Mosquito repellent activity of cotton functionalized with inclusion complexes of β-cyclodextrin citrate and essential oils

Abstract With the progress of time, demand for healthy and hygienic clothing has gone up tremendously. Fabrics and apparels finished with mosquito repellent finishes belong to one of such highly looked out clothing’s. The present study aims at synthesis, characterization and optimization of β-Cyclodextrin citrate (β-CD CA) followed by its complexion with essential oils of cedarwood, clove, eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender and jasmine for the assessment of repellent efficacy against Anopheles Stephensi by means of arm in cage assays on cotton. Protection time, repellency (%), biting (%) and mortality (%) of inclusion complexes encapsulated with oils were evaluated. Two way ANOVA and post hoc analysis had affirmed the significant effect of essential oil type on bio-assay. Lavender and cedarwood had provided the longest protection times (210 and 160 min respectively); jasmine and peppermint were least effective showing protection times of 20 and 60 min whereas oils of eucalyptus and clove behaved as feeding deterrents. Peppermint and lavender were effective as potential repellents and cedarwood had shown supreme mortality against arthropods. Jasmine was the weakest repellent due to its flower-nectar stimulating upshot for Anopheles stephensi.