The essential oil of aerial parts of Ruta graveolens L. (Rutaceae) was obtained by hydrodistillation and its chemical profile was identified using gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Undecan-2-one (43.2%±0.8), nonan-2-one (27.9%±0.8) and 2-nonyl acetate (10.6%±0.2) represent the main constituents of the oil. Ruta graveolens has been used externally against scabies, lice and fleas and to repel insects on livestock farm animals [1]. We have undertaken a collaborative research effort to discover new natural compounds for personal protection and control of mosquitoes. We evaluated R. graveolens essential oil and its major compounds for mosquito repellent and larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti L. Rut a oil showed repellent activity down to a minimum effective dosage (MED) of 0.187mg/cm 2 using cloth patch assay and undecan-2-one showed the better repellent activity with MED of 0.109mg/cm 2 . In larval bioassays, R. graveolens oil had LD 50 value of 21.25 (19.6–23.7) ppm and LD 90 34.35 (30.3–41.1) ppm and undecan-2-one had a significant toxic effect with LC 50 value of 14.37 (12.67–16.26) ppm against 1-d-old A. aegypti larvae. These results indicate that constituents within R. graveolens oil may be useful as mosquito control agents. Acknowledgements. This study was supported by a grant from the Deployed War-Fighter Protection (DWFP) Research Program and the U.S. Department of Defense through the Armed Forces Pest Management Board (AFPMB) and USDA, ARS grant No. 56–6402–1-612. Reference: [1] Miguel ES. (2003) Economic Botany 57(2): 231–244.
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