Homegrown catnip lotion proves to be an effective mosquito repellent in rural Uganda

Plant researchers from Wales and Uganda have collaborated on a community enterprise project in rural Uganda, becoming the first to create an affordable and highly effective mosquito repellent distilled from locally grown catnip plants. Laboratory and field experiments reveal that the catnip-based repellent skin lotion is just as effective as DEET and offers a much cheaper alternative for preventive action against mosquito-borne diseases in malaria-endemic regions, while also providing new economic opportunities for local Ugandans.