Acceptability of Lancole Ointment as Organic Mosquito Repellent

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Lancole Ointment is a product innovation from locally abundant Lantara camara (commonly known as Bangbangsit), Cimbopogocitratus (lemon grass), and oil from Cocusnuficera (coconut). The experiment emerged from the community's need for an affordable and readily available mosquito repellent that people can easily prepare in their homes without using sophisticated equipment. It was also conducted in response to Philippine's alarming trend of fatalities brought about by mosquitoes that cause dengue and other mosquito-borne illnesses. It is guaranteed purely organic and environment friendly.

METHODS

Experimental design under laboratory condition was employed in this study. The innovation has undergone three phases—phase 1 involved conceptualization where extensive review of related literature was done to discover plants with mosquito-repelling properties; phase 2 involved product formulation by decocting varying amounts of fresh and pounded Lantara camara leaves and lemon grass in coconut oil; and phase 3 involved product testing by exposing chosen 12 volunteers in a mosquito-infested area at Pinaripad National High School, Aglipay, Quirino for three hours. The volunteer-respondents answered a structure questionnaire to rate the efficiency of the following treatments: Treatment 0 (commercial mosquito repellent); Treatment 1 (150 g coconut oil, 20 g Lantara camara leaves, and 25 g lemon grass); and Treatment 2 (150 g coconut oil, 30 g Lantara camara leaves, and 25 g lemon grass).

RESULTS

The researcher used a commercial mosquito repellent as control treatment (Treatment 1) with a rating of highly acceptable. Treatment 2 gained an unacceptable rating in terms of scent (with a mean score of 2.42), acceptable comfort (3.00), acceptable efficiency mosquito bite protection (3.08), and an overall acceptable rating of 2.83. Similarly, Treatment 3 also gained an overall acceptable rating of 2.58 but with much lesser rating in terms of scent (2.08), acceptable comfort (2.58), and acceptable efficiency (3.08).

DISCUSSIONS

As the toxicity of Lantara camara is not yet clearly determined, the product can only be applied externally and users must discontinue using when irritation appears. Patience and stringent efforts should be exerted to explore the plants used in this study for their potential medicinal utility and development into healthcare products for the betterment of animals and humans.