Other Activities
Patchouli oil main constituent, patchouli alcohol was found to be toxic and repellent against Formosan subterranean termites. The Stomoxys calcitrans (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae) repellency of 21 essential oils (EOs) alone or in combination with Calophyllum inophyllum L. (Clusiaceae), nut oil (tamanu oil) examined using an exposed human hand bioassay. Results were compared with those of commonly used repellent N, N-diethyl-3- methylbenzamide (DEET). In tests with six human male volunteers at a dose of 0.5 mg/cm2, patchouli (protection time (PT), 3.67 h) was the most effective EO but less active than DEET (4.47h). The undiluted oil of P. cablin showed most effective and provided 2h of complete repellency against Culex quinquefasciatus and Anopheles dirus when compare with other essential oils.