FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF HERBAL MOSQUITO REPELLENT USING CANANGA ODORATA (LAM) AND MORINGA OLEIFERA (LAM)

Mosquitoes are among the most disturbing blood-sucking insects afflicting human beings. Several mosquito species from the genera Anopheles, Culex, and Aedes serve as vectors for pathogens responsible for various diseases, including dengue fever, malaria, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, and several other infections. Mosquitoes alone transmit diseases to more than 700 million people, and over 1 million deaths are reported annually across the globe. Therefore, controlling mosquitoes is a significant global public health concern. As most of the mosquito repellent products and devices available in the market are reported to have harmful effects on human beings. The increasing resistance of mosquitoes to synthetic insecticides has led to a growing interest in natural alternatives. This study aims to formulate and evaluate herbal mosquito repellent gel and emulsion using Cananga odorata (Lam.) and Moringa oleifera (Lam.). The essential oils were incorporated into two different formulations: a gel and an emulsion. The gel was prepared using a gelling agent and a suitable solvent, while the emulsion was created using emulsifiers to stabilise the oil-water mixture. Various concentrations of essential oils were tested to determine the optimal concentration for effective mosquito repellent activity.[10,11] The formulations were evaluated for their physicochemical properties, including pH, spreadability, stability, and sensory characteristics. The mosquito repellent efficacy was assessed using a standard repellence test, and the duration of protection was also measured. The results demonstrated that both the gel and emulsion exhibited significant mosquito repellent activity, with the emulsion formulation showing a longer duration of protection. The findings demonstrate that Cananga odorata (Lam.) and Moringa oleifera (Lam.) essential oils are effective natural substitutes for mosquito repellent formulations, offering an eco-friendly and safe approach for mosquito control.