Abstract
The hydrodistilled leaf essential oil (EO) of Tagetes panda L. was analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. The main components of the oil were characterized as caryophyllene oxide (18.4%), beta-caryophyllene (18.0%) and spathulenol (9.1%). The EO was screened for its biting deterrent activity against Aedes aegypti L. using the in vitro K&D module system. T. panda EO exhibited good biting deterrent activity. The results suggest that these sesquitervenes may contribute to biting deterrent activity, but the role of minor components cannot be excluded. T. panda EO also showed 100, 90 and 10% mortality at dosages of 125, 62.5 and 31.25 ppm, respectively, in 1-day-old larvae of Ae. aegypti.