World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Sumithra. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

SJIF Impact Factor 6.805

Volume 5, Issue 4, 715-719. Research Article ISSN 2277– 7105

EFFECT OF INSECT REPELLENT PROPERTY USING

MICROENCAPSULATION TECHNIQUE

Dr. M. Sumithra*

Assistant Professor, Department of Textiles and Apparel Design, Bharathiar University,

Coimbatore.

Article Received on ABSTRACT

21 Jan 2016,
Natural herbal has been imparted to the four variants of Denim fabrics
Revised on 12 Feb 2016,
Accepted on 04 Mar 2016 such as Amanakku, Avaram and Amman pacharisi leaves were
DOI: 10.20959/wjpr20164-5761 screened for their Insect repellent property by Microencapsulation
technique and the results were confirmed to increase the wash
*Correspondence for durability of the finished fabric. Microencapsulation of the herbal
Author extracts was performed and the results showed good effect even after
Dr. M. Sumithra
many industrial washes.
Assistant Professor,
Department of Textiles and
KEYWORDS: Denim fabrics, Herbs, Insect repellent property,
Apparel Design, Bharathiar
Methanol extracts and Microencapsulation.
University, Coimbatore.

INTRODUCTION
Mosquitoes are insects of major public health concern because many species are vectors of
diseases.[1] A mosquito repellent textile is one such textile product came out recently. It
protects the human beings from the bite of mosquitoes and thereby promising safety from the
Diseases like malarial and fever. To impart this character, a finish of the mosquito-repelling
agent is given to the textile material.[2] The microcapsules can introduce important new
qualities to garments and fabrics, such as enhanced Stability and the controlled release of
active compounds. Microencapsulation is a unique technique which facilitates a controlled
release of these properties as and when required and also enhances its durability.[3] In herbal
finishing of textiles, herbal extracts are used as the “core material” along with the wall
material to give a micro-encapsulated finish which is more durable as compared to the other
process of finishing. This wall material can be a Chemical compound like Sodium alginate or
certain substances that has its origin from plants such as, Gum acacia. The microencapsulated
herbal extracts become more effective when tested for its wash durability.[4] Denim depends

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Sumithra. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

on the visual appeal, the hand, and the wear, says Schrott. Fashion is more and more
dominated by mixed effects-new colors, new hands, and new cuts. One aspect won’t make a
sufficient difference in denim sustainability.[5] Plant products have been used traditionally by
human communities in many parts of the world against the vectors and species of insects. The
phytochemicals derived from plant sources can act as parricides, insect growth regulators,
repellents and have deterrent activities.[6] The present study focused on screening herbal
extracts for Insect repellent property. The work also aimed at Microencapsulation techniques
to denim fabrics and increase the durability of the selected herbal extracts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Materials-The denim fabric purchased from K.G. Denim Ltd, Coimbatore was used for the
present study. The fabric sample was given a primary wash with distilled water, air-dried and
then used for herbal finishing. The fabric was sourced from the market with respect to the
expected quality requirements. The fabric chosen was
Sample -A-68% Cotton + 32 % Polyester
Sample -B-68% Cotton + 32 % Poly Lycra
Sample -C-68% Cotton + 32 % Core spun Lycra
Sample -D-100% Cotton

Collections of Herbal plants

The plants Amanakku Avaram and Amman pacharisi leaves were collected from in and
around Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu.

METHODS
Preparation of herbal extracts
The collected plants leaves in equal proportions were dried with in a temperature range of
100 – 140 οF as they cannot be stored without drying to avoid breakdown of important
compounds and contamination by microorganisms. The plants, dirt and other extraneous
matter was done manually by hand. Grinding or mincing of the leaves was carried out in a
mixie. The fine powder obtained after grinding was used for extraction. Each 100g of the
powdered plant material was refluxed in a Sox let apparatus in 1000 ml of methanol. After
overnight incubation, the supernatant was filtered through What man no.1 filter paper and the
filtrate was dried to evaporate the organic solvent at room temperature was used for finishing
the denim fabrics.

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Sumithra. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Finishing of the Micro encapsulation of fabric by ionic gelatin process

Microcapsules containing extracts of herbal combinations were prepared employing sodium
alginate. 3% sodium alginate was prepared and added 2% Nano particles. This was sprayed
into calcium chloride solution by means of a sprayer. The droplets were retained in calcium
chloride for 15 minutes. The microcapsules were obtained by decantation and repeated
washing with iso propyl alcohol followed by drying at 45 °C for 12 hours. The microcapsules
were then used for finishing on the selected fabrics by pad dry cure method.

Testing For Insect repellent property

Mosquito Repellency Testing
The mosquito repellency efficiency of the finished fabric was tested using the modified
excito chamber method. There have been numerous attempts to accurately measure the
behavioral responses of mosquitoes to insecticides using various types of excito-repellency
test systems. The test method adopted in the present study for testing the mosquito repellent
property is modified excito chamber method.

Mosquito collection
Anopheles mosquitoes were identified based on morphologic keys and they were collected
during the evening hours. All mosquitoes were starved of blood and sugar of 4 hours before
the tests.

Repellency Behavioral tests Specially designed two excito repellency test chambers were
used to evaluate the efficiency of repellency activity. The wooden outer chamber of excito-
repellency testing device measures 34 cm × 32 cm × 32 cm and faces the front panel with the
single escape portal. The box is composed of a rear door cover, an inner Plexiglas glass panel
with a rubber latex-sealed door, a Plexiglas holding frame, a screened inner chamber, an
outer chamber, a front door, and an exit portal slot. Mosquitoes were deprived of all nutrition
and water for a minimum of 4 hours before exposure. Laboratory tests were performed during
daylight hours only and each test was replicated four times. Observations were taken at one-
minute interval for 30 minutes. After each test was completed, the number of Escaped
specimens and those remaining inside the chamber was recorded separately for each exposure
chamber, external holding cage, and paired control chamber. Escaped specimens and those
remaining inside the chamber, for the treated samples, were held separately in small holding
containers with food and water. Excito chamber used for test the Mosquito repellency
efficiency

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 Sumithra. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Wash durability test

The microcapsules finished denim fabric were analyzed for their Insect repellent Property,
wash durability by subjecting the sample to washing and testing. The denim fabric was
subjected to washing by industrial machines and the Insect repellent activity of the washed
fabric was assessed by AATCC 147 test method.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Result For Insect repellent property
Microencapsulation
In order to increase the durability of the finished fabric, the effective herbal combination in
equal proportions was microencapsulated by ionic gelatin method. The microcapsules were
finished on the fabric by exhaustion method. The Mosquito repellency efficiency of Denim
fabrics before and after washes were tested and the results are presented below.

Table -1 Mosquito Repellency Efficiency of Denim Fabric

No. Of specimen No. Of specimen No. Of specimen No. Of specimen Mosquito
S0.No. Samples
Exposed in the cage Escaped Dead Repellency in %
1 Sample A 25 15 6 4 40
2 Sample B 25 12 7 6 52
3 Sample C 25 9 9 7 64
4 Sample D 25 4 3 18 84

From the table 1 the result shown for mosquito repellency is 84% in sample D .The sample D
100% cotton fabric has higher percentage of Mosquito repellency, when compared to other
three variants.

Table- 2 Wash Durability Test

No.Of No.Of No.Of No.Of Mosquito
S.No. Samples specimen specimen in specimen specimen Repellency
Exposed the cage Escaped Dead in %
1 Sample D 25 4 3 18 84
2 sample D After 10 washes 25 7 12 6 72
3 sample D After 20 washes 25 8 12 5 68
4 sample D After 25 washes 25 12 9 4 52

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Sumithra. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Further sample D denim fabric is used for wash durability test. The table 2 result showed the
micro encapsulation prepared from herbal extracts finished fabric was able to retain the
efficiency of Mosquito repellency even after 25 industrial washes.

CONCLUSION
Medicinal plants usually constitute an important source of new and biologically active
compounds. In this study the three herbal extracts leaves in equal proportion were studied.
The results showed promising use of these herbal extracts as source of microencapsulating
process and the result in mosquito repellency test showed good wash durability effect even
after 25 industrial washes in sample D.

REFERENCES
1. Miro Specosa, M.M et.al. Microencapsulated citronella oil for mosquito repellent
finishing of cotton textiles. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and
Hygiene, 2010; 104: 653–658.
2. R. Anitha et.al. Microencapsulation of lemon grass oil for mosquito repellent finishes in
polyester textiles. Elixir Bio Phys., 2011; 40: 5196-5200.
3. Chinta S.K. et.al. Imparting Antimicrobial Finish by Microencapsulation Technique.
International Journal of Innovative Research in Science, Engineering and Technology.,
2013; 2(6): 2326 – 2336 .
4. Barari M., Majidi R.F., Madani M. NanosciNanotechnol 43-48 [3].Bishop, J.R.P.,
Nelson, G. & Lamb, J.(1998). Microencapsulation in yeast cells.Journalof
Microencapsulation., 2009; 15(6): 761-773.
5. Thirty. M. C, The Roll of Mechanical Finishes, AATCC Review, 2010; 10(4): 31.
6. Aarthi N and Murugan K: Larvicidal and repellent activity of Vetiveria zizanioides L,
Ocimum basilicum Linn and the microbial pesticide spinosad against malarial vector,
Anopheles stephensi liston (Insecta: Diptera: Culicidae). J Biopesticides – Special Issue
2010; 199 - 204.

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