Development, Characterization and Evaluation of a Stable Eucalyptus globulus Essential Oil–Permethrin Nanoemulsion with Repellent Activity Against Aedes aegypti

Authors

  • Faranak Firoozfar Department of Vector Biology and Control of Diseases, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Iran
  • Mahboubeh Fatemi Department of Vector Biology and Control of Diseases, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Iran
  • Tahereh Sadat Asgarian Department of Vector Biology and Control of Diseases, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Iran
  • Ghazal Tashakori Department of Vector Biology and Control of Diseases, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Iran
  • Fateme Oroojalian Department of Advanced Technologies, School of Medicine, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran
  • Ameneh mohammadi Natural Products and Medicinal Plants Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences (NKUMS), Bojnurd, Iran
  • Hassan Vatandoost Department of Vector Biology and Control of Diseases, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Iran
  • Saeedeh Ebrahimi Department of Vector Biology and Control of Diseases, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Iran
  • Seyed Hassan Moosa-Kazemi Department of Vector Biology and Control of Diseases, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Iran

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18502/jad.v20i2.22409

Keywords:

Essential oil-based nanoemulsion; Insect repellents; Dengue vector; Pyrethrins; Yellow fever mosquito

Abstract

Background: Aedes aegypti is a primary vector of several clinically significant arboviruses. This study aimed to devel­op a nanoemulsion-based co-delivery system incorporating permethrin and Eucalyptus globulus essential oil for mos­quito repellent applications.

Methods: The essential oil composition of E. globulus was determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Nanoemulsions were formulated using a low-energy spontaneous emulsification method and characterized for stability, droplet size distribution and zeta potential. The optimal formulation was further examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and evaluated for cytotoxicity. The repellent activity of eucalyptus essential oil, permethrin, their combinations, and the eucalyptus essential oil-permethrin nanoemulsion was assessed against female Ae. aegypti mosquitoes using the arm-in-cage assay.

Results: The nanoemulsions exhibited a mean droplet size of 93.5 nm and a zeta potential of 60–70 mV, indicating good stability. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the presence of spherical and uniformly dispersed droplets. The eucalyptus essential oil-permethrin nanoemulsion demonstrated strong repellency. A 3% permethrin con­centration in the eucalyptus-permethrin nanoemulsion provided the maximum protection rate at 91.8%. In stability test­ing, the 1.5% version of the same nanoemulsion proved to be the most stable.

Conclusion: Eucalyptus globulus essential oil, especially in nanoemulsion form and combined with permethrin, shows promise as a natural repellent formulation against Ae. aegypti. However, field trials are essential to confirm these find­ings under natural conditions.

Published

2026-08-25

Issue

Volume (20) issue (2)

Section

Articles