Daniel Lobo Sousa, Morgana Maria do Carmo Barbosa, Rômulo Carlos Dantas da Cruz, Ivone Antonia de Souza, Rosilene Aparecida de Oliveira, Débora Cardoso da Silva, Simone Andrade Gualberto, Eduardo Carvalho Lira, Janaína Silva de Freitas
The objective was to evaluate the essential oil (EO) from Croton sertanejus leaves against Aedes aegypti, analyzing spatial repellency (SR), topical effective concentration (EC), EC protection time, oviposition deterrence, and preliminary toxicity in Mus musculus. Additionally, the chemical composition of the oil was characterized. Results showed a significant SR of 0.2 starting from 1 mg/cm2. The ECs required to repel 50% and 99% of the mosquitoes were 3 and 109 mg/cm2, respectively. The EC of 109 mg/cm2 provided 64.8% protection against landings within 360 min and 100% protection against blood-feeding for 150 min. The EO significantly reduced oviposition at water volumes of 20 mL (beginning at 2.5 mg/mL) and 500 mL (beginning at 0.005 mg/mL); however, no significant effect was observed at 1000 mL. No mortality occurred in Mus musculus. However, at a dose of 2000 mg/kg, a significant reduction in brain weight was observed, while at 300 mg/kg, an increase in lung and kidney weights occurred. At 2000 mg/kg, there were also elevated levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, alongside a reduction in creatinine. Regarding the chemical composition, eucalyptol was the main component. Therefore, these findings underscore the need for further validation.