Production of Mosquito Repellent Body Lotion From the Species Ocimum sanctum
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2011
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka
Abstract
Note: See the PDF Version
Mosquito-transmitted diseases such as Dengue Paver, Malaria, Yellow Fever and Arboreal Encephilitides are major concerns, all over the world. Every year, it is developing new strains of mosquitoes and infecting viruses are reported that lead to the failures iii treatments. The number of dengue dearth reported for the first seven months of 2010 in Sri Lanka is about 165 and the number of dengue patients reported during the sauce period is about 34,000 (Ministry of Health, Sri lanka).The main precaution for these infections is prevention of mosquito bites using repellent methods such as mosquito coils which is also reported to have side effects.
Mosquito repellent ability of natural plant substances was well known for hundreds of years. In Sri Lanka plants such as Osmium sanctum, has been used front the ancient times.0. snuciiii›i (holy basil) is one of the common plant species which is having the mosquito repellent ability (Shankar e/ ml. 2009). The active compound of this plant contains 7% eugenol, 4% caryophl lene - 3.8 nig, 1 % tritcrpenoic acids including Uralic acid, oleaiiolic acid, and rosmariiiic acid (Prakash & Gupta, 2005). 0. sanctum belongs to the family Labiate characterized by square stem and specific aroma. Several medicinal properties have been attributed to the plant in Ayurveda and unani systems of need icine. Juice of the leaves is used as demulcent, stimulant and expectorant (Shankar e/ nl., 2009). 0. sanciwn is a common weed in Sri Lanka which is highly available and a low cost value added product can be produced in commercial scale.
Aeilcs species and Culex species are two common mosquito species act as vectors respectively for dengue and filarium. Current study is on production of a herbal based mosquito repellent body lotion which can be applied to human without any side effects to assure non toxicity and non-irritancy.
Description
Keywords
Biotechnology, Bioprocess Technology, Agriculture