The bioefficacy of Piper aduncum L. essential oil formulated in aerosol cans was
evaluated against Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in a simulated room. The aerosol spray
test was based on the Malaysian test standard for aerosol (MS 1221:1991UDC 632.982.2
modified from WHO 2009 methodology) and examined the knockdown effect within 20
minutes of exposure. Mortality rate after 24 hour of holding period was also determined. A
commercial aerosol spray (0.09% prallethrin 0.05% d-phenothrin) was also tested as a
comparison. Our results showed that the knockdown effect of the commercial aerosol spray
and P. aduncum essential oil spray (8% and 10% concentrations) was significantly higher in
Ae. albopictus adult females, when compared with that of Ae. aegypti adult females (P<0.05).
There was a significant difference in knockdown between commercial aerosol spray and
essential oil spray for both Aedes spp. (P<0.05). The essential oil induced significantly higher
mortality in Ae. aegypti (80%) than in Ae. albopictus (71.6%) (P<0.05). The commercial aerosol
spray caused 97.7% and 86.5% mortality against Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus respectively
(P<0.05). Based on these data, P. aduncum essential oil has the potential to be used as an
aerosol spray against Aedes spp.