FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF HERBAL MOSQUITO REPELLENT CREAM

Herbal mosquito repellents are natural products designed to repel mosquitoes and other biting insects. They are made from plant-based ingredients, including essential oils, herbs, and other botanical extracts. Mosquito-borne diseases, including malaria, dengue, and Zika, constitute a formidable global health challenge, resulting in approximately 750,000 fatalities annually. This study aims to address this issue by formulating a plant-based mosquito repellent that prioritizes human safety and environmental sustainability. Citronella oil, thuja oil, lemongrass oil, rosemery oil renowned for its distinctive aroma, owes its insect-repellent properties to a combination of key constituents, including citronellal, eugenol, geraniol, and limonene. We used steam distillation and Clavanger apparatus for the extraction of oils. Three formulations, F1, F5 and F6, were developed with varying concentrations of these oils along with other excipients such as Bees wax, Glycerine, Cetyl alcohol, and Distilled water. The preparation involved separate heating and mixing of oil and water phases, followed by their combination to form a consistent cream. The study highlights the potential of natural oils in creating effective and skin-friendly mosquito repellent products. The prepared cream was evaluated for physicochemical parameters, stability, skin irritation, and mosquito repellent activity. The formulation showed good spreadability, skin compatibility, and effective mosquito repellency for up to 3–4 hours.