|
|
| Year : 2017 | Volume
: 10
| Issue : 3 | Page : 745-746 |
|
| Traditional asian facial decoration: Its usefulness in mosquito prevention |
|
|
Viroj Wiwanitkit
Department of Tropical Medicine, Hainan Medical University, China
Click here for correspondence address and email
| Date of Web Publication | 21-Aug-2017 |
|
|
 |
|
How to cite this article:
Wiwanitkit V. Traditional asian facial decoration: Its usefulness in mosquito prevention. Ann Trop Med Public Health 2017;10:745-6 |
How to cite this URL:
Wiwanitkit V. Traditional asian facial decoration: Its usefulness in mosquito prevention. Ann Trop Med Public Health [serial online] 2017 [cited 2021 Mar 4];10:745-6. Available from: https://www.atmph.org/text.asp?2017/10/3/745/213130 |
Mosquito-borne disease is an important tropical disease. The control of mosquito is the focus in prevention of the mosquito-borne disease. An interesting issue is on the traditional wisdom of local people in prevention of mosquito. Here, the author discusses on the traditional Asian facial decorations that have the mosquito prevention property. The first decoration is seen in Myanmar where the malaria and dengue are highly prevalent. The powder namely “Thanaka” is widely used by local people in Myanmar. There is a report confirming that thanaka is useful for mosquito prevention [1]. Lindsay et al. found that “bioassays using a laboratory strain of Aedes aegypti demonstrated that thanaka is itself slightly repellent at high dosages and the mixture with deet provides protection for over 10 hours.”[1] Another interesting decoration is “chandan bindi.” The use of this decoration is often seen in Hinduism community in Asian. The sandalwood composition in chandan bindi is also proved for mosquito prevention activities.[2]
In fact, the traditional topical applications are usually linked with local wisdom.[3] The antimosquito property is an interesting property that should be systematically studied for further development for effective biological substance for mosquito control.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil
Conflicts of interest
None.
 References | |  |
| 1. | Lindsay SW, Ewald JA, Samung Y, Apiwathnasorn C, Nosten F. Thanaka (Limonia acidissima) and deet (di-methyl benzamide) mixture as a mosquito repellent for use by Karen women. Med Vet Entomol 1998;12:295-01.  |
| 2. | Zhu J, Zeng X, O'Neal M, Schultz G, Tucker B, Coats J. Mosquito larvicidal activity of botanical-based mosquito repellents. J Am Mosq Control Assoc 2008 Mar;24:161-8. |
| 3. | Paru R, Hii J, Lewis D, Alpers MP. Relative repellency of woodsmoke and topical applications of plant products against mosquitoes. P N G Med J 1995;38:215-21. |
Correspondence Address:
Viroj Wiwanitkit
Hainan Medical University
China
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/1755-6783.213130
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
