Efficacy of Adhatoda zeylanica Medik. leaf as mosquito repellent

Abstract

Herbal products are cheaper and effective than chemical based mosquito repellent, therefore an attempt has been made to prepare a 100 % herbal product based on traditional practices and rural wisdom. Present study was conducted for effective utilization of Basak (Adhatoda zeylanica Medik. syn. A. vasica Nees) as a mosquito repellent. Seven varieties of products were prepared from its leaves with different natural compositions. Study results revealed that maximum percentage of weight loss with V₇ variety followed by V₁ and lowest in variety V₆. Almost all varieties of bio-cake burned within 35 – 45 minutes except variety V₅, which took 60 minutes to complete burning. Variety V₆showed highest ash content (7.70 g) and lowest ash was recorded for V₅ (1.67 g) after complete burning. The emission of CO₂, CO and O₃was recorded as V₂>V₄>V₃>V₅ ≈ V₇>V₁>V₆; V₅>V₆>V₁>V₇>V₄>V₂>V₃ and V₅>V₃ ≈ V₄ ≈ V₇>V₂>V₁>V_6, respectively during burning of bio-cake. On the other hand knock down experiment demonstrated that almost all varieties of bio-cakes are effective as mosquito repellent. But only two varieties (V₆ and V₇) caused more than 50 % knock down. Finally the emission of gaseous product was compared with a synthetic mosquito coil.