Developed by researchers from Uganda and Wales, the lotion is made from locally grown catnip and matched the performance of commercial repellents in laboratory and field trials. The project aims to reduce costs while creating jobs through local production.

Credits: Unsplash; Author: Ronin;

The lotion contains nepetalactone, a natural compound in catnip that repels mosquitoes. Researchers found a six percent formulation was as effective as DEET, while a two percent version was only slightly less effective. The project plans to scale up production and sell the lotion at a low cost, creating a self-sustaining community enterprise in malaria-endemic regions.