Cinnamon and Eucalyptus Extracts: A Promising Natural Approach for Durable Mosquito-Repellent Fabrics with...

Area of Science:

• Textile Science and Engineering
• Entomology
• Materials Science

Background:

• Mosquitoes transmit severe diseases like malaria and dengue.
• Traditional mosquito repellents often involve chemicals or methods with environmental drawbacks.
• Plant-derived compounds offer a potential eco-friendly alternative for insect repellency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop eco-friendly, non-hazardous mosquito-repellent fabrics.
• To utilize cinnamon and eucalyptus extracts for textile treatment.
• To evaluate the efficacy of treated fabrics against mosquitoes and assess additional properties.

Main Methods:

• Eucalyptus and cinnamon extracts were prepared using ethanol and water, with and without heating.
• Forty-eight fabric samples were treated with these extracts at varying temperatures using a steam dye bath.
• Mosquito repellency was assessed via cage tests; washing durability, UV shielding, and antibacterial activity were also evaluated.

Main Results:

• All treated fabric samples exhibited some level of mosquito repellency.
• Fabric treated with heated eucalyptus ethanol extract at 60°C (EE-H) showed the highest repellency (85.56%).
• The treated fabrics also demonstrated effective antibacterial properties and a promising ultraviolet protection factor (UPF).

Conclusions:

• A novel method for creating mosquito-repellent and antibacterial fabrics using plant extracts was successfully developed.
• Heated eucalyptus ethanol extract provides superior mosquito repellency and additional protective benefits.
• This approach supports sustainable practices in the textile industry, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 9 and SDG 12).