The Effectiveness Of Lemon Grass

The Effectiveness of Lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) and Ginger (Zingiber officinale) as a Natural Mosquito Repellent

In Partial Fulfilment for the Project Research 1 S.Y. 2018-2019

By: Harryleen C. Pagaran Kristine Cate A. Heras March 14, 2019

Maria Mae Cagas Jablos ADVISER

ABSTRACT Mosquito repellents are important tools for prevention of insect-borne diseases as well as painful or uncomfortable mosquito bites. And one of natural mosquito repellent is the lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) and ginger (Zingiber officinale). Determining the effectiveness of lemon grass and ginger as mosquito repellent is the main goal of the study. Specifically, it intends to apply the Steam Distillation Technique in obtaining the natural elements and essential oil of lemon grass and ginger. Using the two containers with water as observation, one is with extract of lemon grass and ginger and the other is without lemon grass and ginger. In one to five (1-5) days, the first container that without lemon grass and ginger, approach by mosquitos but the other container with lemon grass and ginger is just ignored by mosquitos. The study has found out that lemon grass and ginger is an effective and alternative natural mosquito repellent. The result of the present study would provide knowledge and information about lemon grass and ginger as mosquito repellent.

Chapter I BACKGOUND OF THE STUDY This mosquito repellents help to prevent and control the outbreaks of insect-borne diseases such as malaria, Lyme disease, dengue fever, and bubonic plague. Technically, a mosquito repellent is any chemical or natural, that causes insects or other arthropods to make directed, oriented movements away from the source of repellent. And lemon grass and ginger can use as natural mosquito repellent. Many repellent products pertaining chemical compound like DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide) used as active chemical ingredient in mosquito repellent, are now turn to all natural ingredients as more and more negative data is released. Lemon grass and Ginger is extremely safe and listed on the EPA’s GRAS list (generally regarded as safe). People all over the world have come to rely on the potent mosquito repellent properties of lemon grass and ginger and utilize it as a personal and area spray.

Objectives Statement of the problem This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of lemon grass and ginger as a mosquito repellent. Specifically this aims to answer the following questions. 1). To find out if the lemon grass and ginger could be a potential mosquito repellent 2). To find out the components of lemon grass and ginger that makes it a potential mosquito repellent 3). To compare the number of wriggler that can be found on the negative and positive control

Significance of the study This study will conduct to determine the effectiveness of lemon grass and ginger as natural insect repellent. Extraction of lemon grass and ginger is through Steam Distillation Technique. Lemon grass contains at least different essential oils found in several of types lemon grass are responsible for flavouring food and infusing aroma into perfumes. The most abundant oil called citral, contributes the strongest lemon scent. Several oils in lemon grass repel insects, including geraniol, borneol, and citronellal, which is the active ingredient in citronella candles. Some of the essential oils in lemon grass kill bacteria and many have anti-irritant, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Ginger is a flowering plant whose rhizome, ginger root or simply ginger, is widely used as a spice or a folk medicine. It is a herbaceous perennial which grows annual pseudo stems about a meter tall bearing narrow leaf blades. The children will benefit the most because knowledge of mosquito repellent will enable them to prevent possible diseases like dengue. Through this study, the knowledge of parents regarding lemon grass and ginger as mosquito repellent would be increased the prevention could be done to avoid more serious damage to their children’s health.

Chapter II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE Mosquitoes (Aides aegypti) Mosquitoes have become the most important single group of insects well-known for their public health importance, since they act as the vector for many tropical and subtropical diseases such as dengue fever, yellow fever, malaria, filariasis and encephalitis of different types including, Japanese encephalitis (Hubalek and Haluzka, 1999). Anopheles stephensi, Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus are the major urban vectors of malaria, dengue and lymphatic filariasis, respectively. Thus one of the approaches for control of these mosquito-borne diseases is the interruption of disease transmission by killing or preventing mosquitoes from biting human beings. Herbal products with proven potential as adulticidal or repellent can play an important role in the interruption of the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases at the individual as well as at the community level.

Definition of Terms Lemon grass-contains substance that are thought to relieve pain and swelling, reduce fever, improve levels of sugar and cholesterol in the blood, stimulate the uterus and menstrual flow, and have antioxidant properties. Ginger-a flowering plant whose rhizome, ginger root or simply ginger, is widely used as a spice or a folk medicine. It is a herbaceous perennial which grows annual pseudo stems about a meter tall bearing narrow leaf blades. Extract-to obtain a substance from a compound, in solid, liquid, or gas form, by using an industrial or chemical process Mosquito-small slender biting fly that feeds on the blood of mammals, including humans, and transmit disease such as malaria, yellow fever, and dengue. Repellent- a substance that is applied to a surface, or something to resist water, mold, or mildew.

Chapter III Methodology A. Collecting of Lemon Grass and Ginger About twenty (20) pieces of lemon grass leaves and two (2) pieces of ginger was collected near in the house of the researcher in a vacant lot. Only green leaves of lemon grass and fresh ginger were collected. Additionally, these ingredients are clean and dry to prevent the other organic substance to be extract in extraction process. If the lemon grass and ginger are wet, let it be air dry first before doing the extraction process.

B. Materials and Ingredients 

2 pieces of Ginger



20 pieces of Lemon grass leaves



Empty spray bottle



Steamer



Bowl



Knife and



Chopping board

C. Procedure 1. Wash the lemon grass and ginger 2. Roll the lemon grass and peel the ginger 3. Put the lemon grass and ginger on the steamer and boil it about 10-15 minutes 4. After boiling the ingredients, put the boiled water on the empty spray bottle

D. Procedures in applying the product 1. Prepare two (2) containers. 2. Put some water on it with the same amount. 3. Spray the product about five (5) times in the first container and the rest do not. 4. Observe the containers in five (5) days if there is a wriggler.

Chapter IV Result and Discussions Table 1: The water without the mosquito repellent DAY 0

This

is

before product

DAY 1

the trying

water The

DAY 3

researchers The

DAY 5

researchers The

researchers

the observe that there is observed that there observed

in

the

no wriggler on the is a wriggler on the last day that there water in Day 1

water in Day 3

is still a wriggler in the water in Day5

Table 2 shows that the product is observed to be effective which is the mosquito repellent. In Day 1, the researchers observed that there is no wriggler on the water; in Day 3, the researchers observed that there is a wriggler on the water. In Day 5, the researchers observed that there is still a wriggler in the water. The researchers think their product is effective because there is no wriggler in the water from Day 1 to Day 5. Based on the researcher’s observation, you have to follow the steps so that the product will be effective.

Table 2: The water with the mosquito repellent DAY 0

DAY 1

This is the water The

DAY 3

researchers The

DAY 5

researchers The

researchers

before trying the observe that there is observed that there observed in the last product

no wriggler on the is still no wriggler day that there is no water in Day 1

on the water in Day wriggler 3

in

the

water in Day 5

Table 2 shows that the product is observed to be effective which is the mosquito repellent. The researchers observed that there is no wriggler on the water in Day 1-5, The researchers think their product is effective because there is no wriggler in the water from Day 1 to Day 5. Based on the researcher’s observation, you have to follow the steps so that the product will be effective.

Chapter V CONCLUSION The study was conducted to find out if the lemon grass and ginger as a natural mosquito repellent. Conclusions are as follows: 1. Lemon grass and Ginger can be a potential mosquito repellent 2. The components of the product that makes it a potential mosquito repellent is the lemon grass that contains abundant oil called citral, contributes the strongest lemon scent including geraniol, borneol, and citronellal. And Ginger is high in gingerol, a substance with powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. 3. There are six (6) wrigglers on the negative control, and there are no wrigglers on the positive control.

RECOMMENDATION The study was focused on determining the effectiveness of lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) and ginger (Zingiber officinale) as natural mosquito repellent. After all the experiments and trials that the researchers conducted, the following recommendations, and suggestions were proffered. 1. To conduct further studies to improve shelf life of the product 2. Use often method to determine its effectiveness 3. Conduct phytochemical screening on the active ingredients of lemon grass and ginger as mosquito repellent.