Efficacy Studies - Natural Insect Repellent & Anti-bacterial Properties of Para-menthane 3, 8 diol (PMD)
Efficacy Studies - Natural Insect Repellent
Para-menthane 3, 8 diol (PMD) has been extensively studied and vast data-sets supported by independent and peer-reviewed studies and analysis.
MOSQUITOES
Carroll (2007)
Species: Aedes, Anopheles, Culex
Results: The 30% Citriodiol® spray formulation provided up to 8.25 hours of complete protection (CPT), a standard measuring 100% protection / repellency.
Blackwell (2013)
Species: Stegomyia (formerly Aedes)
Results: 360 minutes of CPT, significantly greater than the CPT for the other spray products tested, and 70% repellency was maintained to 6 hours.
Martínez de Murguia (2018)
Species: Aedes albopictus (Stegomyia albopicta)
Results: The 30% Citriodiol® spray formulation provided 8 hours of complete protection (CPT) and 95% repellency was maintained to 10 hours.
MIDGES
Blackwell (2013)
Species: Culicoides spp. biting midges
Results: Complete protection for 2 hours and a mean 65% protection at 4 hours.
TICKS
Carroll (2002)
Species: Ixodes
Results: 95% repellency for the lotion over the 6hrs and 100% repellency for the spray for the first 4 hours, dropping to 95% for the remaining 2hrs.
Weisser (2002)
Species: Ixodes
Results: On average 90% of Ixodes ricinus were actively repelled.
FLEAS
Insect Services GmbH (2020)
Species: Ctenocephalides felis (cat flea)
Results: 100% repellency .
CONSUMERREPORTS.ORG
A recent independent study by US Consumer Reports tested a lemon eucalyptus-based insect repellent containing 30% Citriodiol. The results showed that this formulation provided between 7 and 8 hours of protection against Aedes and Culex mosquitoes and deer ticks, performing comparably to DEET-based products
Efficacy Studies - Anti-bacterial Properties
Para-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD) is known primarily for its insect repellent properties, but there is growing interest in its potential as an antimicrobial agent.
Research has indicated that PMD and essential oils containing PMD can be effective against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Some of the bacteria that PMD can target include:
- Staphylococcus aureus: A common Gram-positive bacterium that can cause skin infections, respiratory infections, and food poisoning.
- Escherichia coli: A Gram-negative bacterium often associated with foodborne illnesses and urinary tract infections.
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa: A Gram-negative bacterium known for causing infections in wounds and burns, as well as respiratory system infections.
This broad-spectrum activity is comparable to some traditional antibiotics, but more research is needed to fully establish its range of effectiveness against various bacterial strains.
The antimicrobial properties of PMD are attributed to its ability to disrupt bacterial cell membranes, leading to cell lysis and death. This mechanism is similar to other essential oils that contain high levels of bioactive compounds. The mechanism is similar to some other natural antimicrobial compounds but differs from many conventional antibiotics that target specific cellular processes like protein synthesis or cell wall formation.
This antimicrobial properties of PMD makes it a valuable component in formulations designed for hygiene and infection control.
Long-lasting and continuous protection against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)
It is already known that PMD kills many viruses on the skin - including the ordinary coronavirus, HIV, Hepatitis, West Nile and more. The UK government’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory released a study showing the citriodiol-based spray can kill SARS-CoV-2. In the study, which has not yet been externally peer-reviewed. The team adopted two approaches of the antiviral activity of the product – when directly applied to the virus as a liquid drop and assessment of the product after application to latex synthetic skin.
First Trial - Rapid Virus Inactivation : The initial experiment revealed that even when slightly diluted, the product achieved at least 99.99% inactivation of coronavirus particles within a mere 60 seconds. In a sample containing 10,000 live virus particles, the number of active particles plummeted to just 10 after a brief 10-minute exposure to the product.
Second Trial - Surface Decontamination : The second trial focused on the product's effectiveness on surfaces. To ensure accurate results, researchers eliminated any alcohol content that could potentially skew the findings. The results were equally impressive:
- Almost instantaneous reduction of virus particles by up to 99%
- Continued inactivation of remaining particles over a four-hour period
- After four hours, approximately 99.99% of virus particles were rendered inactive