Pansin Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) Insectishield

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Majority of the cases of insect related diseases are in National Capital Region (NCR), Central Luzon and CALABARZON. Last 2015, the provincial government of Cavite declared a province-wide dengue outbreak. In 2016, there were a total 25 deaths and 5,121 cases in the province. In 2017, a total of 27 dengue-related deaths and 6,129 cases were reported in the province's upland and lowland districts. On 2018, The Provincial Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (PESU) confirmed the dengue outbreak in some areas in Cavite province. The PESU said the cases recorded from Morbidity Weeks 1 to 9 were higher by 64 percent as compared with the same period in 2017 with three deaths and 850 cases. Fatalities were reported in Tanza and one each in DasmariÑas City and the towns of Silang and Alfonso in the first nine weeks of 2018. The existing insect related diseases, made us to create an effective repellent that can be an alternative to commercially sold ones, which can also help solve health, economic and environmental problems.

METHODS

An experimental method was used. Using different amount of lemongrass, we performed an experiment creating an alternative insect repellent that works as good as commercially sold repellents. It undergoes procedures that will not harm the environment.

RESULTS

Three trials were conducted in making lemongrass repellent. The lemongrass repellent was tested for its capability to repel insects using candies without lemongrass repellent and candies sprayed with the product from the three experiments. The first trial did not produce the strong smell of lemongrass, the second trial has achieved the lemongrass smell and it repels some of the ants. Third trial was conducted to prove that lemon grass can really be used as an ingredient in making insect repellent and it can really repel insects. When the product (third trial) is used or sprayed, most of the ants do not come closer. Some insects move close, but immediately flee afterwards.

DISCUSSIONS

In this investigatory project, we formulated an organic insect repellent. We found out that the more amount of lemongrass the more effective it is as an insect repellent.