Bio-Insecticide Impact of Sida Rhombifolia Fabric Treated with Aloe Vera on Wild Anopheles Gambiae

Malaria is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes carrying Plasmodium parasites. In Cameroon, mosquito control primarily relies on long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs), which may cause skin irritation and respiratory discomfort due to synthetic pyrethroids. This study explores a potential natural alternative: weft-knitted Sida rhombifolia fabrics treated with Aloe vera gel. Nine (9) samples were tested, including a positive control (permethrin-treated net), a negative control (untreated net), and seven experimental fabrics: untreated Sida rhombifolia fabric, fabric treated with Aloe vera, the same fabric washed twice, permethrin-treated Sida fabric, and Aloe vera-treated fabrics stored for 1, 2, and 3 months. Two WHO-standard bioassays were conducted: cone tests (3-minute exposure) and cylinder tests (15-minute exposure), using wild Anopheles gambiae populations from Yaoundé. Fabrics treated with Aloe vera showed promising mortality rates, reaching up to 22% in cone tests and 25% in cylinder tests, comparable to those of permethrin. Efficacy declined slightly over time, particularly after 3 months of storage or brief contact exposure. These findings suggest that Aloe vera-treated Sida rhombifolia textiles could serve as natural, biodegradable alternatives to LLINs, subject to further optimisation for long-term stability and field deployment.