Essential oil based controlled-release non-toxic evaporating tablet provides effective repellency against Musca domestica.

Abstract Housefly, Musca (M) domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae) is a pervasive insect that transmits a variety of pathogens to humans and livestock. Although numerous synthetic pesticides are available to combat houseflies, their ecological and toxicological concerns have led to the exploration of natural products as safer alternatives. The present work was designed to develop an essential oil based controlled-release evaporating tablet (EO-CRT) and investigate its repellency against M. domestica. This study assesses the toxicological impacts of the EO-CRT following its sub-chronic inhalation exposure. Briefly, repellent activity of fourteen essential oils viz. lemon grass, bergamot, mentha, basil, camphor, lavender, clove, patchouli, rosemary, cinnamon, eucalyptus, citronella, jasmine and wild turmeric against M. domestica were screened using the ‘Y’-tube olfactometer. The synergistic activity of the best four oils, under preliminary screening, were further evaluated by double and triple blending. The best combination of three oils were finalized for optimization with 17-run, 3-factor, 3-level Box-Behnken design. This was then employed to construct polynomial models and predict the best optimized formulation EO-CRT. EO-CRT was characterized by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS). The efficacy of the EO-CRT against M. domestica was assessed by attraction and repellent assay. Chest X-ray, histopathology and scanning electron microscopy of the exposed lung was performed to study EO-CRT's sub-chronic toxicity on Wistar rats. The EO-CRT showed slow release up to a period of 10 days at room temperature, exhibited 100% repellency (%Error=1.237) against M. domestica and was found to possess all the characteristics of an ideal formulation. Sub-chronic toxicity study further revealed the non-toxic nature of the EO-CRT. Thus, our study provides an assurance that the formulated EO-CRT could be effective not only in repelling the nuisance pest, M. domestica, in human dwellings, but also in minimizing the mechanical transmission of pathogens by it.