Development and Study of Plant Based Mosquito Repellent Cakes in Combination with Natural Binders

Background and Objective: Plants are perceived as a safe and trusted means of mosquito bite prevention. Many plant extracts and oils repel mosquitoes, with their effect lasting from several minutes to several hours. The present investigation is aimed to evaluate the mosquito repellent activity of Calendula officinalis (Marigold leaves), Citrus madurensis (Calamondin leaves), Carica papaya (Papaya leaves), Origanum vulgare (Oregano leaves), in combination with natural binders.

Materials and Methods: In present work we have produced an effective and purely natural mosquito repellent cakes using marigold leaves, calamondin leaves, papaya leaves, oregano leaves, and to determine if the component present on them are suitable as mosquito repellent. To recognize this new combination and in addition use of natural binder in making these mosquito cakes is innovation of method. Evaluation was carried out in a net cage (45 cm×30 cm×25 cm) containing 100 blood starved mosquitoes.

Results: Study provides an herbal repellent with long lasting protection, safe for human life, and human with no side effect. The combination Paste of leaves + charcoal + 20% cow dung was found to be more repellency against mosquitoes under study.

Conclusion: Discovery of natural products, with potent phyto-constituents that have insecticidal properties, may help overcome problems of chemical insecticide resistance. Nature is the best combinatorial chemist to offer numerous natural products compounds from medicinal plants which can be effective as medicines, antibacterial, antifungal, insect repellent, cosmetics etc.