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.
Data and Materials Availability
The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
AI Declaration
AI tools were not used in writing this paper.
Notes
Acknowledgement
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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
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