Abstract

FORMULATION DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF CREAM CONTAINING NATURAL ESSENTIAL OILS HAVING MOSQUITO REPELLENT PROPERTY

Anuradha Keshwar*, Unmesh Keshwar, Ashwini Deogirkar, S. S. Dhurde, Veena Deo and B. K. Shrikhande

ABSTRACT

The main objective of the work was to formulate a mosquito repellent cream naturally obtained from medicinal plants instead of commonly available synthetic insecticides and repellents such as N-Diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET), which are carcinogenic and non eco-friendly. Essential oils of Tulsi, Clove, Garlic Kapoor kacheri and Lemongrass were used in the cream formulation and evaluated for various parameters. The formulation of cream have smooth texture and spreadability with a pH 7.28 which is non irritant and suitable for the skin. There is no phase separation during thermal stability. Total fatty substances and total residue was found to be 23.01 % and 40.14 % respectively. The viscosity of cream was in the range of 19402-19443 cps which indicates that the cream is easily spreadable by small amounts of shear. Identification of active constituent’s eugenol and allyl disulphide present in clove and garlic was confirmed by TLC technique. Bands were found at Rf 0.70 and 0.82 respectively at 254 nm. Cream was also evaluated for microbiological test; total viable count was found to be 50 cfu/g and gram negative pathogens were absent in the formulated cream. Accelerated stability study of the formulated cream has been conducted at elevated temperature of 40⁰ ± 2⁰ / 75 % RH ± 5 % for 6 months. There were no significant changes found in the parameters evaluated during accelerated stability study. From the present work it was concluded that the formulated mosquito repellent cream using essential oil is natural, safe, effective, usable for the skin and stable too.

Keywords: Herbal mosquito repellent cream, Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), Clove (Eugenia Caryophyllus), Garlic (Allium Sativum), Kapoor kacheri (Hedychium spicatum), Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuousus).