REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
REGION 02 (CAGAYAN VALLEY)
SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE OF CAGAYAN

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study

Mosquitoes are relatively small insects which distributed human beings.

Mosquitoes are vectors that can transmit the disease to human such as Dengue Fever,

Malaria, Yellow Fever and Japanese Encephalitis and several other infections. Only

the female feeds on human and needed blood meal in order to produce eggs. During

a feeding, the female mosquito bites the human skin, injects saliva, and is therefore

vectors for a number of infectious diseases affecting millions of people per

year.

The Saliva contains various protection that keeps the blood flowing into the

mosquito’s mouth. The saliva proteins can cause immune reaction, and the symptoms

change over time depending on the amount of bites a person receive. However, most

people have a variety of reactions to mosquito bites, this include both immediate

and delayed swelling and itching around the bite area. Dengue fever cases

rapidly hike during rainy days as breading grounds of female mosquitoes abound

such as on stagnant water containers and tires. Subramaniam, J. Kovendan

(2012).

Lemon grass is, also called fever grass, a perennial plant with thin, long

leaves that is indigenous to many Asian countries. Lemongrass can grow up to 3-8

feet tall, with a soft fountain of fragrant foliage. With a tangy lemony scent and

flavor, Through usually described as a lemony flavor, the taste has a dash of extra

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 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
REGION 02 (CAGAYAN VALLEY)
SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE OF CAGAYAN

sweetness and a complete absence of bitter flavor along with the enchanting lemon

scent.

There are remarkable mosquito repellents but are toxic against the human skin

and may cause rashes swelling and eye irritations. This has therefore necessitated the

need for research and development of environmental safe, biodegradable, low cost,

indigenous methods for vector control which can be used with minimum care by

individuals and communities.

Lemongrass is widely used in Indian, Thai and Vietnamese for cooking as

well as medicine. Here in the Philippines it also known as “Tanglad” used for

traditional medication. Lemon grass contains citral, which is an essential oil, having

medical and other useful significance. Nutritionally, lemon grass is a good source of

vitamins A and C, folic acid, magnesium, zinc, copper, iron, potassium, calcium and

manganese. Cymbopogon citratus is the scientific name of lemongrass, barbed wire

grass silky heads, cochin grass, Malabar grass, oily heads, citronella grass or fever

grass family. Lemongrass are used in perfumery, flavor, for fortifying lemon oil and

has strong antimicrobial qualities.

In Cagayan provinces recorded the most number of cases with 3,324 with 15

death followed by Isabela with 2,933 with 18 deaths . Nueva Vizcaya has 801 cases

bu t no record death while Quirino has 720 cases with 2 deaths. Batanes has only 8

cases with no recorded deaths. Health officials order to sustain anti-dengue

information drives and clean up activities including tree pruning or trimming, road

and canal cleaning operations. Fogging operations, destruction of dengue mosquito breeding

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 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
REGION 02 (CAGAYAN VALLEY)
SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE OF CAGAYAN

sites, elimination of ornamental plants that store water in their stems and leaves are

done to avoid illnesses cause by mosquitoes. Department of Health (2019).

Vodka is a clear liquor manufactured from ethyl alcohol. It lacks color, and

normally has very little taste or aroma. Vodka is widespread because it can be

produced easily and avoid taxation. Vodka is known for its ability to kill insects,

even pesky bugs. If someone end up with a small bite, vodka can also aid in taking

the sting away. Miller, (1982). The extract of lemon grass is added to balance the

harsh alcohol on the skin.

There are man types of mosquito repellents which are available. Spray

mosquito are very common, cream or lotion repellents are applied directly to skin

rubbed to create a repellent barrier. Liquidizers and coil are also widely used all

around the world. In addition, there are also physical methods to repel mosquitoes

such as mosquito nets. Moreover, there are mechanical methods such as electric

Mosquito Zappers that work by using ultraviolet light to lure in mosquitoes and then

kill them upon contact with its lethal dose of electric charge. Insect repellents may

have different properties, but they all serve the same purpose: to keep disease-

carrying insects away from us and our surroundings.

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 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
REGION 02 (CAGAYAN VALLEY)
SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE OF CAGAYAN

B. Conceptual Framework

Input Process Out put

 Mixture of
 Extraction lemongrass
 Lemongrass
(Cymbopogon
 Mixing of lemongrass citratus) and vodka
 Vodka
and vodka use as alternative
mosquito killer

C. Statement of the Problem

This research aims to create a mixture of lemongrass and vodka use as

alternative mosquito killer.

Specifically, the study aimed to;

 How often should the repellent be reapplied?

 How long does the mixture could used?

 What are the possible effect of the mixture when it used by sensitive people?

 What would would happen if it accidentally inhaled by the user?

 How long does the effective of the mixture?

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 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
REGION 02 (CAGAYAN VALLEY)
SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE OF CAGAYAN

D. Objectives

This section outlines the objectives which guided the study as follow;

 To determine the potential effect of the mixture on humans.

 To see if the mixture is successful

E. Hypothesis

F. Significance of the Study

This study can be important to the environment because of this pure herbal

mosquito killer, we could lessen some malaria diseases. By using this product , harmful

chemicals can be lessen by buying safe and non-harmful plant based mosquito killer.

Many chemicals based mosquito insecticides are being sold every year and many of

them are not safe or even healthy in our part as a human. This investigatory project

will benefit the people who are suffering from rashes or irritation due to the presence

of harmful chemicals in insecticides. To avoid this happening, it is important to

produce a product that will positively benefit the human kind . Students can be well

knowledgeable about how a simple yet powerful and useful plat, which is lemongrass

ca be significant to the student’s lives. People can be enlightened by the use of this

plant and to the product that will be produced in this project.

It is hope that this study may provide data that can be beneficial to individuals

and community to help them avoid diseases coming from mosquitoes. This study may

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 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
REGION 02 (CAGAYAN VALLEY)
SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE OF CAGAYAN

provide information on how effective the products in spraying mosquitoes. It may also

help individuals realized the importance of the mixture of lemongrass and vodka.

G. Scope and Delimitation

This study focuses on the time span of its effectiveness , skin health

irritability and repellent activity of the mixture as an alternative killer.

H. Definition of Terms

The terms used in this study are defined as follows,

Lemongrass -

Vodka - a clear liquor manufactured from ethyl alcohol

Alternative - offering or expressing a choice

Mixture - something that made by combining two or more ingredients

Effectiveness -

Malaria Diseases -

Mosquito - a small flying insect that bites the skin of the people and animals that can

diseases.

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 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
REGION 02 (CAGAYAN VALLEY)
SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE OF CAGAYAN

CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

According to the study of Johirul Islam et al., (2017) entitled “Protection

against mosquito vectors Aedes aeygypti, Anopheles stephensi and culex

quinquefasciatus using a novel insect repellent , ethyl anthranilate”. Growing concern

on the application of synthetic mosquito repellents in the recent years has instigated

the identification and development of better alternative to control different mosquito

borne diseases.

Present investigation evaluates the repellent activity of ethyl annihilate (EA), a

non-toxic, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved volatile food additive

against three known mosquito vectors under laboratory conditions following standard

protocols.

Another one is the study of lemongrass as an insect repellent is relatively

effective, and its oil finds widespread used on its own in contribution with other

similar compounds. Lemongrass should deter many bugs from ruining nice night on

the deck or a fun day of playing in the backyard . Lemongrass as a mosquito

repellent works , through not as well as strong , potentially harmful chemicals in

diseases like E. Coli and salmonella (Johnson (2019).

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

citronella, geranium, and the other, mosquitoes-repellent plants will keep insects away

for between thirty minutes and two hours . Generally speaking these oil can be be

used topically without issue ( George et al 2016) .

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 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
REGION 02 (CAGAYAN VALLEY)
SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE OF CAGAYAN

According to the study of Shola K. Babatunde (2017) entitled “Phytochemical

composition and larvidical activity of Ocimum canum ( L.) essential oil against

Anopheles gambiae (diptera: culicadae). Malaria is a serious health problem in many

countries of the world especially sub-Saharan African . Anopheles mosquito which is

the vector of this disease has developed resistance against synthetic parathyroids

which are the main stay insecticide treated bed nets.

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 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
REGION 02 (CAGAYAN VALLEY)
SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE OF CAGAYAN

CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

A. Materials

30 mosquitoes

60/120 g lemongrass leaves

1 piece basin

3 empty spray bottle

1L and 500 l tap water (making the concentration)

3L washing the leaves

1 measuring cup (ml)

2 Casserole

50 ml vodka

3 pieces of beaker

B. Preparation of the Product

Step 1: Prepare the Lemongrass

Take your fresh lemongrass and make sure it is thoroughly clean. You will be
steeping it in hot water, so there should be no dirt or debris in it. The stem can stay
attached and be steeped along with the leaves.

Step 2: Boil water for steeping

When the water has boiled, pour it over the lemongrass in a container, cover it
and leave it to sit for several hours. Be sure to only used the amount of water the
recipe calls for. To much water and the lemongrass infusion will be weaker than you
want it for the maximum effectiveness.

Step 3: Transfer infused water

After the lemongrass has steeped in the water for several hours, sift out the
leaves and pour the lemongrass water into a spray bottle. Squeeze every last drop of
liquid out of the saturated leaves into the bottle as well.

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 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
REGION 02 (CAGAYAN VALLEY)
SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE OF CAGAYAN

Step 4: Mix with vodka

The vodka is used as a carrier and diluted. In the spay bottle, pour in the thirty
ml of vodka and mix it with the thirty ml lemongrass extract by shaking the bottle
gently.

Step 5 : Apply insect repellent

Now that the lemongrass water is mixed with vodka, attach the spray bottle
nozzle to the container. It can be sprayed onto your skin or clothes and your
surrounding to repel stinging insects. Do not get it in your eyes, nasal cavity or
mouth, and make sure that it stays out of reach of young children.

C. Research Design

Lemongrass Number of
Treatments Leaves Vodka(ml) Water (ml) mosquitoes
pieces/amount(g) (pieces)

A 10/20g 10ml 500ml 10

B 20/40g 20ml 500ml 20

C 30/60g 30ml 500ml 30

D. Testing the mixture of Lemongrass and Vodka

Researchers will test the mixture of lemongrass and vodka if its

effective

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 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
REGION 02 (CAGAYAN VALLEY)
SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE OF CAGAYAN

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