Buletinul Institutului Politehnic din Iași Secția Chimie și Inginerie Chimică ISSN: 2537-2947
ISSN-L: 0254-7104
2025, Volume 71(75), Issue 3 (September), pp. 71 - 84
Bio-Insecticide Impact of Sida Rhombifolia Fabric Treated with
Aloe Vera on Wild Anopheles Gambiae
NSANGOU ABDOURAMANE, University of Douala, Mechanical
Laboratory (LME), ENSET Douala, B.P 1872 Douala, Cameroon; University of
Dschang, Department of Decorative Arts, Institute of Fine Arts
ETEME ENAMA SERGE, University of Yaounde 1, Laboratory of
Parasitology and Ecology, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology,
Faculty of Sciences, B.P 812 Yaounde, Cameroon NKEMAJA DYDIMUS
EFEZE, University of Bamenda, HTTTC Bambili, P.O. Box:39 Bambili,
Cameroon BETENE FABIEN EBANDA, University of Douala,
Mechanical Laboratory (LME), ENSET Douala, B.P 1872 Douala, Cameroon DOINA SIBIESCU, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of
Iaşi, “Cristofor Simionescu” Faculty of Chemical Engineering and
Environmental Protection, Iaşi, Romania,
doina.sibiescu@academic.tuiasi.ro NOAH PIERRE MARCEL ANICET,
University of Douala, Mechanical Laboratory (LME), ENSET Douala, B.P 1872
Douala, Cameroon MEWOLI ARMEL EDWIGE, University of
Douala, Mechanical Laboratory (LME), ENSET Douala, B.P 1872 Douala, Cameroon
BETENE OMGBA ACHILLE DESIRE, University of Douala,
Mechanical Laboratory (LME), ENSET Douala, B.P 1872 Douala, Cameroon NGUM LESLEY NGUM, Researcher, Institute of Medical Research
and Medical Plant Studies, Cameroon NDOUM ANIGUE NGOULOUMA
GASPARD, University of Yaounde 1, Laboratory of Parasitology and
Ecology, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Sciences,
B.P 812 Yaounde, Cameroon
Abstract 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. Keywords:
Sida rhombifolia, Aloe vera, natural insecticide, mosquito
control, Anopheles gambiae, bio-fabric