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POTENCY OF OREGANO (ORIGANUM VULGARE) AND BASIL (OCIMUM BASILICUM) EXTRACTS AS

MOSQUITO REPELLANT

Potency of Oregano (Origanum vulgare) and Basil (Ocimum basilicum) Extract as Mosquito

Repellant

Jericho Mark Clarence T. Valino, Luis Miguel B. Bernabe, John Martin T. Cruz,

Earl Dhane P. Diño, Kurt Yvan M. Lugtu, Portia Colyn P. Manalastas

Angeles University Foundation Integrated School

Author Note

Jericho Mark Clarence T. Valino, Luis Miguel B. Bernabe, John Martin T. Cruz, Earl

Dhane P. Diño, Kurt Yvan M. Lugtu, and Portia Colyn P. Manalastas of Grade 11-St. Thomas

Didymus, Angeles University Foundation Integrated School, Maria Soledad Avenue, Angeles

City, Philippines.

This research was published trough the support and advice of valuable mentors: Jezrel

Given D. Cortez, Rose Ann E. Luciano, Red River Martin V. Rombaoa, and Melvin Art R.

Salonga.

Correspondence concerning article should be addressed to Jericho Mark Clarence T.

Valino, Senior High School Department, Angeles University Foundation Integrated School,

Angeles City, Philippines. Email: jmctagapan40@gmail.com

I. Introduction
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POTENCY OF OREGANO (ORIGANUM VULGARE) AND BASIL (OCIMUM BASILICUM) EXTRACTS AS
MOSQUITO REPELLANT
Nowadays, mosquitoes are one of the use of mosquito repellant rise, because it

leading cause of diseases that affect humans may be the easiest way to repel mosquitoes.

and selected animals[1]. Mosquito-borne However, most mosquito repellants contain

diseases do not only cause diseases but can chemicals that could bring negative effects

also lead to death. Malaria, chikungunya, on the users. Pyrethrums, the primary type

dog heartworm, dengue, Yellow Fever, of chemical used for repellant can lead to

Eastern equine encephalitis, St. Louis pyrethrin poisoning include painful rashes

encephalitis, LaCrosse encephalitis, Western (if applied to the skin) or constricted

equine encephalitis, West Nile virus, and breathing (if inhaled). Prolonged exposure to

Zika virus are the common mosquito-related the substance can numb the lips and tongue.

diseases[2]. Patients have also reported experiencing

nausea, dizziness, restlessness, tinnitus,

According to WHO (2015)[3]
incoordination, convulsions, and stupor[5].
mosquitoes are one of the deadliest animals

in the world. Their ability to carry and The objective of this study is to

spread disease to humans causes millions of create an organic mosquito repellant. It is a

deaths every year. In 2015 malaria alone reasonable option because it can be easily

caused 438 000 deaths; the worldwide found in surroundings by anyone and it is

incidence of dengue has risen 30-fold in the more affordable than those of the

past 30 years, and more countries are commercial ones. Plants such as Oregano

reporting their first outbreaks of the disease. (Origanum vulgare) and Basil (Ocimum

Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and yellow basilicum) which have repellant properties

fever are all transmitted to humans by the could be the potential answers for adjusting

Aedes aegypti mosquito[4]. Due to this, the basic conditions mosquitoes and repellant
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POTENCY OF OREGANO (ORIGANUM VULGARE) AND BASIL (OCIMUM BASILICUM) EXTRACTS AS
MOSQUITO REPELLANT
bring. The researchers aim lessen or to The scope of this study is to

eliminate the use of chemical-based determine whether herbal plants such as

mosquito repellant by making an organic Oregano (Origanum vulgare) and Basil

repellant and giving the community an (Ocimum basilicum) has repellant properties.

alternative to it. It also intends to compare and contrast the

potency of Oregano, Basil, and Oregano-

There are many repellants that can be
basil mixture. This study will limit with the
sold in the market nowadays but most of
use of mosquitoes and its habitat. The
them contain chemicals so the researchers
researchers would be guided accordingly,
decided to make mosquito repellant that is
considering everyone’s safety.
organic. In this time, communities have lot

of problems involving our environment. The researcher would put polluted

Thus, this study will help reduce the harmful water into four different containers and let

effects of the other mosquito repellant. The mosquitoes reproduce there with different

researchers decided to use Origanum oils outside the container: container with no

vulgare and Ocimum Basilicum as their herbal oils, container with Oregano

organic compounds. (Origanum vulgare) oil, container with Basil

(Ocimum basilicum) oil, and container with

This study aims to answer the
Oregano-basil oils. After that, the researcher
following questions:
would gather the mosquitoes’ larvae and
A. Will Oregano-basil mixture be an
compare the amount of it. Thus, the
effective mosquito repellant?
researcher would analyze the collected data.
B. Will it be effective as a commercial
The experiment would be conducted in Air
mosquito repellant?
Force City, Clark Air Base considering the
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POTENCY OF OREGANO (ORIGANUM VULGARE) AND BASIL (OCIMUM BASILICUM) EXTRACTS AS
MOSQUITO REPELLANT
amount of mosquito living there and the data B. Researchers – People behind the

collected larvae would be analyze in creation of mosquito repellant will

Angeles University Foundation Integrated benefit from this study since this

School’s laboratory. insect repellant will help them create

organic compound that are safe to

The significance of the study, it will
users.
determine whether local plants especially C. Less-fortunate individuals – This
Origanum vulgare and Ocimum basilicum mosquito repellant will be easy to
are capable of repelling mosquito and create since Oregano and Basil can
eliminate its threat. Thus, the organic be easily found and it is a low-cost
mosquito repellant will serve as an repellant unlike repellant made from
alternative to chemical-based mosquito chemicals.
D. Ecosystem – Our habitat will benefit
repellant. This study will also raise
from this study since it will create
awareness to the threat of mosquito-related
low-cost and organic mosquito
diseases and prevent it from spreading.
repellant; it will lessen the release of
This study will benefit the following:
Chlorofluorocarbons emitted by

A. Commonly flooded communities – sprayable mosquito repellant.

People living in commonly flooded The researchers came up to null

communities will benefit from this hypothesis that the Oregano (Origanum
study since this insect repellant will vulgare) and Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
be easily available and helpful in the extracts are not compatible to make an
prevention or spread of mosquito effective mosquito repellant. While the
related diseases. alternative hypothesis is Oregano
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POTENCY OF OREGANO (ORIGANUM VULGARE) AND BASIL (OCIMUM BASILICUM) EXTRACTS AS
MOSQUITO REPELLANT
(Origanum vulgare) and Basil (Ocimum C. Materials/Instruments

basilicum) extracts are compatible to make

The researchers will make use of the
an effective mosquito repellant.
mortar and pestle to extract the oregano and

II. Methodology basil juices. The researcher will also use

A. Introduction
ssharp materials such as knife and scissor to
In this research the researchers decided cut the components into smaller pieces.
to use Kettle will be used to boil water that will be

added in the mortar and pestle, containers

will be use to contain the extracts, and spoon

B. Research Design
will be use to mix all of the components.

This is a qualitative and experimental The researchers will use a spray bottle as a

study which made use of experimenting final container of the product.

plants as ingredients for insect repellant. The

D. Samples/Subjects
researchers will be experimenting two kinds  Oregano – The researchers will use

of herbal plant, that can create a low-cost Oregano as one of the main subject

herbal mosquito repellant. With this in the study. The potency of Oregano

experiment we can determine if the herbal as mosquito repellant will be tested

plant that we will be using is effective to in the study.

 Basil – The researchers will also use
repel insects especially mosquitoes. In this
Basil as one of the main subject in
experiment we can also dictate what kind of
the study. The potency of Basil as
mosquito our repellant could really repel, by
mosquito repellant will also be tested
this, the researchers can help the community
in the study.
to prevent mosquito related diseases.
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POTENCY OF OREGANO (ORIGANUM VULGARE) AND BASIL (OCIMUM BASILICUM) EXTRACTS AS
MOSQUITO REPELLANT
 Mosquitoes – It will serve as the First, the researchers will get all the

main reason behind the study. materials ready and make sure they are all

Mosquitoes are the main problem of clean. Then, the Oregano (Origanum

the study that lead the researcher in vulgare) and Basil (Ocimum basilicum) will

conducting this study. be cut into smaller pieces and be placed in a

E. Locale/Setting
The researchers will conduct the
research in Air Force city Clark air base, the
researchers have chosen this place because
of the considerable amount of mosquitoes
live in there. In Clark mosquitoes tend to
reproduce more in rainy season because of
the water always getting stock in their
sewers. The researchers also think that the
environment there has a lesser crowd
meaning it has a minor interruption in their
research. After conducting the
experiment, the researchers will transfer the
containers in Sta. Barbara Campus
laboratory to analyze the amount of larvae
that has been collected.
F. Procedure
mortar and pestle separately. The researchers
will start to extract the juice of oregano and
basil by adding little amounts of hot water
into the mortar and pestle and collect the
extract in to two separate containers. Then,
combine the two components and add the
ethyl alcohol then mix them, put it into a
spray bottle.
The researchers would put polluted
water into four different containers and let
mosquitoes reproduce there with different
main
oils outside the container: container with no
herbal oils, container with Oregano
(Origanum vulgare) oil, container with Basil
(Ocimum basilicum) oil, and the container
with Oregano-basil oils. After that, the
researcher would gather the mosquitoes’

larvae and compare the amount of it. The

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POTENCY OF OREGANO (ORIGANUM VULGARE) AND BASIL (OCIMUM BASILICUM) EXTRACTS AS
MOSQUITO REPELLANT
experiment would be conducted in three 4. World Health Organization, (2015).

different set and gather the average amount Mosquito-borne diseases – Mosquitoes

of the larvae to make the experiment cause millions of deaths every year.

accurate. Thus, the researcher would Retrieved from

analyze the collected data. http://www.who.int/neglected-

_diseasesvector_ecology/mosquito-borne-
1.. Ronca D., (2008). Which animal kill the
diseases/en/.
most people in the wild? The most deadly

animals: mosquitoes. Retrieved from 5. Johansson R., (2017). Pyrethrins and

https://aventure.howstuffsworks.com/danger pyrethrum – toxicity, side effects, diseases

ous- animals1.htm. and environmental impacts.

Retrieved from http://pesticides.news/2017-

2. Bradshaw A., (2018). Natural mosquito
11-30- pyrethrins-and- pyrethrum-
repellents that work and plants that repel
toxicity-side-effects-diseases-and-
mosquitoes. Retrieved from
environmental-impacts.html.
https://commonsensehome.com/natural-

mosquito-repellents/

3. World Health Organization, (2015).

Mosquito-borne diseases – Mosquitoes

cause millions of deaths every year.

Retrieved from

http://www.who.int/neglected-

_diseasesvector_ecology/mosquito-borne-

diseases/en/.