Uganda-developed catnip lotion shows promise as affordable mosquito repellent

A locally produced catnip-based lotion developed and tested in Uganda has shown mosquito-repelling performance comparable to DEET, potentially offering a cheaper malaria-control tool for communities that cannot afford commercial repellents.

DEET, short for N, N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide, is one of the world’s most widely used and effective mosquito repellents. The chemical is commonly applied to the skin to prevent mosquito bites and is a key protection tool for people living in or travelling to malaria-prone areas.

The Uganda-Wales research team found that a lotion containing 6 per cent catnip oil performed as well as a 15 per cent  DEET formulation during field trials, while a lower-strength 2 per cent catnip oil lotion showed only a slight reduction in effectiveness.

Researchers tested the different formulations by measuring mosquito landings on volunteers’ legs during evening exposure in eastern Uganda. Participants used either the catnip-based lotions, DEET, or placebo creams, allowing the team to compare how well each product reduced mosquito contact.

Catnip, a herb from the mint family, contains nepetalactone, a compound known for triggering a response in cats but also found to have insect-repelling properties. Although the compound has been studied previously, the Uganda trial focused on developing a practical formulation that could be produced and distributed locally.

According to Dr Simon Scofield, one of the researchers, the findings showed the potential of catnip oil as an affordable alternative to existing repellents.

“We found that a 6 per cent catnip oil was just as effective as DEET, and the 2 per cent catnip oil was only marginally less effective than that,” he said.

The motivation behind developing the lotion, Scofield added, was to create a product that could be produced locally and remain affordable for communities most affected by malaria.

“DEET is out of the price bracket for most rural Ugandan subsistence farmers, so buying commercially available mosquito repellents is just not practicable,” he said.

The study also examined whether the lotion could be manufactured through a community enterprise model. According to researchers, expanding production could create a system where local workers participate in making and distributing the repellent while generating income.

“We wanted to make a repellent, which is highly efficacious, but also allows local people to be involved in the production cycle so that it costs a minimal amount of money,” Scofield said.

Malaria remains a major public health challenge, particularly in African countries where children account for a large share of deaths from the disease. Researchers have warned that rising resistance to insecticides and existing malaria treatments has increased the need for additional tools to reduce transmission.