NATURAL MOSQUITO REPELLENT COIL

About Author: Naresh Sharma,
M.pharma (Pharmacognosy)
Department of Pharmacognosy, Lachoo Memorial College of Science and Technology,
Jodhpur, India.

ABSTRACT
Due to Lack of knowledge regarding the toxic effects of synthetic compound in mosquito repellents,synthetic mosquito repellents are widely used. The prolong use of synthetic mosquito repellents shows many side effects like neurotoxic hazards, immunotoxic hazards, skin allergy, seizures, eye irritation, insomnia, impaired congnitive function, cough, sneezing, headache, asthma, bronchial irritation, itching,ear, nose and throat pain, dermatitis, reproductive dysfunction, development impairment and cancer, death. Synthetic mosquito repellents contains very toxic compounds such as DEET, picaridin, permethrin, P?Menthane?3, 8?diol (PMD) etc. These draw backs created a pathway for herbal mosquito repellents coil. Large numbers of herbal drugs are used in these mosquito repellents like Neem, Vekhand, Tulsi, Ajowan, Raal, etc along with other natural ingredients. The efforts are made to study the traditional beliefs from scientific approach. The main aim of this product development is to provide employment to the rural youth and to promote the use of herbal mosquito repellent coil as complete safe alternate of chemical repellents.

INTRODUCTION
Keep mosquitoes at bay with of safe and highly effective herbal mosquito repellents. These natural mosquito repellents are derived exclusively from herbal extracts and natural oils, which repel mosquitoes and other household insects. They work by acting as an irritant when mosquitoes come in contact. A mosquito is a two-winged insect whose females suck the blood of humans and animals by piercing their skin. The result is an itchy raised bump, referred to as a mosquito bite. Although the bite itself is not dangerous, mosquitoes can carry and pass along diseases, such as malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever, Rift Valley fever and the West Nile virus, which can have deadly consequences. The herbal mosquito repellents are non-toxic and eco-friendly - a totally safe herbal preparation with pleasing fragrance.

Disease Cause By Mosquito
Mosquitoes are a vector agent that carries disease-causing viruses and parasites from person to person without catching the disease themselves. The principal mosquito borne diseases are the viral diseases yellow fever, dengue fever and Chikungunya, transmitted mostly by the Aedes aegypti, and malaria carried by the genus Anopheles.

NEED OF NATURAL REPELLENT COIL
In India synthetic mosquito repellent coil are widely used. The prolong use of synthetic mosquito repellents shows many side effects like neurotoxic hazards, immunotoxic hazards, skin allergy, seizures, eye irritation, insomnia, impaired congnitive function, cough, sneezing, headache, asthma, bronchial irritation, itching, ear, nose and throat pain, dermatitis, reproductive dysfunction, development impairment and cancer.

Table 1: Chemical producing toxicity in synthetic coil

Table 2: Survey on health risks of commonly used repellents

*Giddiness, vomiting, nausea, allergy, etc.
Note: A variety of repellents were used routinely to protect from mosquito nuisance. Of the total 1109 persons
In the view of above scenario a process technology to produce an alternative, safe, non-toxic, eco-friendly natural mosquito repellent is required. Finally synthetic mosquito repellent is replaced by natural mosquito repellent.

Benefits of natural mosquito repellent coil
a. They are better replacement of synthetic chemical based coil by natural ingredients which are safe and ecofriendly.
b. It do not have any adverse health effects.
c. It can be prepared under eco-friendly processing without disturbing eco-system but synthetic will not be produced.

OBJECTIVE
To promote the use of natural mosquito coil as a alternative of synthetic coil. Its use does not cause any health hazards and disturb our eco-system.

INDIAN SCENARIO
The current Indian market for various repellents is in the range of Rs 500–600 crores (US $ 12–15 million) with annual growth of 7 to 10%. This increase in growth rate is the result of constant environmental degradation, leading to the creation of mosquito-breeding grounds and also the fact that people’s capacity to buy repellents is increasing steadily. Marketing of repellents in India is well organized, so that many brands can be found throughout the Country.

FORMULATION PROSPECTIVE
Following ingredients are involved:
A. Active ingredient
B. Binding agent
C. Natural base/diluents
D. Fragrance
E. Smouldering agent
Active ingredient:
• Neem
• Tulsi
• Ajowan
• Peppermint oil
• Lemon grass oil
• Castor oil
• Clove oil
Binding agent:
• maida
• guggullu
Natural base/fillers:
• Cow duct
• Coal powder
Fragrance:
• Peppermint oil
• Clove oil
• Castor oil
• Lemon grass oil
Smouldering agent:
• Raal
• Rice powder
• guggullu

TABLE 3: Plant used for mosquito repellent

PRODUCTION METHODOLOGY

Selection of drug Material: First of all Herbal drugs are selected on the basis of their Pharmacological properties and Easy availability.           

Collection of crude drug: The crude drugs are collected from medicinal garden of lachoo Memorial College of science and technology, Jodhpur Pharmacy College and Marwar college of Pharmacy at Jodhpur Rajasthan.

Formulation of natural mosquito repellent coil: for preparation of mosquito repellent coil all required ingredient are mixed in base according to their proportion.

Table 4: Optimum composition of raw material

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The natural mosquito repellent coil is an excellent option to replace synthetic coil.The preparation was evaluated for different parameters like repellent time, quantity of ash, irritation. At last we can say that application of natural mosquito repellent coil do not cause any health hazards as with the synthetic ones.

CONCLUSION
This product is not only mosquito repellent but also hygienic, aesthetic and medicinal properties the present product is a source of employment generation in rural India.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. ehow.com/about_6546277_natural-mosquito-repellent-plant.html#ixzz1CmiNAhxn accessed on may 2010.
2. Sharma V.P. health hazards of mosquito repellent and safe alternatives, 2001, 341-345
3. Pullaiah T, Medicinal plants in India, by regency publication, New Delhi, 2 vol. 2002.

Reference ID: PHARMATUTOR-ART-1044

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