Malaria mosquito vector control using plant extracts

Malaria, a mosquito-transmitted disease, is a serious health problem in Africa, accounting for almost one million deaths/year. Current malaria mosquito control is mainly based on chemical interventions, such as impregnated bednets and indoor residual spra ying. Insecticide resistance to the available insecticides is a real threat to sustained malaria control and elimination. An important responsibility of the research community is, therefore, to explore and identify new insecticidal active compounds for us e in vector-borne disease control. The objective of this project is to identify and study traditionally used botanical insecticides and repellents with potential for development of vector control compounds for sustainable malaria control. We will document traditional knowledge of plants used to kill and repel mosquitoes in local communities in the Congo Rainforest. We will continue our investigations of insecticidal activity and repellent effect of the tree species Zanthoxylum heitzii against mosquito vec tors - a work that commenced in 2011 through financial support by FUGE. Further, we will investigate the ecology, spatial distribution, and chemical composition of Z. heitzii. The anticipated applicability of the findings of this project will potentially lead to new insecticides and repellents for vector control in malaria, dengue, and other vector borne diseases. Further, documentation of traditional ethnobotanical knowledge is crucial before such knowledge becomes lost. Knowledge of the natural resource base of potentially commercially interesting harvestable plant species is of importance for development of natural resource management strategies. By securing the natural resource base locally, drawing on human capital and initiatives in communities, and achieving sustainable and effective malaria control, the findings of this project may contribute to promoting employment opportunities, local business, and improved community health.