The Effectiveness of Oregano (oreganum vulgare)

as Mosquito Repellent
 A Thesis Presented in Faculty of Lagangilang
Social Sciences Department

Abra State Institute of Sciences and Technology

Main Campus Lagangilang, Abra

Partial fulfillment in Tests for the Assignment

of Practical Research 2 STEM-12

Jabest Johann Joss T. Tesoro

Krishma Grazle Ruyan

Jannah Claire Buenafe

Zoren Joy Barbosa

Fernjoiy Chatoy

FEB 2023

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION
Background of the study

Mosquito (culicidae) is one of the species that can give threat

to person’s life. Mosquitoes bite and suck blood for
reproduction, but in sucking blood mosquitoes deal serious mental
threat due to their capabilitites to transmit diseases not only
in humans but also in animals. Mosquitoes has a wide range
capabilities to transcript their own ability to hide in dark
places, or humid places like under sinks, in showers, in closets,
under furniture, or in the laundry room.

(becker et al., 2010). Aedes albopictus (skuse 1894), also known

as asian tiger mosquito, is a container mosquito breeding
mosquito that bites aggressively during the day preferably
outdoors, and a field vector of Chikungunya virus, Dengue, Zika
virus and dirofilarial heartworms.

(Medlock et al., 2015). Among the mosquitoes all over the globe,
Ae. Albopictus is the most invasive mosquito species and the
success of its invasion is attributed to several fators, such as
its ecological plasticity and strong competitive ability, its
capacity to develop in urban areas exploiting a number of
artificial breeding sites (which are mainly present in private
properties), and the lack of efficient control

Oregano (Origanum Vulgare) is a plant which has many uses. People

use this as herbal medicine to cure cough, bronchitis and
asthma. Other medicinal uses include treatment for intestinal and
even heart problems. (threeleggedbunny 2011)

Several studies have been claimed that oregano extract had been
proven and tested as an insect repellent. Researchers have found
that biological hazards such as exposure to ticks and mosquitoes
can affect health. They have been suggesting using of permethrin-
impregnated clothing for employers and employees in addition to
daily repellent spray. ( Balanay et al.,)

Studies reflect that insect repellants play an important role in

preventing the mosquito vector, detering an insect from flying
to, landing on or biting human and animal skin. Generally, the
widely used compound as insect repellants are synthetic chemical
repellants but they bear the disadvantage of being unsafe for
humans, especially children and domestic animals because they may
cause irritation, hot sensation, rashes or allergy. So the
researchers thought about making an alternative mosquito
repellent incence that can be effective as commercial product. It
helps to minimize the different diseases caused by mosquitoes
such as dengue and malaria. (DC erasga 2019)

Oregano (Oreganum Vulgare) is considered as an excellent

antiseptic and insect repellent. It has some active ingredients
that mosquitoes avoided. Mosquitoes are rampant in neglected
areas even in areas that people being attended to. So studies aim
to find out the real effectiveness of oregano (oreganum vulgare)
as natural mosquito repellent.

Theoritical framewok
Theories about Oregano as a mosquito repellent research project,
(2019). It can prevent and use to kill mosquitoes in our house or
anywhere. It also prevent the insect 13 borne disease like
malaria, yellow fever, dengue and many more. It is not hazard
into our health because its ingredients is finely arranged to
make this project in a good phase it has good basis to use for
likewise chemical repellent is not good for our health becuase of
toxic effects of mosquito coil. The physical and chemical
properties of the mosquito coil, a commonly used mosquito
repellent in asia and south america were analysed. The smoke
emitted from the burning mosquito coil consist of submicron
particles (diameter less than 1m)coated with a considerable
amount of heavy metals, allethrin and a wide range of organic
vapors, such as phenol and o-cresol

Oregano as mosquito
repellent

Prevents
the insect
borne
Prevent disease like
Not hazard
and malaria,
into our
eliminate yellow
health
mosquito fever,
dengue and
Figure 1.
many
more.

Figure 1 theoritical paradigm

 Conceptual Framewrok
Shows the input which is the oregano (oreganum vulgare) leaves,
process which is conducting experiment to determine the
possibility of repelling mosquito naturally using oregano leaves,
and the output which is the natural mosquito repellent.

PROCESS

Origanum vulgare leaves Boiling Process

Origanum vulgare candle
Wax Mixing Process
as mosquito repellent
oil Molding process
INPUT OUTPUT

Figure 1.2 Conceptual Paradigm

Significance of the Study

This research aims to determine the possibility of repelling
mosquitos using oregano leaves. The researchers believe that the
findings of the study will benefit the following:

Student. to learn about the qualities of oregano leaves and how

they can help make them more efficient in killing mosquitoes.
Moreover, it protects students from insects that suck blood and
transfer severe sickness.
Teachers.to increase students’understanding of the
characteristics of oregano leaves that make them an important
component in manufacturing the aforementioned product as well as
to teach the students how to manufactured their own mosquito
reppelent.
Home owners.to provide knowledge on how to make a mosquito
repellent that is cheaper to produce than the commercial products
that are currently on the market.
Community. the study will be advantageous to the neighborhood in
that it will help local officials and groups come up with plans
for halting the spread of diseases carried by mosquitoes.
Environment. a natural insect repellent created from oregano leaf
extract will benefit the ecology while lowering toxicity for
humans.
Future researchers.future researchers will utilize the results of
this study as reference to do additional research on the
effectiveness of oregano as a mosquito repellent and to elucidate
the facts behind it.
Parents.the results of the study give the parent and their
families oeace of mind that they would be shielded from
mosquitoes and the negative effects of the repellent.

Statement of the Problem

We are currently writing a Research entitled “THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF OREGANO (OREGANUM VULGARE) AS NATURAL MOSQUITO
REPELLENCE” as a partial fulfillment of the requirements of
Practical Research 2 STEM 12 and these are the following
questions that the Researcher’s will attempts to answer:
1. What time period is repellent most effective?
2. Which is more effective, the commercial product or
the oregano incense stick?
3. What time exactly does an oregano incense stick burn
out?
Scope and delimitation

this investigation sought to ascertain wether oregano leaves

could serve as a mosquito deterrent. The location of this study
was going to be one of the researchers’ homes. In tagodtod,
Lagangilang, Abra, researchers ran an experiment to see how
effective the aforementioned drug was. The aforementioned
research helped university of abra student researchers hone their
skills in conducting experiments and creating an outcome. In
order to asses the effectiveness of the aforementioned repellent,
the researchers have designated a time frame during which they
must gather as much information as they can. More materials and
techniques are allowed for the experimental research that the
researchers would do in order to produce superior resluts.
Positive or negative results.

Null Hypothesis
In order to make question 1 and 3 irrelevant, the null
hypothesis is created for question number 2.
HO1. The natural oregano and the commercial product are identical
in most respects.
Operational Definition of Terms

Effectiveness- the capability of producing a desired results or

the ability to produce desired output.
Oregano- a bushy perennial mint with leaves that are used as a
seasoning and a source of aromatic oil.
Mosquito- a slender long-legged fly with aquatic larvae
Mosquito Repellent- a substance that defers mosquitoes from
approaching or setling. Natural- existing in or caused by natur;
not made or cuased by human
Oregano- a bushy perennial mint with leaves that are used as a
seasoning and a source of aromatic oil.
Repellent- serving or tending to drive away or ward off.
- Able to repel a particular thing;impervious to a
particular substance.
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Related Literature
Oregano has been grown for centuries in the Mediterranean
region, according to Singletary (2010), however it is now grown
on other continents, primarily in Asia. Actually, there are
multiple species of "oregano" that can be used in cooking and
medicine, not just one single species. Taking into consideration
the findings of Iran's ethnological review. According to
published research in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic
Research (2010)

oregano (Origanum vulgare) can be used for a variety of

purposes, including as an insect repellent for flies, mosquitoes,
and cockroaches as well as an energy producer, diuretic, stomach
booster, nervous system reliever, laxative, and anticancer.
Oregano is one of the most commercially valuable ingredients in
the majority of insect repellents, whether they be chemical or
natural As Baser(2008).

The Genera Origanum and Lippia, which Baser (2008) also

mentioned. It is possible to use due to the presence of carvacrol
and thymol, which both have antimicrobial properties that can
repel. Carvacrol is the main phenolic constituent of thyme
essential oil and was tested for pharmacological effects on the
central nervous system and found to have repelling activity when
administered to cockroaches directly.
Oregano is a medicinal herb valued for its anti-oxidant, anti-
microbial, and anti-parasitic effects. It is used to treat
bacterial and fungal infections as well as gastrointestinal
issues, muscle discomfort, insect bites, menstrual symptoms, and
a variety of other conditions. It contains iron, vitamins,
calcium, magnesium, copper, niacin, and thiamine. Dried oregano
leaves are frequently used for medicinal purposes. Thymol and
rosmarinic acid are two substances that indicate oregano has
anti-oxidant properties. These substances aid in the removal of
free radicals, reducing cell damage and membrane alterations. A
medium-sized apple and a spoonful of fresh oregano both provide
the same amount of antioxidants. The viability of oregano was
examined in a previous study by Bill Arga's (2010)

Oreganum vulgare, usually referred to as oregano leaves,

includes thymol and carvacrol, which are mosquito-repelling
compounds. The 40 ml bottle of insect repellent spray, which
contained 10.5% (v/v%) of the total active components, exhibited
100% mosquito repellence at the start of the experiment. The
mosquito repellent's major ingredient is oregano leaves, which
are also found in small amounts in cloves, mint leaves, water,
and isophryl alcohol. Kentia (2002)

Three copies of the study were run. The product's initial

replication demonstrated 100% mosquito-repelling effectiveness as
well. In contrast, only 93% was seen on the second and third
replicates. This is in contrast to the indoor field trial, which
involved 16 volunteers and was conducted for three hours each day
for seven days. According to this trial, the mosquito repellent
spray showed 100% effectiveness against mosquitoes in about four
days. The bio-efficacy of the repellent, however, had reduced
from the fifth trial to the final one, which was conducted on the
fifth day of the week, with a total number of 84% mosquito
repulsion. To for the repellent to function, you had to spray it
exactly ten (10) times. These draw the conclusion that there is a
connection between the length and effectiveness of the product
and the quantity of repellent spray used in the subject. The
aforementioned product was safe to use because herbal plants are
natural and non-toxic.

The skin of the test participants exposed to the extract showed

no signs of skin irritation or rashes. Numerous factors, such as
the species of insect, the characteristics of the volunteers, and
the attraction of synthetic materials to mosquitoes, could have
an impact on the findings of this experiment. The volunteers
enjoy the scent of the insect repellent. However, the aroma in
the insect repellent has a short shelf life. Argas (2010)

Further research is required to clarify the effectiveness herbal

mosquito repellent formulations against a variety of mosquito
species as well as to identify the active ingredients responsible
for their repellent activity so that they can, if necessary, be
used in the creation of a commercial mosquito repellent product.
Argas (2010)

According to Singletary (2010), oregano has been grown in the

Mediterranean region for centuries; nevertheless, it is currently
grown on other continents, mainly in Asia. Actually, there are
several varieties of "oregano" that can be used in both food
preparation and medicine.

Considering the results of Iran's ethnological analysis.

According to research that was published in the Journal of
Clinical and Diagnostic Research (2010), oregano (Origanum
vulgare) has a variety of uses, including promoting energy,
acting as a diuretic, boosting digestion, calming the nervous
system, acting as a laxative, and being anticancer. Fly,
mosquito, and cockroach repellent is another application for it.

Oregano is one of the most commercially useful chemicals in

the majority of insect repellents, whether they are chemical or
natural, as Baser (2008) so beautifully put it. Oregano: The
Genera Origanum and Lippia is a book by Kintzio (2002) that Baser
(2008) also cited. Carvacrol and thymol, which both have
antibacterial qualities that can resist, are present, making it
possible to use. When directly fed to cockroaches, carvacrol, the
primary phenolic component of thyme essential oil, was found to
exhibit repelling properties. It has been studied for its
pharmacological effects on the central nervous system.

Oregano is a medicinal herb prized for its antioxidant,

anti-microbial, and anti-parastic benefits, according to earlier
research by Bill Arga (2010). It is used to treat a wide range of
ailments, including bacterial and fungal infections,
gastrointestinal problems, muscle aches, insect bites,
menstruation symptoms, and more. Iron, vitamins, calcium,
magnesium, copper, niacin, and thiamine are all present in it.
For therapeutic purposes, dried oregano leaves are commonly
employed. Two compounds suggest that oregano has antioxidant
properties: thymol and rosmarinic acid. By assisting in the
elimination of free radicals, these chemicals help to prevent
cell damage and membrane changes. The amount of antioxidants in a
medium-sized apple and a tablespoon of fresh oregano is equal.

Joshua Santos (2009) evaluated the survivability of oregano.

Oreganum vulgare, more commonly known as oregano leaves, contains
the mosquito-repelling chemicals thymol and carvacrol. At the
beginning of the experiment, the insect repellent spray in the 40
ml bottle, which contained 10.5% (v/v%) of the total active
ingredients, completely kept mosquitoes away. Oregano leaves,
which are also present in trace amounts in cloves, mint leaves,
water, and isophryl alcohol, are the main component of the
mosquito repellant. There were three runs of the study. The
product's initial replication also showed that it was 100%
efficient at repelling mosquitoes. On the second and third
replicates, on the other hand, only 93% was observed.

In comparison, the indoor field trial had 16 volunteers and

was carried out over the course of seven days for three hours
each day. This study found that after four days, the insect
repellent spray had a 100% success rate against mosquitoes. The
final trial, which was conducted on the fifth day of the week,
had a total number of 84% mosquito repulsion, however the bio-
efficacy of the repellent had decreased from the fifth trial to
the final one. You have to spray the repellant exactly ten (10)
times for it to work. These infer that there is a relationship
between the duration and potency of the product and the amount of
repellent spray applied to the subject.

Due to the natural and non-toxic nature of herbal plants,

the aforementioned product was safe to use. The test subjects'
skin did not exhibit any rashes or signs of skin irritation after
being exposed to the extract. The results of this experiment
could be influenced by a wide range of variables, including the
type of insect used, the traits of the volunteers, and the
attraction of synthetic materials to mosquitoes. The volunteers
love the insect repellent's fragrance. The insect repellent's
fragrance, however, has a limited shelf life.
 In order to determine the active ingredients responsible for
the repellent activity of herbal mosquito repellent formulations
against a variety of mosquito species and, if necessary, use them
in the development of a commercial mosquito repellent product,
more research is required. In any case, it was suggested that
future experts use research tools like laboratories to discover
the active molecules responsible for repellence in order to
acquire more accurate and dependable results. Similar to that,
other techniques, including steam distillation, can be employed
to remove the leaves.

According to a 2013 study by Jayson Bautista, oregano leaves

can be used to make a mosquito repellent. Is it feasible to kill
mosquitoes using oregano leaves? is a research query that the
study satisfactorily responds to. It especially addressed the
following research queries: a. What qualities of oregano leaves
make them an appropriate ingredient in insect repellent? b.) Is
it possible to create a mosquito repellent with oregano leaves?
c.) How may using oregano leaves to ward off mosquitoes work? To
learn whether oregano leaves may be used to deter mosquitoes, the
researchers reviewed pertinent literature and conducted
experiments, observations, surveys, and interviews. The
researchers seek relevant literature for information that will
help them address some of their research questions. The
researchers also conducted an experiment and assessed the
outcomes. The researchers also conducted an interview and survey
to get further information for the aforementioned study. Each
piece of data the researchers gathered was interpreted and
examined using their results. The researchers conducted a
literature review to identify the characteristics of oregano
leaves that make them a viable ingredient in mosquito killer and
any potential effects of using oregano leaves in mosquito
control. What qualities of oregano leaves make them an excellent
choice as an ingredient in a mosquito repellent? According to
Simangan (2015), plant-based phytochemicals are utilized in
insecticides that are used to kill adult mosquitoes or mosquito
larvae as well as repellents that help people avoid getting
bitten by mosquitoes. Depending on the polarity of the
phytochemical, a number of solvents, including water, methanol,
chloroform, benzene, acetone, etc., are used to extract the
phytochemicals from the entire plant or a specific area of the
plant. One of the many compounds that oregano includes is
carvacrol, a naturally occurring insect repellent, according to
Coles (2013).

According to Daniella (2015). A study was done using oregano

oil with the aim to evaluate the effectiveness of oregano oil on
repellency, emergence, and mortality of the maize weevil and
larger grain borer. The results were outstanding as all weevil
died within 48 hours of use while 92% of larger grain borers died
within 72 hours. The repellency index shows total repellence at
24 hours. The study concluded oregano oil concentration and time
were the most needed variable in controlling both insects and
species. 

Another research which was carried out for the vector –

borne diseases which were usually transferred to humans and
animals through mosquito bites and ticks (arthropods) carrying
one or more infected pathogens. It was found out that the insects
were repelled 100% when carvacrol, linalool, p-cymene and thymol
found in the oregano oil were many. 

According to Anderson (2020). Since oregano can be turned

into an oil, there are many other factors that oregano can be
used for.  Oregano oil can be used as originally insect
repellent. Due to the scent that oregano has, insects will not go
near to it. Also oregano oil can be applied as an acne treatment,
any type of fungus, irritation and helps to get rid of stains.
Basically, oregano oil is a super oil that can be used for
anything and everything. 

It may help in the fight against antibiotic resistance: Some

people believe that we can stave off antibiotic resistance by
turning to natural solutions like oregano oil more likely. One
lab test in 2001 found that oregano oil was effective in killing
staphylococcus bacteria, and another published laboratory study
out of the UK found that it showed effectiveness on 25 different
bacteria. (Coles, 2013). 

Oregano soothes digestion in the digestive tract and reduces

vomiting by avoiding the spasms in the intestines. It also
destroys gastrointestinal bacteria directly, and reduces gas and
bloating. The current theory is that inflammatory bowel disorders
such as Crohn's and or Colitis may have a triad of causes that
predispose. These factors include: an unbalancement of gut flora,
a trigger event such as emotional or physical stress, and a
bacterial or microbial invasion (infection). By this theory,
studies are investigating the use of oregano oil to treat IBD,
and help prevent flares. Oregano can be used in many ways based
on traditions and scientific theories like mosquito repellent,
abortifacient, anti-viral, anti-oxidants, bad breath, and some
other kinds of illness and diseases. They often haven't been
tested in humans, safety and effectiveness have not been always
proven, but some of them have been proven in some studies.
According to the study of Alizadeh, Azemi, & Sharififard (2018),
Oregano 40% exhibited more repellency compared to commercial
insect repellent sticks containing 33% DEET. Further studies are
warranted to confirm the effectiveness of oregano essential oil
in personal protecting against bed bug biting. 

According to the study of Deizel (2006) Oregano (Origanum

vulgare), which is hardy in the U.S. Department of Agriculture
zones 4 through 8, is a tasty herb, and it's recommended as a
folk remedy for illnesses such as diabetes and spasms, although
little evidence exists to support these recommendations. Some
gardeners’ plant oregano in the garden to repel pests such as
mosquitoes, and others claim the essential oil is a mosquito
repellent. Scientific evidence to support this claim is scarce,
but oregano does contain two chemicals with known repellent
properties, and because oregano is "generally recognized as safe"
by the U.S Food and Drug Administration, it doesn't hurt to
experiment for yourself. 

According to Scientists at Aristotle University of

Thessalonik (2006), Greece discovered that oil of oregano has
insecticidal activities against the common fruit fly. The
essential oil, and their main constituents, carvacrol and thymol,
were tested for insecticidal and genotoxic activities on
Drosophila. While the oil was found to be an effective
insecticide, they discovered that carvacrol was more toxic than
thymol against this common household pest. 

According to the study of Alizadeh, Azemi, & Sharififard

(2018), Oregano 40% exhibited more repellency compared to
commercial insect repellent sticks containing 33% DEET. Further
studies are warranted to confirm the effectiveness of oregano
essential oil in personal protecting against bed bug biting. 

According to the study of Deizel (2006) Oregano (Origanum

vulgare), which is hardy in the U.S. Department of Agriculture
zones 4 through 8, is a tasty herb, and it's recommended as a
folk remedy for illnesses such as diabetes and spasms, although
little evidence exists to support these recommendations. Some
gardeners’ plant oregano in the garden to repel pests such as
mosquitoes, and others claim the essential oil is a mosquito
repellent. Scientific evidence to support this claim is scarce,
but oregano does contain two chemicals with known repellent
properties, and because oregano is "generally recognized as safe"
by the U.S Food and Drug Administration, it doesn't hurt to
experiment for yourself. 

According to Scientists at Aristotle University of

Thessalonik (2006), Greece discovered that oil of oregano has
insecticidal activities against the common fruit fly. The
essential oil, and their main constituents, carvacrol and thymol,
were tested for insecticidal and genotoxic activities on
Drosophila.
 CHAPTER III
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY