QUEZON DISTRICT

QUEZON NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

Alunan, Quezon, Isabela
 

The Efficacy of Lemongrass (Cymbopogon Citratus) Extract as Mosquito Repellent

Spray

A Research

Presented to the Teachers of

Quezon National High School
Senior High School Department
Alunan, Quezon, Isabela

_______________
In Partial Fulfillment

Of the Subject Requirement for

Practical Research 2

Criza May P. Pascua

Mark Jimwell A. Lacbawan

Jean Wesley Raibach R. Jose

Kayla Mae C. Esperon

Dominic S. Poquiz

Archael Fernandez

March, 2023
Chapter I

078-258-6133
[email protected]
www.facebook.com/300568QuezonNHS
Alunan, Quezon, Isabela
 QUEZON DISTRICT
QUEZON NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Alunan, Quezon, Isabela
 

The Problem and Its Background

I. Introduction

Insect repellents (also commonly called “bug sprays”) are substances applied to the

skin, clothing, or other surfaces which discourage insects (and arthropods in general) from

landing or climbing on that surface. They are important tools of public health to prevent

infectious vector borne diseases (Goddard 2022) and allergic reactions. According to

Amerasinghe (2021), major health gains and important constraints on development in poor

regions can be the results if there are actions to prevent arthropod borne diseases. These

insect repellents help prevent and control the outbursts of insect borne diseases, dengue fever,

stings and bites. Basically, a repellent is any chemical or natural product that causes insects

or other arthropods to avoid or move away from the source of repellent and lemon grass can

be used as a natural insect repellent.

Lemon grass is popularly used for medical, food and insect repellent products

according to an article of new tech bio. Cosmetics, soaps, perfumes, dye and odorizes along

with thousands of other products containing lemongrass oils. In the Philippines, its local

name is “tanglad” and is usually used in cooking. With that, the researchers gained interest in

utilizing the plant as the main ingredient in the product due to its uncommonness in being

utilized in the creation of alternative products, in this case, an insect repellent.

A number of repellent products containing chemical compounds like DEET (N, N-

Diethyl-meta-toluamide) used as active chemical components in insect repellent, are now

turning to all natural ingredients as more and more negative data is released. Lemon grass is

listed on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s and Generally Recognized as Safe

078-258-6133
[email protected]
www.facebook.com/300568QuezonNHS
Alunan, Quezon, Isabela
 QUEZON DISTRICT
QUEZON NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Alunan, Quezon, Isabela
 

(GRAS)’s list which means it is extremely safe (Gumban 2022). Individuals everywhere

throughout the world have come to depend on the strong insect repellent properties of lemon

grass and use it as an individual and area spray.

Mosquito-borne diseases are those spread by the bite of an infected mosquito.

Mosquitoes transmit diseases such as the Zika virus, West Nile virus, Chikungunya virus,

dengue fever, and malaria. Employers must safeguard employees, and employees must

protect themselves against mosquito-borne diseases. Although some people do not get sick

after being bitten by an infected mosquito, others have a mild, short-term illness or in rare

cases a serious long-term illness. Extreme cases of mosquito-borne infections might result in

death.

Insect repellents may have different characteristics but serve the same purpose and it

is keeping insects that carry disease away from people and from the area. The researchers

had come to terms that this is the topic that wanted to learn and talk about in the project.

The researchers wanted to conduct a research about the effectiveness of lemon

grass oil as a natural insect repellent. The researchers wanted to learn what the lemon grass

oil will do to the mosquitoes if they get close. The researchers wanted to study this so that

people will try to use natural (plant-based) repellents like lemon grass because it is very easy

to make and use.

II. Conceptual/Theoretical Framework

Not everyone likes to use strong insecticides toward off annoying mosquitoes. As a

result, a lot of individuals use plant-based pesticides to repel insects. Other people use oils

made from the plant as a natural repellent. These natural mosquito repellents are growing in

078-258-6133
[email protected]
www.facebook.com/300568QuezonNHS
Alunan, Quezon, Isabela
 QUEZON DISTRICT
QUEZON NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Alunan, Quezon, Isabela
 

popularity as people turn away from pesticides that can harm the environment, though their

efficacy is somewhat lower. (Johnson, 2022).

Lemon grass extract contains several active compounds such as myrcene, limonene,

citral, and geraniol. Although myrcene and limonene are aromatic compounds, citral and

geraniol serve as an antimicrobial and insecticidal, respectively. The plants also contain

geraniol and citronellol, two relatively well-known repellants. These latter two compounds

are found more abundantly in citronella plants. (C. nardus, which grows in USDA zones 10

through 12).

Lemon grass as a mosquito repellent is relatively effective, and its extract finds

widespread use on its own or in combination with other similar compounds. Lemongrass

extract among others is exempt from United States Environmental Protection Agency

registration.

Insect repellents help prevent and control the outbreak of insect-borne (and other

arthropod- borne) diseases such as malaria, Lyme disease, dengue fever, bubonic plague,

river blindness and West Nile fever. (Wikipedia, 2022).

Technically, an insect repellent is any chemical or natural, that causes insect or other

arthropods to make directed, oriented movements away from the source of repellent. And

lemon grass can be used as natural insect repellent (Helmenstine, 2021).

Percent composition by volume of

Lemongrass oil extract:

Average mortality rate

 10ml of lemongrass oil extract
of mosquitoes
 15ml of lemongrass oil extract
078-258-6133
 20ml [email protected]
lemongrass oil extract
www.facebook.com/300568QuezonNHS
Alunan, Quezon, Isabela
 QUEZON DISTRICT
QUEZON NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Alunan, Quezon, Isabela
 

III. Statement of the Problem

Generally, this study aims to prove the feasibility of lemon grass (Cymbopogon

Citratus) extract as insect repellent spray. Specifically, it seeks to answer the following

questions;

1. What is the average death rate of mosquitos in terms of volume composition?

1.1 10ml of lemongrass oil extract

1.2 15ml of lemongrass oil extract

1.3 20 ml of lemongrass oil extract

2. Is there a substantial variation in the efficiency of lemongrass oil extract in terms of

percent composition by volume?

3. Which percent composition by volume generates the most effective mosquito killer?

Hypothesis

There is no significant difference on the effectiveness of lemongrass oil extract in killing

mosquitoes in terms of percent composition by volume?

IV. Scope and Limitation of the Study

The study will center on creating lemongrass oil extract mosquito repellent spray. The

quantity of mosquitoes killed during each trial will be used to gauge the potency of the

aforementioned Lemongrass oil extract repellent spray. The Lemongrass oil extract repellent

078-258-6133
[email protected]
www.facebook.com/300568QuezonNHS
Alunan, Quezon, Isabela
 QUEZON DISTRICT
QUEZON NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Alunan, Quezon, Isabela
 

spray trial(s) will take place in a confined room with (10) mosquitoes present each trial in the

home of one of the researchers, and the manufacturing of the components will take place in

the researchers residence. It will be completed in the third quarter-second semester of the

2022–2023 academic year.

To calculate the mosquitoes’ death rate, arithmetic mean will be utilized. While with the

one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), will determine whether there is a notable change

per trial and per percent by volume.

V. Significance of the Study

This study will be conducted for the benefit of the following:

To the researchers, this would help the researchers to gain experience and would contribute

a good project/ outcome to the community.

For the Students in Senior High School, they might learn from this how important

lemongrass is as a primary component in insect repellent and how safe it would be for them

to use it daily.

For the Parents/Guardians, this will act as a guide for looking after and protecting their

kids.

For the Society, this could give them knowledge about the importance of lemongrass as an

insect repellent and to raise awareness on how to prevent insect- borne diseases.

For Future Researchers, this will help them by getting more information about their

research and they can use this as their basis so that they can make a research as well.

078-258-6133
[email protected]
www.facebook.com/300568QuezonNHS
Alunan, Quezon, Isabela
 QUEZON DISTRICT
QUEZON NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Alunan, Quezon, Isabela
 

VI. Definition of Terms

Alcohol is the type of mixture used to neutralize lemongrass oil and water.

Insect repellent refers to the output made from lemongrass oil.

Lemongrass oil refers to the type of essential extracted from lemongrass stalks.

Long-lastingness refers to the length of time for the repellency of lemongrass oil from

insects.

Safety means the appearance or no appearance of rashes.

Repellency means the number of landing attempts of mosquitoes which is set at 25; the

number of bite attempts of ants set at 24.

Arthropods are segmented, exoskeleton-covered invertebrate animals with paired jointed

appendages.

Cymbopogon citratus a genus of grasses found in warm areas of the Old World with

compound flower clusters of paired racemes encircled by bracts resembling spathes.

Chapter II

Review of Related Studies and Literature

The review of literature for this study focuses on the properties, benefits and

effectiveness of Lemongrass oil extract as a Natural Insect Repellent. Using Lemongrass oil

078-258-6133
[email protected]
www.facebook.com/300568QuezonNHS
Alunan, Quezon, Isabela
 QUEZON DISTRICT
QUEZON NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Alunan, Quezon, Isabela
 

extract as an insect repellent with its pleasing aroma and overall effectiveness were evident

through the related studies. The following factors are discussed further with its relation to the

study:

I. Foreign Literature

Lemongrass has insecticidal properties and the extracted oil is used as insect

repellent. Its extraction will help repel mosquitoes. The oil of the lemongrass is extracted by

steam distillation which is simply by pouring boiling water over foliage (Cruz, 2004)

From the Weed Society of Pakistan (2021), it is stated that the

components of lemongrass oil varied with where they are planned. Hence, major constituents

of lemongrass oil are citral oil, geraniol, mycerence, citronellal, and limonene. According to

homeguides.sfgate.com, lemongrass gas contains large amounts of geraniol and nerol and

small amounts of geraniol and citronellal which are used for repelling insects.

Citronella (Lemongrass) are the species used for production of citronella oil,

which is used in soaps, candles, and also in aromatherapy. Research has shown that citronella

helps to reduce mosquito landing around 40%. It works on insects without harming or killing

them. It has a distinctive odor which may make it difficult for some insect to locate the host

(Ghosh, 2022).

II. Foreign Studies

Repellents said by thehealthvermont.gov, natural insect repellents are safer than

DEET components of a repellent. The benefit of natural insect/mosquito repellent such as

catnip, citronella, and lemongrass is that they can drive insects away because of their sweet

078-258-6133
[email protected]
www.facebook.com/300568QuezonNHS
Alunan, Quezon, Isabela
 QUEZON DISTRICT
QUEZON NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Alunan, Quezon, Isabela
 

and strong smell, herbs that contain these essential oils and other components that the insects

dislike are effective in keeping the insects away, it is safer to say that children (that use these

natural repellents) can play in the backyard and can do activities outdoors without worrying

about insect bites.

Lemongrass as an insect repellent is relatively effective, and its oil finds widespread

use on its own or in combination with other similar compounds. Lemongrass should deter

many bugs from ruining a nice night on the deck or a fun day of playing in the backyard.

Lemongrass as a mosquito repellent works, though not as well as the strong, potentially

harmful chemicals in commercial insecticides. The plant is also effective on ants and it helps

prevent ant-borne diseases like E. Coli and Salmonella (Johnson, 2022)

There are some studies that in oils like lemongrass, lavender, peppermint, cedar,

citronella, geranium and other mosquito- repellent plants will keep insects away for between

thirty minutes and two hours. Generally speaking, these oils can be used topically without

issue (George et. al., 2021).

It should be noted that pure lemongrass oil can be hazardous to human skin. However,

for safe use, you must dilute lemongrass oil with water or even alcohol (Aegis Pest Services,

LTC., 2018).

III. Local Literature

078-258-6133
[email protected]
www.facebook.com/300568QuezonNHS
Alunan, Quezon, Isabela
 QUEZON DISTRICT
QUEZON NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Alunan, Quezon, Isabela
 

As stated by organicfacts.net, some health benefits that lemongrass oil gives are

analgesic, meaning they relieve pain. The oil is also an antidepressant, at the

same time antibacterial.

Aegis Pest Service states that, “Unlike the DEET insect repellent spray; which can be

poisonous, lemongrass is organic and safe. It is also registered in the list of EPA-GRAS, or

what the Environmental Protection Agency considers generally safe. It doesn’t contain any

chemical substances that may irritate a sensitive skin immediately.

Another certain benefit of making lemongrass as an insect repellent is its financial

benefit, it is said that some bottle of lemongrass insect repellent costs Php 40.00 it is highly

affordable than the other chemical insect repellent that can be brought in the market

(Fernandez, 2013).

IV. Local Studies

The Lemongrass plant is known to be an excellent mosquito repellant. According to a

study conducted in 2021, around 95% mosquitos from a specific range of species were either

killed or completely repelled due to the intense odor of lemongrass oil.

Commonly known as the Citronella oil, the impact of the essential oil from

Lemongrass is known to last for around two and a half hours. For some species of mosquitos,

it is even more. Given these proven benefits, Lemongrass has been touted to be one of the

best plants for repelling the impact of and from mosquitos.

078-258-6133
[email protected]
www.facebook.com/300568QuezonNHS
Alunan, Quezon, Isabela
 QUEZON DISTRICT
QUEZON NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Alunan, Quezon, Isabela
 

Citronella oil is an essential oil that’s made from the distillation of the Asian grass

plant in the Cymbopogon genus. This fragrant grass got its name from the French word

meaning “lemon balm,” due to its floral, citrus-like aroma.

Like many essential oils, citronella oil has certain benefits, and has been used in

China and Indonesia for centuries to treat rashes, infections, and other health conditions.

Today, citronella oil is probably best known as a natural insect repellent, but its uses

and benefits extend beyond keeping bugs at bay.

Essential Oil was extracted by Supercritical Carbon Dioxide (SC-CO2) from air-dried

Lemongrass (leaves and stems separately). The statistical experimental design with 23

factorials was formulated using Design-Expert Software (version 7.0.1). The effects of

temperature, pressure and size of raw material were analyzed employing the Response

Surface Methodology (RSM) technique. The extraction yield increased when pressure was

increased and temperature was decreased for both leaves and stems of lemongrass. The

models of extraction for both leaves and stems were established with the yield and citral

content of the essential oil as the responses. The optimum extraction conditions were found to

be 35.14°C, 11.1 MPa and 4.07 mm of particles size for leaves and 50°C, 11.1 MPa and 8mm

for particles size of stems.

V. Synthesis of literature and studies

In conclusion, lemongrass oil is really the important component of lemongrass that

can be used as an insect repellent. Using lemongrass as insect repellent provides lots of

078-258-6133
[email protected]
www.facebook.com/300568QuezonNHS
Alunan, Quezon, Isabela
 QUEZON DISTRICT
QUEZON NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Alunan, Quezon, Isabela
 

benefits such as health benefits and financial benefit which is its affordability. For safe use,

lemongrass oil is mixed with water and alcohol. Furthermore, these related studies show the

factors of lemongrass to make an alternative insect repellent.

Chapter III

Research Methodology

This chapter contains the process used in determining the effectiveness of

Lemongrass. Moreover, this chapter includes the Research Design, Sampling

Procedure, Locale of the Study, Data Gathering Instruments, Data Gathering Procedure, and

Tools for Data Analysis.

I. Research Design

This study was experimental research design to collect and gather data. By

conducting experiments on insects, specifically mosquitoes, this research hopes to show the

efficacy of lemongrass oil as insect repellent. This will establish the appropriate volume

percent composition to use in order to provide the desired output that will highlight the

mosquito fatality rate.

II. Sampling Procedure

The research subject to be observed and experimented were the mosquitoes. These

specific insects are chosen for they have this characteristic in which they would bite exposed

078-258-6133
[email protected]
www.facebook.com/300568QuezonNHS
Alunan, Quezon, Isabela
 QUEZON DISTRICT
QUEZON NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Alunan, Quezon, Isabela
 

skin of a human if it was not applied with any insect repellent product. Since the main goal of

this research was to test and prove the efficacy of lemongrass oil extract as a natural insect

repellent, mosquitoes were suitable to be the subject because of this specific characteristic

and diseases that may cause harm for the humans such as Malaria, Salmonella, and E. Coll.

On the other hand, the human subject was chosen through a sampling technique that

belongs to the Non-Probability sampling technique which is the Convenience sampling

because the participant was selected based on availability and willingness to take part for this

experiment.

III. Locale of the Study

The study will be conducted at the researcher’s residence in Samonte, Quezon, Isabela

during the second semester of school year 2022- 2023. Quezon is a border town of Isabela

with the province of Kalinga through the Quezon-Tabuk Road. It is bordered in the west by

the city of Tabuk. The researchers chose to do the experiment in this area since the materials

used for the experiment were easily provided.

IV. Materials and Equipment

The data obtained for this study will be gathered from the series of experiments

conducted. The researchers of this study will use various extraction tools for the extraction

process such as a strainer, curve pot cover and a stainless or steel glass receiving vessel. For

making the lemongrass insect repellent mixture, the researchers will use lemongrass essential

oil, chopped lemongrass, water and alcohol.

078-258-6133
[email protected]
www.facebook.com/300568QuezonNHS
Alunan, Quezon, Isabela
 QUEZON DISTRICT
QUEZON NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Alunan, Quezon, Isabela
 

V. Research Procedure

The data were obtained from experiments conducted.

A. Preparation Process

Twenty (20) estimated lemongrass leaves will be collected for the extraction process.

The lemongrass leaves will be cleaned and dried before doing the extraction process to avoid

other substances to be extracted during the process. The extracted lemongrass substance will

be stored in a bottle.

The researchers will prepare three (3) set ups; set-up one (1) will be made from 10ml

lemongrass oil extract, 20ml water, and 20 ml alcohol; set-up two (2) will be made from

15ml lemongrass oil extract, 15ml water, and 20ml alcohol; set-up three (3) will be made

from 20ml lemongrass oil extract, 10ml water, and 20ml alcohol.

The researchers will use 10 mosquitoes for each of the set-up. 5 minutes will be

allotted in each trials in terminating the mosquitoes using the Lemongrass Oil Extract

Mosquito Repellent spray.

B. Extraction Process

Extracting the lemongrass oil will be done through the Steam Distillation Process as

most of the essential oils are extracted using the method. Steam Distillation Process is a

technique used for separating substances which are immiscible with water, volatile in steam

and having high vapor pressure at the boiling temperature of water. This process can be used

078-258-6133
[email protected]
www.facebook.com/300568QuezonNHS
Alunan, Quezon, Isabela
 QUEZON DISTRICT
QUEZON NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Alunan, Quezon, Isabela
 

for purifying liquids with very high boiling points which separates organic compounds from

plant parts. (E.g. Lemongrass oil, Eucalyptus oil, etc.)

The researchers intend to use improvised apparatus such as a strainer, a curve pot

cover, and a stainless or steel glass receiving vessel.

Below illustrates the procedures of the extraction:

● The first thing to do is to set the pot filled with purified water on the heat source. The

water must not reach the bottom of the strainer, fill it with lemongrass.

● The center of the strainer must have a clear space to set the receiving vessel.

● Position the pot cover inside out of the strainer and make sure that the tip is centered

over the receiving vessel.

● The pot must be filled with ice as much as it can hold.

● Boil it up and gather the necessary amount of lemongrass extract from the receiving

vessel.

C. Making the Insect Repellent

In making the lemongrass insect repellent mixture, the following are the

Materials needed:

● 10ml lemongrass oil extract

078-258-6133
[email protected]
www.facebook.com/300568QuezonNHS
Alunan, Quezon, Isabela
 QUEZON DISTRICT
QUEZON NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Alunan, Quezon, Isabela
 

● 15ml lemongrass oil extract

● 20ml lemongrass oil extract

● 20ml water

● 15ml water

● 10ml water

● 20ml alcohol

Below shows the procedure on making insect repellent out of lemongrass oil:

● Mix the essential oil, water and alcohol.

● Pour the mixture in a spray bottle.

VI. Tools for Statistical Analysis

The statistical tools used to test the effectiveness of Lemongrass oil extract as mosquito

repellent spray are arithmetic mean and ANOVA. The mean is calculated by finding the sum

of all numbers, then divide how many numbers there are. Moreover, to calculate the

mosquitoes’ death rate, arithmetic mean will be utilized. While with the one-way Analysis of

Variance (ANOVA), will determine whether there is a notable change per trial and per

percent by volume.

078-258-6133
[email protected]
www.facebook.com/300568QuezonNHS
Alunan, Quezon, Isabela