CANNABIS SATIVA: DENGUE VIRAL DISEASE- VECTOR CONTROL MEASURES

This review paper highlights medicinal applications of Cannabis sativa particularly used in the form of Cannabis oil as a dengue mosquito repellent. Various tropical and subtropical countries are home to Aedes aegypti (Ae. aegypti), a vector of dengue fever. Dengue is a mosquito borne disease caused by any of the 4 known serotypes of the dengue virus (DENV1-4). Dengue and the more severe dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) have been a very critical public health problem globally. Millions of people especially in the tropical areas get infected with dengue. Dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), and dengue shock syndrome (DSS) represented a spectrum of disease resulting from infection with the dengue virus, which is transmitted primarily by the female mosquito, Aedes aegypti. The spectrum of clinical illness varied from mild symptoms such as fever to death. Cannabis sativa also finds mentions in Ayurveda text as Desi 'Vijaya' and has been recommended for its medicinal properties. Traditional healers with rich knowledge of medicinal plants have been exploited for the purpose of treatment of many patients in the rural parts of India. Essential oils are considered to be potent against a diverse range of viral, fungal and bacterial pathogens. However, clinical trials supporting dengue mosquito repellent activity of Cannabis oil is lacking. Therefore, further research should focus on exploring the molecular mechanisms of essential oils and their individual chemical compounds.