TITLE

Atis (Anona squamosa) leaves as Mosquito Repellent

PURPOSE
The shocking increase of dengue incidents year after year is a concern
of our local health department and the society. Studies show that most
incidents affect children and adolescent people. Commercially, there are
various products of mosquito repellents readily available for consumers but
most of them are highly made from chemicals that are damaging to the skin
and are expensive, making it less accessible to most people.

This study aims to determine the effect of the said mosquito killer (atis
leaves). Especially it will answer the following questions:

1. Does the said mosquito repellent (atis leaves) cheaper than the
commercial ones?

2. Will this mosquito repellent (atis leaves) be effective in repelling

mosquitos?

Atis (Anona squamosa), a tropical plant that usually grows

spontaneously in the Philippines, aside from bearing fruits of white, sweet,
soft, juicy and mild agreeable flavored flesh, also yields leaves where
government health researchers found extracts for the formulation of an
effective anti-mosquito repellant.

It is not only against dengue, in fact, but against all mosquito-borne

diseases like malaria and filariasis especially in areas of the country where
incidence is high. It also serves as a personal care product used in preventing
mosquito bites that cause itchiness, inflammation and discomfort to
individuals. The repellent uses a washable, oil – based formulation and it's
biodegrable since, it is derived from advantage against other well known
repellents which are chemical based in formulation.

The atis (Anona squamosa) leaves, as well as its fruit, have been found
beneficial to human use and needs. Studies conducted by big institutions
such as the Department of Science and Technology and by the Philippine
Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) shows that the atis
plant has components that are potent in repelling mosquitos. Infact, atis
serves a lot of purposes to human health as shown by the list created by the
Bureau of Plant Industry:

Medicinal value of Atis:

 1) The leaves are applied as a poultice to children with dyspepsia.

2) Crushed seeds with coconut oil are applied on the scalp to rid it of
lice.

3) A decoction of the seeds is used as an enema for the children with

dyspepsia.

4) Externally the leaves, the unripe fruit, and the seeds (which contain
acrid principle) possess vermicidal and insecticidal properties.

5) The crushed seeds, in a paste with water, are applied to the scalp to
destroy lice.

6) The unripe fruit is astringent, and is given in diarrhea, dysentery and

atonic dyspepsia.

7) The bark, according to Nadkarni, is considered a powerful astringent

and tonic.

8)The roots are considered a drastic purgative.

The flesh of the fruit is reported to contain upwards of 10 percent of

sugar, mostly glucose at 5.40 percent and some fructose of 3.60 percent. In
the Philippines the leaves are applied as a poultice to children with
dyspepsia. Crushed seeds with coconut oil are applied on the scalp to rid it of
lice. A decoction of the seeds is used as an enema for the children with
dyspepsia. The bruised leaves, with salt, make a good cataplasm to induce
suppuration and fresh leaves crushed between the fingers and applied to the
nostrils cut shorts fits and fainting. The ripe fruit, bruised and mixed with salt,
is applied as a maturant to malignant tumors to hasten suppuration. The
unripe fruit is astringent and is given in diarrhea, dysentery and atonic
dyspepsia. The bark, according to Briñas, the regional director for Bicol of the
DOST, has been reported by Nadkarni, an American ecologist who pioneered
the study of Costa Rican rain forest canopies, as a powerful astringent and
tonic to stop diarrhea. The leaves are used as an antihelmintic and its
decoction for rheumatic baths to alleviate pain.

For infected insect bites, juice extract after pounding an unripe fruit is
applied directly to affected parts three times a day to cure the infection. The
seeds are considered a powerful irritant to the conjunctiva while the roots are
considered a drastic purgative. Atis tree is small that grows only three to five
meters high. Its leaves are hairy when young, oblong, eight to 15 centimeters
long, with a petiole one to 1.5 centimeters long. Flowers occur singly in the
axils of the leaves, about 2.5 cm long, pendulous, three-angled, light green to
yellow. Fruit is large, slightly heart-shaped, six to nine centimeters long, the
outside with knobby polygonal tubercles.
 The PCHRD studies also revealed that atis possesses anti-inflammatory
properties as it yielded two new cyclic peptides, cyclosquamosin H and I,
together with six known cyclic peptides, squamin A, squamin B,
cyclosquamosin A, D E and cherimolacyclopeptide B from the seeds.
Compound 7 showed an inhibitory effect on the production of pro-
inflammatory cytokines. Extracts of atis fruit pericarp was also tested for
cytotoxic activity against Dalton’s lymphoma cells and HeLa cells. The
chloroform extract was found cytotoxic to the different cell lines tested and
suggests the potential for AS fruit pericarp for the development of treatment
for cancers. The PCHRD said atis has an antihyperglycemic effect and
alleviated liver and renal damage associated with STZ-induced diabetes
mellitus in rats. The diabetic groups treated with aqueous leaf extract were
compared with standard glibenclamide.

The PCHRD also said that the ethanol crude extract of the fruit of atis
for antimicrobial activity against some pathogenic microorganisms showed
inhibitory activity against S aureus and S pneumoniae. Results conclude the
plant extract may serve as a valuable source of compounds with therapeutic
antibiotic potentials. Likewise, phytochemical study revealed the presence of
quercetin in the atis seed extract and the results of the effects of quercetin
suggest an involvement of this phytochemical in the mediation of
antithyroidal activity, it added.

INGREDIENTS
-Cooking Oil

-Atis leaves

-Paraffin Wax

PROCEDURES
3.Using a knife, chop the leaves into smaller pieces.

4.Together with the chopped leaves, pour the oil into the pan and wait
until it boils.

5.While waiting, chop the paraffin wax.

6.After the decoction boils, remove the leaves.

7.Pour the chopped paraffin wax into the mixture and allow it to boil for
 about 3-4 minutes. After that, remove the pan from the flame and
allow it to cool.

METHODS
Prior to using the atis leaves, we soaked it in water to allow moisture to
stay. It is important to pick leaves that are green and moist to allow for easy
extraction of the extracts.

CONCLUSION
The medicinal use and benefits of atis have greatly influenced this
study. Therefore, It proves not only its effectiveness but also its role in the
local consumers giving an alternative option in choosing what's best for their
health and for their money's worth, whether they go for what is organic or
synthetic.

RECOMMENDATION
This product is marketed for all types of consumers, either rich or poor,
and is strategically eyed for mothers who are looking for inexpensive but
effective, safe, and organic for their children's use. We also recommend this
product to our fellow nursing students since working in the medical field
requires protection not only from deadly pathogens but also from dengue-
carrying mosquitoes. We also like to express that this product is the first
organic mosquito repellent in the locality.

Application of the Technology:

Atis Lotion Mosquito Repellent is a personal care products used in preventing

mosquito bites which cause itchiness, inflammation and discomfort to
individuals.

Possible Areas of Technology Application:

Atis Lotion is a practical alternative in preventing incidence of mosquito –

borne diseases like dengue, malaria, and filariasis especially in areas where
incidence is high.
Bibliography:

http://www.pinoybisnes.com/business-ideas/atis-lotion-mosquito-repellent/

http://www.pinoyecofarmer.com/2010/10/21/atis-leaves-developed-
antidengue-solution/

http://www.foodrecap.net/health/atis-dengue-repell/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bapu_Nadkarni

http://www.batobalani.com/