THE POTENTIAL OF OREGANO (Origanum Vulgar) OIL
AND LEMON (Citrus Limon) EXTRACT
AS MOSQUITO REPELLANT
An Investigatory Project Presented to
Faculty of Taytay National High School
Taytay, Rizal
In Partial Fulfillment with the Requirements
In Junior High School
Kristhal Ann S. Demate
Kristel Ann
November 2022
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
Insects and arachnids are a common sight in almost every human home.
We all know that insect bites can cause different skin irritation. They release
saliva that can cause the skin around the bite to become red, swollen and itchy.
Those effects of insect bites are just a mild case. Diseases caused by bug bites
can be found not just in the Philippines, but also in other countries. The well-known
malaria, yellow fever and dengue are an example of diseases spread by mosquito
bites. These diseases can be severe and have a lasting consequence. This
disease can last for several days in people here in the Philippines and in other
countries, so other people die because of this disease. People tend to buy
insecticides to prevent it and only some can afford it but, there are some organic
materials that has a capability to use as a mosquito repellent, example of this are
Oregano and Lemon.
Background of the Study
Oregano is a culinary herb that is not only delicious for adding flavor to
dishes, but also wonderful in the fight to repel mosquitoes. Mosquitoes tend to
avoid the plant's distinctive odor.
Lemon is not a scent mosquitoes care for at all. Their bitter citrusy smell is
one that mosquitoes tend to avoid. That is why some of insecticides has a lemon
scent.
These two herbals can produce a more reliable repellent effect, as long as
the concentration of essential oils have been tested and normalized. In general,
stronger-smelling leaves offer greater repellent ability. In this research study,
researcher wants to find out the potential of the mix Oregano oil and Lemon extract
in repelling mosquitoes with the title of "The Potential of Oregano (Origanum
Vulgare) Oil and Lemon (Citrus Limon) Extract as Mosquito Repellent".
Scope and Limitation
This research project will be focusing in determining the Potential of
Oregano Oil and Lemon Extract as Mosquito Repellent. This study will be using
Oregano and Lemon as an effective Mosquito Repellent. The proposed study is
limited only in repelling mosquitoes in our house.
Statement of the Problem
This study aims to Determine The Potential of Oregano (Origanum Vulgare)
Oil and Lemon (Citrus Limon) Extract as Mosquito Repellent.
1. What is the potential of Oregano oil and Lemon extract to the use of
mosquito repellent?
2. How many hours can the scent lasts?
3. Is there a difference between the perform of oregano oil and lemon
extract to the commercial repellent?
Significance of the Study
This study will be beneficial to the following:
To Students. Awareness to the students especially to the young ones that Plant’s
Essential Oils can help in preventing mosquito bites.
To Health Specialists. Information regarding the potential of these plants can help
them in advising patients with illnesses came from mosquito bites.
To Future Researchers. The ideas and concepts discussed may be use as a
guide for future researchers or assessing the validity of other research.
Conceptual Framework
INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT
• Collect the
Oregano Leaves
• Mosquito Repellent
and Lemon
Spray made by
• Oregano Leaves • Wash the
Oregano Oil and
Oregano Leaves
• Lemon Lemon Extract
and Lemon
• Water
• Get the Oregano
Oil and the extract
of Lemon
• Mix them
CHAPTER 2
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Foreign
Plants with natural and non-toxic component could be used as insect
repellents. By definition, medicinal plants are plants which contain bio-active
ingredients that support development of cells and consequently support growth of
the entire being (Arhoghro et al., 2012). In the result of high percentage of
incidence of malaria infection and any other illnesses made and came from
mosquitoes, many researchers conduct a study to fulfill and solve this problem with
the use of essential oils from plants.
Insect repellants, according to studies, have a vital role in keeping mosquito
vectors from flying to, settling on, or biting human and animal skin. Oregano oil is
considered as an excellent antiseptic and insect repellent. It contains active
components like carvacrol and a-terpinene which are testified to be effective in
repelling mosquitoes (Sharififard 2018).
Lemongrass has antibacterial effect against the bacteria used and can be
used to design new antibacterial or to fortify the existing ones. The extract can also
be used for repelling insects and mixed with creams to repel vectors mosquitoes
(Oshaghi et al., 2015). Lemon (Citrus limon L.) is a plant with a peel type that
contains phytochemical compounds namely flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins and
limonenes that can be used as plant-based insecticides (Zen et al., 2020). The
contents of these chemical compounds have the ability in repelling mosquitoes,
and act as respiratory poisons and stomach poisons for the mosquitoes. It can
clearly show that Lemon and Oregano has a potential in repelling insects like
mosquitoes.
Local
Insect repellants, according to studies, have a vital role in keeping mosquito
vectors from flying to, settling on, or biting human and animal skin. Numerous
research studies were conducted because of this scientific exploratory that there
are plants with essential oils that can help in preventing insects especially
mosquitoes. Therefore, Oregano essential oil can be exploited as bio-insecticide
for vector control (Antero et al., 2021).
Researchers found out that Lemon essential oil is an effective alternative to
Deet with potential as a means of personal protection against mosquito vectors of
disease due to the advantages of botanic compounds over synthetic compounds.
Many investigations were done as a proof that these plants have truly component
that can repel and kill mosquitoes.
It was found that there is no significant difference in using the oregano
leaves as mosquito repellant as compared to the commercial brand. Thus, oregano
can be an alternative source for repelling mosquitoes. (Erasga, D. C. 2019).
Synthesis
Insect repellency is used to drive insects away, therefore reducing disease
transmission. Microbiological methods were used to test the antibacterial and
repellent properties of lemongrass extracts. In general, synthetic chemical
repellants are widely used as insect repellants, but they have the disadvantage of
being unsafe for humans, particularly children and domestic animals, as they can
cause irritation, hot sensations, rashes, or allergies. As a result, the researchers
considered developing an alternative mosquito repellent incense that could be
sold commercially. It aids in the reduction of mosquito-borne infections such as
Dengue and Malaria.
CHAPTER 3
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This chapter shows the research methods used to conduct the study which
includes research design, research setting, research subject, sources of data, and
procedure of the study.
Research Design
The researchers used an experimental research design to show the
effectiveness of using oregano oil and lemon extract as mosquito repellant.
Experimental research design is use to determine how one independent variable affects
another. With oregano oil and lemon extract as independent variable and mosquito as
dependent variable.
Research Setting
The study will be conducted through 20 selected households within the area of
Brgy. San Juan, Taytay Rizal. The researchers chose the area of Brgy. San Juan
because most household have a lot of mosquitoes, so it is better to try it in house.
Research Subject
This research study requires 20 households from different area within Brgy. San
Juan, Taytay, Rizal. The researchers targeted 20 households only as this will be
selected according to the state of the house in terms of the having a problem in
mosquitoes. Specifically, this study target households who cannot afford to buy
insecticides.
Source of Data
The researchers used an experiment and questionnaire to collect data from the
respondents. Experiment is where the outcome product of the study will be use to the
target respondents. Mosquito repellant will be use to the selected household. In
accordance to the questionnaire, this will be use to ask the respondents if the outcome
product, which is the mosquito repellant is effective in repelling mosquitoes.
Procedure of the Study
This study carried out known as experimental research. The researchers will
collect data from the respondents to know the effectivity of Oregano oil and Lemon
extract as Mosquito Repellant. With the 20 selected households, this will be performed
in finding the accuracy in the effectivity. The researchers will also be going to accept
any recommendations based to the respondents. The last step will be using data
analysis to see and prove the effect of using Oregano oil and Lemon Extract as
Mosquito Repellant.
References
Erasga, D. C. (2019). ORE-katol: Organum Vulgare as a Mosquito Repellant.
Ascendens Asia Journal of Multidisciplinary Research Abstracts, 3(2).
Antero, A. L., Borja, T. B., Cogan, H. G. C., Dominguez, K. J. L. S., & Garin, S. M.
R. (2021). The Mosquito Repellency of Oregano (Origanum Vulgare L.) and
Marigold (Tagetes Erecta L.) Leaf as Candle (Doctoral dissertation, Benguet State
University).
Zen, S., Sutanto, A., & Rohmah, A. (2020). The Effect Of Lemon (Citrus Limon L.)
Extract On Mortality Of Aedes Sp. And Potential As Repellent. PENBIOS: JURNAL
PENDIDIKAN BIOLOGI DAN SAINS, 5(02), 39-45.
Oshaghi, M. A., Ghalandari, R., Vatandoost, H., Shayeghi, M., Kamali-Nejad, M.,
Tourabi-Khaledi, H., … & Hashemzadeh, M. (2015). Repellent effect of extracts
and essential oils of Citrus limon (Rutaceae) and Melissa officinalis (Labiatae)
against main malaria vector, Anopheles stephensi (Diptera: Culicidae). Iranian
Journal of Public Health, 32(4), 47-52.
