Various terpenoids are capable of enhancing multiple synthetic pyrethoids against Aedes aegypti

The burden of mosquito-borne disease to public health throughout the world cannot be underestimated. Every year, approximately 700,000 people die from complications associated with etiologic disease agents transmitted by mosquitoes. With insecticide-resistant mosquito populations becoming an ever growing concern, the need for new insecticidal formulations is more important than ever. We screened mixtures of various synthetic pyrethroids (permethrin, deltamethrin, B-cyfluthrin, and natural pyrethrins) with various essential oils in order to enhance the efficacy of these pyrethroid insecticides. From this data, we hypothesize that plant essential oils are capable of enhancing the effect of various synthetic pyrethroids by interfering with various detoxification enzymes. In order to better understand this phenomenon, we have begun to isolate fractions from essential oils that are the most promising enhancers of pyrethroid toxicity. This work will implicate various plant-derived compounds which could be paramount in the discovery of novel insecticidal formulations. Moreover, we have begun testing on resistant strains of mosquitoes in order to determine whether or not plant essential oils can enhance the toxicity of pyrethroids in resistant mosquito populations. This work will be important for the development of natural insecticides that may offer the potential of combatting resistant mosquito populations.