What is Citriodiol and can it protect us from coronavirus?

29 April 2020, 11:47

Citriodiol is found in insect repellents and is believed to protect from Covid-19 too
Citriodiol is found in insect repellents and is believed to protect from Covid-19 too. Picture: Getty

Mosi-guard and Citriodiol have been linked to protecting us against Covid-19 - but what is it? Does it really work? And can you buy it from Boots?

It has been announced that Citriodiol, the active ingredient found in insect repellent like Mosi-Guard, is being tested by Britain's defence laboratory for whether it can kill the strain of coronavirus found in Covid-19.

British troops are already being given the insect repellent to test the effectiveness against the virus.

Citriodiol has already been shown to protect against other forms of coronavirus. But can it protect against Covid-19? What is Citriodiol? And where can you buy it?

Follow our coronavirus liveblog here

Citriodiol is already being tested on the British army for Covid-19
Citriodiol is already being tested on the British army for Covid-19. Picture: Getty

What is Citriodiol?

Citridiol is the active ingredient usually found in insect repellents.

It is made using oil from the leaves and twigs of the eucalyptus citriodora tree, which is found in Asia, South America and Africa.

Citridiol is used in the repelling ingredient in the insect spray Mosi-Guard.

It is understood that only insect repellents containing citriodiol and not containing deet may have the potential to protect against the novel coronavirus.

The product dissolves over time, and is usually used to add a layer of protection to skin to prevent insect bites.

READ MORE: Coronavirus testing: Who can be tested as millions more Covid-19 tests become available

Citriodiol is already known to protect against some forms of Covid-19
Citriodiol is already known to protect against some forms of Covid-19. Picture: PA

Listen & subscribe: Global Player | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify

READ MORE: Coronavirus: John Lewis 'highly likely' to shut stores following lockdown

Does Citriodiol prevent coronavirus?

Citridiol is known to have anti-viral properties, and has previously worked to prevent SARS 1, the strain of coronavirus that cause the 2003 epidemic.

Research is still being conducted into whether it can prevent the specific strain behind the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Further work is required to determine its full effectiveness, acquisition and distribution," the Ministry of Defence has said.

The company that makes Citriodiol is calling on the government to formally test the product after claiming it could offer better protection against coronavirus.

Jacqueline Watson, managing director of Citrefine International Ltd, said: "What we can say is that we do feel there is a very good chance it could work against this virus but it does of course need to be thoroughly tested."

READ MORE: Coronavirus: Almost 18,000 more people could die from cancer due to virus impact

Where can I buy Citriodiol?

Mosi-guard containing Citridiol is not stocked at either Boots or Superdrug.

However, it can be purchased on the Mosi-Guard website and Amazon.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Counterterrorism officials found that Axel Rudakubana's alarming internet searches were not signs of the Southport killer becoming radicalised, but just signs he was interested in current affairs.

Southport killer Axel Rudakubana's terror threat was dismissed by counterterrorism officers as 'interest in world news'

The CIA now believes Covid-19 is more likely to have come from a lab than jumped from animals to humans.

CIA believes Covid-19 'more likely' to have started in lab - but it has low confidence in its conclusion

President Donald Trump speaks about the economy during an event.

Trump sacks 17 independent watchdogs in ‘chilling' overnight purge 'paving way for widespread corruption'

Bird flu cases have surged in the UK.

Bird flu outbreak leaves England and Scotland under 'biosecurity zone' as cases soar

Holly Willoughby has broken her silence after the TV presenter was the victim of a failed kidnapping and murder plot.

Holly Willoughby breaks silence on 'tough' year in first interview since twisted failed kidnapping plot

A new yellow weather warning for snow and ice began at 6pm and will remain in place until 10am on Sunday covering Northern Ireland and large parts of Scotland.

Met Office issues fresh yellow weather warnings as Storm Éowyn continues to wreak havoc on Britain

Lamduan Armitage, who was known as the ‘Lady of the Hills’ victim, was found dead in Yorkshire back in 2004.

Brit husband of 'Lady of the Hills' detained by Thai police 21 years after wife found dead

An 83-year-old man has been charged with murder after an 84-year-old woman was found dead in her home on Kingsbury Avenue, Dunstable.

Man, 83, charged with murder of 84-year-old woman found dead in Dunstable home

Leo Ross, 12, was murdered in a stabbing in Birmingham earlier this week.

Boy, 14, charged with murder of Leo Ross after 12-year-old stabbed

Wes Streeting has slammed Nigel Farage as a "declinist"

Wes Streeting brands Nigel Farage a 'miserabilist' as he warns of threat from the populist right

One man, 20-year-old Kacper Dudek, was killed when a tree fell on his car in Co Donegal, Ireland.

Storm Éowyn 'strongest to hit UK in 10 years' as man killed after tree fell on his car named

Three teenagers were killed in the crash.

Three teenagers die after car hits tree in Wakefield with one in critical condition

The British Museum in London

British Museum forced to close after alleged IT attack by former employee as police arrest suspect

WHSmith is closing 17 stores

WHSmith in talks to sell all of its high street stores in £1.5 billion deal

TOPSHOT-PALESTINIAN-ISRAEL-CONFLICT-CEASEFIRE-HOSTAGE

Four Israeli hostages reunited with families in second exchange of ceasefire deal as 200 Palestinian prisoners released

Police launch murder probe after body of girl, 6, found in house with dead father

Mother's 'world has ended' after six-year-old daughter found dead with father - as police launch murder probe