Researchers have found that a locally produced catnip-based lotion can repel mosquitoes as effectively as Deet, offering a potentially affordable tool in the fight against malaria. The study discovered that nepetalactone, the compound that gives catnip its feline-attracting properties, also repels mosquitoes seeking blood. In field tests in eastern Uganda, volunteers wearing a 6% catnip oil lotion saw results comparable to a standard 15% Deet repellent, while a 2% formulation was only marginally less effective. The study, presented at a conference in Florence, was led by researchers seeking a low-cost alternative for rural communities where commercial repellents remain unaffordable. The researchers designed the catnip lotion to be locally producible and low-cost, with plans to sell it through a community enterprise for sustainable income.
The Guardian