Comparison of the Fly Repellent Characteristics of Golden grass (Helichrysum arenarium) and Basil (Ocimium basilicum) Plants

The use of synthetic chemicals to control insects and arthropods leads to some serious concerns for the environment and human health. As an alternative to these synthetics, the use of natural products which are environmentally friendly and have good activity is becoming widespread. Among these, various researches have been carried out to evaluate the repellent properties of essential oils of various plants. Volatile oils are hydrocarbon mixtures with different functional group diversity and their repellent activity depends on the presence of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. However, in some cases, these chemicals work synergistically to enhance their activity. In this study, fly repellent properties of the Golden grass (Helichrysum arenarium) and Basil (Ocimum basilicum) plants were compared. It has been found that basil is more effective when the fly repellent properties of essential oils of Golden Grass and Basil are compared