Efficacy Of Adhatoda Zeylanica Medik. Leaf As Mosquito Repellent

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 V-7 variety followed by V-1 and lowest in variety V-6. Almost all varieties of bio-cake burned within 35 - 45 minutes except variety V-5, which took 60 minutes to complete burning. Variety V6 showed highest ash content (7.70 g) and lowest ash was recorded for V-5 (1.67 g) after complete burning. The emission of CO2, CO and O-3 was recorded as V-2>V-4>V-3>V-5 approximate to V-7>V-1>V-6; V-5>V-6>V-1>V-7>V-4>V-2>V-3 and V-5>V-3 approximate to V-4 approximate to V-7>V-2>V-1>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 (V-6 and V-7) caused more than 50 % knock down. Finally the emission of gaseous product was compared with a synthetic mosquito coil.