Field of invention
The present invention relates to herbal spray formulation, comprising essential oils of Curcuma aromatica and Zanthoxylum limonella. More particularly, the present invention relates to herbal leech repellant spray formulation, comprising essential oils of Curcuma aromatica and Zanthoxylum limonella mixed with de-odorized kerosene.
Background and prior art
Commercially available synthetic insect repellants are undesirable as they are not much effective and also have adverse effect on public health. Further the known conventional insect repellants lack widespread acceptance owing to the incomplete protection provided, lack of persistence, cosmetic disadvantages, unavailability, and to the fact that in some cases impregnated uniforms are required and these are uncomfortable in tropical regions. Typically an insect repellant formulation comprises a liquid or solid carrier material for the volatilizable components. The carrier enables more efficient transport and distribution such as by spreading on the surface of the cloth/socks of a person of the volatilizable components.
Commonly used repellants such as N,N, dimethyl-m-tolumide (DEET), which is still more effective, however has unpleasant odour and causes damage to plastic and synthetic rubber. It also has high skin penetration characteristics.
US 4056610 relates to the method of controlling insect pest activity comprising contacting said insects, in an environment having ultra violet light activity degrading to pyrethroid, with a microcapsule insecticide composition comprising microcapsules each having (i) a permeable polyurea shell including as an integral part of said shell a shell stabilizer comprising a photostable ultraviolet light absorbent compound having a log molar extinction coefficient of from about 2 to 5 with respect to radiation having wavelengths in the range of from about 270 to 350 nanometers, and (ii) a liquid fill comprising a pyrethroid, a water-immiscible organic solvent, an antioxidant, a biological synergist for said pyrethroid and a fill stabilizer comprising a photostable ultraviolet light absorbent compound having a log molar extinction coefficient of from about 2 to 5 with
respect to radiation having wavelengths in the range of from about 270 to 350 nanometers; wherein said liquid fill permeates said porous polyurea shell over a sustained period of time and maintains an insecticidally effective level of pyrethroid upon the outer surface of the shell wall for an extended period of time. According to '610 the synthetic pyrethroids in pure form are crystalline materials, which are capable of being dissolved in water immiscible organic solvents. Representative examples of organic solvents useful in the liquid fill include liquid aliphatic hydrocarbons such as pentane, nonane, and decane and their analogs and liquid aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, xylene, etc.
US4547360 relates to a method for repelling small blood feeding pests from the skin, hair, or fur of a mammal, and to repellant compositions for practicing said method. The invention further shows a composition for repelling pests which includes, as an active ingredient, cyano (3-phenoxyphenyl) methyl-4-chloro-alpha-(1-methylethyl) benzeneacetate.
WO2007/148105 relates to a formulation comprising an inert carrier and at least the following active ingredients: plant extracts from the species Mentha, Eucalyptus, Citrus, Lavendula, Rosemarinus, Thymus and Juniperus, characterised in that the formulation further comprises an extract from the plant species Eugenia. Preferably, '105 will provide a composition having effective repelling characteristics against both highland and lowland midges, against a broad range of other insects, including ticks and ants, and against leeches (Arhynchobdellida).
Although the insect repellant formulations advantageously employ volatilizable components, which demonstrate synergistic effects in their repellant properties. These effects are rarely predictable, especially in multi-component formulations and formulations where other factors need to be taken into account, such as acceptability for topical application, olfactory response of a human user, colour and stability, among other factors. Owing to the lack of persistence, there is currently not an acceptable land-leech repellant available.
Thus there is a need for improved repellant formulation for the protection from land-leech bites that causes serious blood loss and the resulting wound takes fairly long healing
time followed by secondary infection. Further there is a need for an environment friendly formulation, which does not have any adverse effect both on human and environment.
Objects of the invention
It is as object of the present invention to overcome the drawbacks of the prior arts.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide herbal spray formulation, comprising essential oils of Curcuma aromatica and Zanthoxylum limonella.
It is another object of the present invention to provide herbal spray formulation, comprising essential oils of Curcuma aromatica and Zanthoxylum limonella mixed with de-odorized kerosene.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide herbal spray formulation, comprising essential oils of Curcuma aromatica and Zanthoxylum limonella mixed with de-odorized kerosene with excellent repellency action against land leeches.
Summary of the invention
The present invention relates to a herbal spray formulation having repelling characteristics for land-leech comprising:
Curcuma aromatica and Zanthoxylum limonella in a ratio of 2:3 wherein said formulation further comprises an inert carrier.
The present invention further relates to the process for the preparation of the herbal spray formulation comprising the steps of preparing various concentrations i.e., 10%, 20% and 30% of essential oil of Curcuma aromatica and Zanthoxylum limonella in de¬odorized kerosene oil at room temperature and evaluating as spray based repellent on cloth/socks against land leeches under laboratory conditions.
Description of the invention
The present invention relates to a herbal spray formulation for application on cloth/socks having repelling characteristics for land leeches. Particularly the present invention relates to a spray formulation comprising essential oils of plant origin effective for repelling land-leeches. More particularly, the present invention relates to herbal spray formulation, comprising essential oil of Curcuma aromatica and Zanthoxylum limonella mixed with de-odorized kerosene as an inert carrier.
According to the present invention, the leech repellant formulation comprises volatilizable component, which after application on cloth/socks serve to dissuade land leeches, from attaching to the host within a region of air adjacent to the skin in which the volatilized component exist. The present invention provides a formulation comprising an inert carrier and, as active ingredient, essential oils of plant origin. The formulation of the present invention is suitable for repelling land leeches; stable in hot and humid climate and have a residual effect of more than 15 days against land leeches when applied on socks/cloth. The formulation of the present invention exhibits excellent repelling characteristics against land leeches and the property of the formulation is attributed to the synergistic combination of essential oils of plant along with de-odorized kerosene. According to the present invention, mature seeds of Zanthoxylum limonella is collected locally from the forest and shed dried. Essential oil from the seeds are extracted through hydro distillation at 80°C by Clevenger apparatus in the laboratory. Rhizomes of Curcuma aromatica are collected and cut into slice and shed dried. Essential oil from the sliced dried rhizome is extracted through hydro distillation at 80°C by Clevenger apparatus in the laboratory. Examples
The present invention is described by way of illustrated examples.
Evaluation of herbal spray based repellent formulation against leech
Spray based formulation was evaluated against land-leeches and compared with synthetic repellents. Three concentrations viz., 10%, 20% and 30% of all three repellents i.e., essential oils of Curcuma aromatica and Zanthoxylum limonella (2:3), N-benzoyl
piperidine (NBP), Dimethyl phthalate (DMP) were separately mixed with de-odorized kerosene as spray based formulation and evaluated against land leeches.
Example 1
Table 1: Comparative efficacy of repellents spray formulation on socks against land-leeches in field conditions.
(Table Removed)
The individual essential oil from Curcuma aromatica and Zanthoxylum limonella in de¬odorized kerosene was evaluated at different concentrations on cloth against land leeches under laboratory conditions. The efficacy of individual essential oil deodorized kerosene did not give encouraging result as compared to the formulation comprising both Curcuma aromatica and Zanthoxylum limonella oil.
Example 2
Table 2: Efficacy of individual herbal repellants in deodorized kerosene oil used in spray
formulation against land-leeches on cloth in laboratory conditions.
(Table Removed)
Intensity of leeches: 10 leeches were used in each experiment individually
Combination of essential oil from Zanthoxylum limonella and Curcuma aromatica (2:3) in deodorized kerosene were evaluated at different concentrations on cloth against land leeches under laboratory conditions which gave encouraging results
Example 3
In order to evaluate the persistency of repellent formulation, a spray based herbal
repellent formulation comprising a combination of Zanthoxylum limonella and Curcuma
aromatica at 2:3ratio respectively in deodorized kerosene oil is evaluated at different
concentrations (10, 20 and 30%) on cloth/sacks against land leeches under laboratory
conditions.
Table 3: Efficacy of combination of essential oils in de-odorized kerosene used in spray
formulation against land-leeches on cloth in laboratory conditions.
(Table Removed)
Intensity of land-leech: 10 leeches were used in each experiment individually

We claim:
1. A herbal spray formulation having repelling characteristics for land-leech
comprising:
essential oils from Curcuma aromatica and Zanthoxylum limonella in a ratio of 2:3 and an inert carrier.
2. The herbal spray formulation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inert carrier is de-odorized kerosene.
3. The herbal spray formulation as claimed in claim 1, wherein inert carrier is present in amount of 70% to 90 %
4. A process for the preparation of the herbal spray formulation comprising the steps of preparing various concentrations i.e., 10%, 20% and 30% of essential oil of Curcuma aromatica and Zanthoxylum limonella in de-odorized kerosene oil at room temperature and evaluating as spray based repellent on cloth/socks against land leeches under laboratory conditions.