Phytochemical and Mosquito Repellent activities of <i>Citrus sinensis, Citrus reticulate and Citrus limon</i> Leaves

Given their primary role as the cause of numerous vector-borne illnesses, mosquitoes constitute a major contributor to Nigeria's disease  burden. In an effort to slow the disease's spread, a variety of techniques are currently being employed to manage the vector. Plants are  considered as a rich source of phytochemical and they may be an alternative source of mosquito control agents in mosquito control program due to their excellent larvicidal and adulticidal properties. The study was aimed to evaluate the phytochemical and repellent  activities of Citrus sinensis, Citrus reticulate and Citrus limon leaves. The extracts were subjected to phytochemical screening in order to  identify the phytochemical constituents of the plant species using standard methods. The extracts were evaluated for its repellent activities against female Anopheles using the human – bait technique. The results of phytochemical screening showed the presence of  alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, tannins and carbohydrate. Concentrations of plant extracts (2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 mg/mL) used exhibited  repellent activity against female Anopheles mosquitoes which indicates that the methanol extract of Citrus reticulate was more effective  in exhibiting a repellency action against the mosquito tested when compared to the control. The result showed that the selected plant  extracts had repellent activity against Anopheles mosquitoes tested with different complete protection time (CPT) when compared with  the control. The percentage repellency of Citrus sinensis (36%), Citrus reticulate (20%) and Citrus limon (35%) It has also showed low  biting activity compare to control with highest biting deterrence recorded for the selected concentrations.