Contrasted Ethnobotanical and Literature Knowledge of Anti-Mosquito Plants from Guadeloupe

The <i>Aedes aegypti</i> mosquito, vector of dengue, is a major public health threat in the Caribbean. In Guadeloupe, where dengue outbreaks occur frequently, traditional plant-based remedies are part of the local heritage but remain poorly documented. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-mosquito potential of 38 Guadeloupean plants through an ethnobotanical survey. A semi-structured online questionnaire was conducted over five months, targeting the plant knowledge of residents. Inclusion/exclusion criteria were applied to identify and validate relevant species. Ethnobotanical indices such as Frequency of Citation (FC), Fidelity Level (FL), and Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) were calculated. Out of the 38 surveyed plants, 22 were confirmed for their traditional anti-mosquito uses. The most cited species included <i>Cymbopogon citratus</i> (93.3%), <i>Artocarpus altilis</i> (25%), and <i>Pimenta racemosa</i> (18.3%). Comparative analysis with existing literature showed that 12 of these plants had not been previously reported for vector control. This highlights the value of ethnobotanical approaches for discovering alternative, eco-friendly vector control options and the importance of preserving traditional knowledge. The study reveals both the high potential of Guadeloupean flora and the risk of cultural erosion, supporting further research into the bioactive compounds of the most cited species.

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Journal
Biology
Published
2025-07-19
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14070888
Primary Topic
Mosquito-borne diseases and control
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Contrasted Ethnobotanical and Literature Knowledge of Anti-Mosquito Plants from Guadeloupe

Anubis Vega-Rúa, Yolène Duchaudé, Muriel Sylvestre, Gerardo Cebrián‐Torrejón et al.
Biology
Mosquito-borne diseases and control
article

Contrasted Ethnobotanical and Literature Knowledge of Anti-Mosquito Plants from Guadeloupe

Anubis Vega-Rúa, Yolène Duchaudé, Muriel Sylvestre, Gerardo Cebrián‐Torrejón, Laura Brelle
article en

Abstract

The <i>Aedes aegypti</i> mosquito, vector of dengue, is a major public health threat in the Caribbean. In Guadeloupe, where dengue outbreaks occur frequently, traditional plant-based remedies are part of the local heritage but remain poorly documented. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-mosquito potential of 38 Guadeloupean plants through an ethnobotanical survey. A semi-structured online questionnaire was conducted over five months, targeting the plant knowledge of residents. Inclusion/exclusion criteria were applied to identify and validate relevant species. Ethnobotanical indices such as Frequency of Citation (FC), Fidelity Level (FL), and Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) were calculated. Out of the 38 surveyed plants, 22 were confirmed for their traditional anti-mosquito uses. The most cited species included <i>Cymbopogon citratus</i> (93.3%), <i>Artocarpus altilis</i> (25%), and <i>Pimenta racemosa</i> (18.3%). Comparative analysis with existing literature showed that 12 of these plants had not been previously reported for vector control. This highlights the value of ethnobotanical approaches for discovering alternative, eco-friendly vector control options and the importance of preserving traditional knowledge. The study reveals both the high potential of Guadeloupean flora and the risk of cultural erosion, supporting further research into the bioactive compounds of the most cited species.

BiologyVol. 14(7)
Institut Pasteur de la Guadeloupe (GP), Université des Antilles (GP)
Interreg
Reduced inequalities
Openalex Percentile: Top 75%
Mosquito-borne diseases and control
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