LEMMOR: Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) and Malunggay (Moringa oleifera) as an insecticide spray against yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti)
Ranna Noreen J. Olacao, Aliyah Mae R. Borcena & Ashley Nicole B. Tayag
Abstract
Dengue fever, transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, poses significant health risks, particularly in tropical regions such as the Philippines, where more than 195,000 cases were reported as of December 2023. This study examines the effectiveness of natural insecticide formulations made from Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) and Malunggay (Moringa oleifera) extracts, exploring their potential as safer alternatives to synthetic insecticides. The researchers aimed to investigate the optimal ratios of these extracts (50:50, 75:25, and 25:75) and the impact of different spray frequencies (once, twice, and thrice) on mosquito mortality rates. Using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD), the study applied three spray trials to assess the efficacy of the formulations. Results showed no statistically significant differences in effectiveness among the treatments (p > 0.05); however, Treatment 3 (25:75 ratio) consistently yielded the fastest mortality rate, with an average of 44.33 seconds to eliminate mosquitoes. In contrast, Treatment 2 had the highest mean duration (66.66 seconds) and greater variability, indicating inconsistency in its effectiveness. This study highlights the potential of Lemongrass and Malunggay as natural insecticides, offering communities and households an eco-friendly alternative for dengue prevention while reducing reliance on harmful chemical-based products. Further research is recommended to explore the synergistic effects of these plant extracts and their practical applications in pest management strategies.
Keywords
lemongrass, malunggay, organic insecticide, Aedes aegypti
Author information & Contribution
Ranna Noreen J. Olacao. Corresponding author. A consistent honor student at the City of San Jose del Monte National Science High School and currently studying the last year of Junior High School under STE Curriculum. Email: rannanoreen.olacao@csjdmnshs.ph.education
Aliyah Mae R. Borcena. Consistent honor student at the City of San Jose del Monte National Science High School. Junior High School under STE Curriculum.
Ashley Nicole B. Tayag. Consistent honor student at the City of San Jose del Monte National Science High School. Junior High School under STE Curriculum.
"All authors equally contributed to the conception, design, preparation, data gathering and analysis, and writing of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript."
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Funding
This work was not supported by any funding.
Institutional Review Board Statement
This study was conducted in accordance with the ethical guidelines set by City of San Jose Del Monte National Science High School. The conduct of this study has been approved and given relative clearance(s) by City of San Jose Del Monte National Science High School.
AI Declaration
AI tools were not used in writing this paper.
Notes
Acknowledgement
References
Afolabi, O., & Olonisakin, A. (2022). Moringa oleifera (Lam.) and Momordica charantia (Lam.) as potential larvicides and fumigants of Culex mosquitoes. Gazi University Journal of Science – Part 1 Engineering and Innovation, 9(2). https://doi.org/10.54287/gujsa.1079339
Agrawal, J., Kumar, K. A., Indrani, D., & Radha, C. (2022). Effect of Moringa oleifera seed flour on the rheological, physico-sensory, protein digestibility and fatty acid profile of cookies. Journal of Food Science and Technology, 59(12), 4731–4739. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-022-05555-5
Althoff, R., & Huijben, S. (2022). Comparison of the variability in mortality data generated by CDC bottle bioassay, WHO tube test, and topical application bioassay using Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Parasites & Vectors, 15, 476. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-022-05583-2
Ayilara, M., Adeleke, B., Akinola, S., et al. (2023). Biopesticides as a promising alternative to synthetic pesticides: A case for microbial pesticides, biopesticides, and nano biopesticides. Frontiers in Microbiology, 14, 1040901. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1040901
Bhatti, A., Saeed, M., Hugo, M., & Gueverra, J. (2023). Rauvolfia serpentina and Peperomia pellucida as antiparasitic spray against Rhipicephalus sanguineus Latreille. International Journal of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, 3(2), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.53378/352979
Catelo, S., & Jimenez, C. (2017). Domestic resource costs of citronella oil and lemon grass oil. Journal of Global Business and Trade, 3(1). https://dx.doi.org/10.20294/jgbt.2017.13.1.29
Da Silva, T., Da Rosa, G., & Dos Santos, M. (2023). Lemongrass essential oil (Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf.) seasonal evaluation and microencapsulation by spray-drying. Health Science/Pharmacognosy, 66. https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-4324-ssbfar-2023230016
De Oliveira, A., Agra-Neto, A., Pontual, E., et al. (2020). Evaluation of the insecticidal activity of Moringa oleifera seed extract and lectin (WSMoL) against Sitophilus zeamais. Journal of Stored Products Research, 87, 101615. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2020.101615
El-Sayed, A., Amr, A., & Kamel, M. (2020). Eco-friendly fabric modification based on AgNPs@Moringa for mosquito repellent applications. Cellulose, 27, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-020-03355-8
Enad, H. (2023). Efficacy of oregano leaves and lemongrass extract as organic household insect repellant (Undergraduate thesis). Davao del Sur State College. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.24598.52803
Govender, L., & Siwela, M. (2020). The effect of Moringa oleifera leaf powder on the physical quality, nutritional composition and consumer acceptability of white and brown breads. Foods, 9(12), 1910. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods9121910
Hanafusa, S., et al. (2024). Effectiveness of dengue vaccination in endemic settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 229(5), 1597–1598, https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiae082
Islam, Z., Islam, S. M. R., Hossen, F., Mahtab-Ul-Islam, K., Hasan, M. R., & Karim, R. (2021). Moringa oleifera is a prominent source of nutrients with potential health benefits. International Journal of Food Science, 2021, 6627265. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6627265
Jensen, B., Althoff, R., Rydberg, S., et al. (2022). Topical application bioassay to quantify insecticide toxicity for mosquitoes and fruit flies. Journal of Visualized Experiments, 3. https://doi.org/10.3791/63391
Kim, D., Kim, S., & Jung, J. (2019). Spatial releasing properties and mosquito repellency of cellulose-based beads containing essential oils and vanillin. Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology, 22(2). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aspen.2018.12.024
Koriyama, T., Kurosu, Y., & Hosoya, T. (2025). Enhancing bread quality with steam-treated moringa (Moringa oleifera) powder. Foods, 14(6), 927. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14060927
Kusuma, I. Y., Perdana, M. I., Vágvölgyi, C., Csupor, D., & Takó, M. (2024). Exploring the clinical applications of lemongrass essential oil: A scoping review. Pharmaceuticals, 17(2), 159. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17020159
Liberal, A. (2022). Chapter 4 – Solid-liquid extraction of polyphenols. In: Technologies to recover polyphenols from agro-food by-products and wastes (pp. 72–112). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-85273-9.00004-1
Luker, H. (2024). A critical review of current laboratory methods used to evaluate mosquito repellents. Frontiers, 4, 1320138. https://doi.org/10.3389/finsc.2024.1320138
Mahaveerchand, H., & Abdul Salam, A. A. (2024). Environmental, industrial, and health benefits of Moringa oleifera. Phytochemistry Reviews, 23, 1497–1556. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11101-024-09927-x
Matthews, B. (2019). Aedes aegypti. Trends in Genetics, 35, 470–471. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tig.2019.03.005
Mgbemena, I., Ebe, T., Nnadozie, A., et al. (2015). Repellent activities of the methanolic leaf extracts of Moringa oleifera and Stachytarpheta indica against Aedes aegypti mosquito. IOSR Journal of Pharmacy and Biological Sciences, 10(4), 78–81. https://doi.org/10.47650/pjphsr.v2i2.395
Mohapatra, R. K., Bhattacharjee, P., Desai, D. N., Kandi, V., Sarangi, A. K., Mishra, S., Sah, R., Ibrahim, A. A. A., Rabaan, A. A., & Zahan, K. E. (2024). Global health concern on the rising dengue and chikungunya cases in the American regions: Countermeasures and preparedness. Health Science Reports, 7(1), e1831. https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.1831
Ojewumi, M. E., Banjo, M. G., Oresegun, M. O., et al. (2017). Analytical investigation of the extract of lemongrass leaves in repelling mosquitoes. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Research, 8(5), 2048–2055. https://doi.org/10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.8(5).2048-55
Olorunnisola, S. K., Asiyanbi, H. T., Hammed, A. M., et al. (2014). Biological properties of lemongrass: An overview. International Food Research Journal, 21(2), 455–462. https://doi.org/10.37547/ajbspi/volume03issue10-03
Patil, S. V., Mohite, B. V., Marathe, K. R., Salunkhe, N. S., Marathe, V., & Patil, V. S. (2022). Moringa tree, gift of nature: A review on nutritional and industrial potential. Current Pharmacology Reports, 8(4), 262–280. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40495-022-00288-7
Peach, D., Almond, M., Gries, R., et al. (2019). Lemongrass and cinnamon bark: Plant essential oil blend as a spatial repellent for mosquitoes in a field setting. Journal of Medical Entomology, 56(5). https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjz078
Rabe, C., Fabrea, R., & Lappay, E. (2024). SANILLA: Sampaguita (Jasminum sambac) mixed with vanilla oil (Vanilla planifolia) incense against mosquitoes. Ateneo De Manila University.
Rusnanda, R., Ramadhini, M., Putra, W., et al. (2021). Utilization of waste from refined lemongrass for producing mosquito repellent. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 644(1), 012060. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/644/1/012060
Shah, G., Shri, R., Panchal, V., Sharma, N., Singh, B., & Mann, A. S. (2011). Scientific basis for the therapeutic use of Cymbopogon citratus, Stapf (lemongrass). Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology & Research, 2(1), 3–8. https://doi.org/10.4103/2231-4040.79796
Soonwera, M., & Phasomkusolsil, S. (2016). Effect of Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass) and Syzygium aromaticum (clove) oils on the morphology and mortality of Aedes aegypti and Anopheles dirus larvae. Journal of Parasitology Research, 115, 1691–1703. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-016-4910-z
Tafesse, A., Goshu, D., Gelaw, F., & Ademe, A. (2020). Food and nutrition security impacts of moringa: Evidence from Southern Ethiopia. Cogent Food & Agriculture, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2020.1733330
Telembanua, M., Savitri, A., Shofi, A., et al. (2020). Plant-based pesticide using citronella (Cymbopogon nardus L.) extract to control insect pests on rice plants. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 739. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/739/1/012071
Torondel, B., Opare, D., Brandberg, B., Cobb, E., & Cairncross, S. (2014). Efficacy of Moringa oleifera leaf powder as a hand-washing product: A crossover controlled study among healthy volunteers. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 14, 57. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-14-57
Valková, V., Ďúranová, H., Galovičová, L., Borotová, P., Vukovic, N. L., Vukic, M., & Kačániová, M. (2022). Cymbopogon citratus essential oil: Its application as an antimicrobial agent in food preservation. Agronomy, 12(1), 155. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12010155
Wifek, M., Saeed, A., Rehman, R., et al. (2016). Lemongrass: A review on its botany, properties, applications, and active components. International Journal of Chemical and Biochemical Sciences, 25, 5455–5477. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-018-1965-2
World Health Organization. (2024, February 29). Dengue situation update number 211. https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/375485/Dengue-20240104.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Zulfikar, A., Aditama, W., & Sitapu, F. (2019). The effect of lemongrass (Cymbopogon nardus) extract as insecticide against Aedes aegypti. International Journal of Mosquito Research, 6(1), 10–15. https://doi.org/10.31983/keslingmas.v39i4.6578
Cite this article:
Olacao, R.N.J., Borcena, A.M.R., & Tayag, A.N.B. (2025). LEMMOR: Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) and Malunggay (Moringa oleifera) as an insecticide spray against yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti). Journal of Allied Health Sciences & Medical Research, 1(1), 42-64. https://doi.org/10.53378/jahsmr.353224
License:
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) International License.
Related articles:
Most read articles
- Social media usage and the academic performance of Filipino junior high school students
- Exploring the factors influencing commuters’ satisfaction and the use of public utility buses in Quezon City, Philippines
- A narrative exploration of romantic experiences and ideal relationship standards among Filipino Gen Z
- Students’ exposure to social media and their radical involvement on the societal issues in the Philippines
- ChatGPT integration significantly boosts personalized learning outcomes: A Philippine study
- Tiktok made me book it: The impact of Tiktok on tourism destination selection of generation Z and millennials in Manila
- Senior high school students’ awareness and literacy on computer software applications
- Self-perception of ABM students towards their academic, social and emotional college preparedness
- Enhancing financial literacy among Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries
- Emotional intelligence and leadership efficacy of university student leaders