�BUKO-BUKO MAASIM KA BA?� COCONUT (COCOS NUCIFERA) OIL AND LEMON (CITRUS LIMON) OIL AS AN ALTERNATIVE MOSQUITO REPELLENT

Abstract

Mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue are causing havoc among the public, and the use of mosquito repellents and the reduction of mosquito populations are among the best ways to prevent this virus. However, many commercially sold mosquito repellent products and chemical-based pesticides contain various chemicals that may have negative side effects on the public and the environment. This problem urged the researchers to find a natural, plant-based alternative mosquito repellent derived from Coconut (Cocos nucifera) oil and Lemon (Citrus limon) oil in the form of scented candles, which are more affordable and safer than commercially sold mosquito repellents. This study utilized a true experimental research design. Three hundred sixty (360) mosquitoes were divided into eighteen (18) groups of twenty (20) mosquitoes through random selection. Hydrodistillation and traditional boiling methods were used to obtain Lemon (Citrus limon) oil and Coconut (Cocos nucifera) oil. The number of mosquitoes repelled was observed for ten (10) minutes across different test samples, which included the negative control, positive control, and test group. Analysis of Variance (One-Way ANOVA) was used as the statistical treatment to compare scented candles made from Coconut (Cocos nucifera) oil and Lemon (Citrus limon) oil, Set D (100% soy wax), commercially sold scented candle repellents, and ordinary candles. Set B (60% essential oils), Set C (50% essential oils), and commercially sold scented candles showed the highest efficacy in repelling mosquitoes. In contrast, in terms of repellency time, Set C (50% essential oils) exhibited the fastest repellency rate across the three variations of net cages. Scented candles made from Coconut (Cocos nucifera) oil and Lemon (Citrus limon) oil were generally more affordable than commercially sold scented candles. After data interpretation, it was revealed that Set C (50% essential oils) exhibited the highest repellency rate and the fastest repellency time compared to Set A (40% essential oils), Set B (60% essential oils), Set D (100% soy wax), commercially scented candles, and ordinary candles across the three consecutive variations of net cages. It was also revealed that scented candles made from Coconut (Cocos nucifera) oil and Lemon (Citrus limon) oil are more affordable than commercially available scented candles. Lastly, the significant difference among Coconut (Cocos nucifera) oil and Lemon (Citrus limon) oil candles, Set D (100% soy wax), commercially scented candles, and ordinary candles indicated that Set C (50% essential oils) was the most effective among those tested.