that simply produces a citronella-like scent when the leaves are
crushed. Citronella is a beautiful perennial clumping grass that emits a strong aroma. That aroma
masks other scents, and keeps mosquitoes from being attracted to things located around it. The
citronella plant has a much stronger aroma than other mosquito repellents that contain citronella, it is
naturally mosquito repellents. A true citronella plant closely resembles lemongrass [3], while this
imposter is larger with foliage that resembles parsley [4] leaves. It also produces lavender blooms in
the summer [2]. AakankshaWany, etal.2013, said that Citronella grass is mainly grown for its