Many insects including mosquitoes are important vectors of deadly pathogens and parasites, which in the world’s growing human and animal populations can cause serious epidemics and pandemics. Plants provide a large library of phytochemicals, which can be used to replace chemically synthesized insecticides, and utilization of herbal product-based insecticides is one of the best and safest alternatives for mosquito control. Identifying new effective phyto-derived insecticides is important to counter increasing insect resistance to synthetic compounds and provides a safer environment. Solanum genus (Solanaceae family or nightshades) comprises more than 2500 species, the majority of which are widely used as food and traditional medicine. All research publications on insecticidal properties of Solanaceae plants and their phytoconstituents against mosquitoes and other insects published up to July 2020 were systematically analyzed through PubMed/Medline, Scopus, EBSCO, Europe PMC and Google scholar databases, with focus on species containing active phytoconstituents that are biodegradable and environmentally safe. Promising developments in phyto-insecticidal are discussed. The detailed scientific knowledge gathered in the review should assist in rapid development of control and prevention measures utilizing Solanaceae-based insecticides and repellents against a variety of vectors responsible for debilitating and virulent human and animal diseases.

Keywords: Solanaceae, glycoalkaloid, insecticide, phyto-steroid, vector control, volatile oil