Abstract

PREPARATION OF MOSQUITO REPELLENTS USING ORANGE PEELS AND PEPPERMINT

*M. Sravani, K. Harish, T. Sneha, G. Indumathi

ABSTRACT

Mosquito-borne diseases continue to pose a major public health challenge worldwide, increasing the demand for safe, eco-friendly, and plant-based mosquito repellents. The present study focuses on the formulation and evaluation of a herbal mosquito repellent prepared using orange peels and peppermint. Orange peels are rich in essential oils such as limonene, while peppermint contains menthol and other bioactive compounds known for their insect-repellent properties. The plant materials were collected, dried, powdered, and subjected to solvent extraction to obtain active constituents. The extracts were incorporated into a suitable base to prepare the mosquito repellent formulation. The prepared formulation was evaluated for physical characteristics, stability, odor, skin irritation, and mosquito repellent activity under laboratory conditions. The results demonstrated that the combination of orange peel and peppermint extracts showed significant mosquito repellent efficacy with good stability and pleasant aroma. The formulation exhibited minimal skin irritation and provided protection against mosquitoes for an appreciable duration. The synergistic effect of citrus and peppermint oils contributed to enhanced repellency compared to individual plant extracts. This study highlights the potential use of natural plant materials as sustainable alternatives to synthetic chemical repellents, which are often associated with environmental and health concerns. The developed herbal mosquito repellent may serve as a cost-effective, biodegradable, and safer option for mosquito control and prevention of vector-borne diseases. Further studies involving large-scale formulation optimization and field evaluation are recommended to improve commercial applicability.

Keywords: Mosquito repellent, Orange peels, Peppermint, Herbal formulation, Essential oils, Antimicrobial activity, Eco-friendly products.