CANDLE REPELLENT: An Experimental Research on the Effectiveness of

Lemon grass ,Soy bean, and Ylang-ylang Candle in Repulsing

Dengue Causing Mosquitoes

A Research Presented to the Faculty of Senior High School

Pagalanggang National High School
Dinalupihan, Bataan

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

in Research Project
Grade 12 STEM
2019-2020

The Researcher
Batalla Hans Ivan A.

2020
 CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction

In today’s world, it is a requisite to have extreme care and strong attention to every detail for

the smallest and simplest things can cause the greatest dilemmas— like a tiny bite or sting

can actually lead to a dreadful malady, or worse, loss of life. The World Health Organization

(2019) defined dengue as a disease transferred through a sting of an infected mosquito from

one person to another. It is caused by a virus from the Flaviviridae family known as the

dengue virus (DENV). It has four classifications namely, DENV1, DENV2, DENV3, and

DENV4. The virus is carried by female mosquitoes from the genus Aedes, predominantly of

the species Ae. aegypti and, in some cases, Ae. albopictus. The effects of the virus on humans

can extend from simple fever, acute flu-like symptoms, to severe dengue which may lead to

excessive bleeding, organ malfunction, plasma leakage, or demise.

One common problem brought by mosquito is dengue. Lately, Philippines suffer from dengue

outbreak and based on the data reported, there are 106 630 dengue cases in the country. It is

alarming news for the countrymen. Due to the increasing number of dengue cases this study

pursued by the researchers. Researchers think of a way on how this kind of scenario be

avoided and came up with an idea of producing candle which can be used as mosquito

repellant.
 Soybean or soya beans (Glycine max) are a type of legume. Around 1100 BC, the first

farmers who domesticated soybean are the Chinese one. Therefore, soybean originated in

Southeast Asia. It was also grown in Japan and many other countries during the first century

AD. While Cymbopogon citratus with a common name of lemon grass. There are

approximately 55 other species of grasses in the Poaceae family of grasses and one of this is

lemon grass. Lemon grass has citronella oil and it can repel mosquito but in short span of

time only, as well as the repellants with soybeans. Nowadays, the community is very prone to

mosquito bite that caused severe deceases like dengue fever which people commonly

encounter. Thus, there are many repellants that people used in order to prevent this happens.

But there are such repellants that cause allergies and that are harmful to human’s health. With

this, a study of making an alternative mosquito repellant with the use of lemon grass and soy

bean will be conducted.

There are various studies that discuss the properties of lemon grass that used in

making mosquito repellants like sprays and lotions as well as soy bean. Unlike other distinct

study, this one will be a combination of two plants to be studied for longer time of

effectiveness and it will expected to produce a double purpose candle; for alternative light

and mosquito repellant.

According to April Sanders (2019) lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) has many

positive attributes and if it properly used, it can act as a short-term mosquito repellants but it

can’t be a long-term ones. People can use the lemon grass correctly and effectively by simply

crushing its leaves to release the oil and applying it their skin. A study says that a repellant

with 2% of soy bean provides protection that usually last within 1 to 4 hours only. Therefore,

the two studies only prove that both of these plants have short span of time of effectiveness.
 According to Levy (2019), Cananga odorata, commonly known as Ylang-ylang, or

the “flower of flowers”, is a sweet-smelling bloom commonly found in Asia. The essential oil

extracted from this flower provides multifarious benefits such as immune and heart health

booster, mood enhancer, anxiety fighter, skin health preserver, natural energizer and hair care

product, aphrodisiac and social enhancer, digestive aid, and fighting parasites. Additionally, a

study conducted by Soonwera (2015) divulged that Ylang-ylang essential oil performs

oviposition deterrence, ovicidal, insecticidal, larvicidal, and adulticidal activities against

Aedes aegypti, Anopheles dirus, and Culex quinquefasciatus.

The WHO (2019) stated that from nine countries experiencing severe dengue

outbreaks back in the 1970s, the number scaled up to more than a hundred countries last year,

2019. About 70% of the reported epidemics are from Asia, while the remaining are from

Africa, America, East Mediterranean, and Western Pacific.

According to the World Mosquito Program (2019), an approximate total of 390

million dengue cases emerge across the globe yearly. Roughly 500, 000 of these instigate

dengue hemorrhagic fever, commonly known as severe dengue, which gives rise to an annual

death of more than 25, 000 individuals globally. Additionally, WMP stated that almost 40%

of the world population is now at risk of acquiring such disease.

Recently, a report by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) revealed that

exactly 2,733, 635 cases of dengue, with 1, 206 lives lost, arose in America this year, setting

a record as the highest annual dengue reports in American history. Most cases are from

Brazil, about 2,069,502 with 702 deaths, while the remaining are mainly from Belize, El

Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In the United States of America (USA), the US Centers

for Disease Control (CDC) released a Level 1 Travel Alert last October due to the 865 travel-

related dengue cases in the said country (Reiter, 2019).

 According to a report from the Government of Thailand (2019), the number of dengue

patients blew up to 15, 000 with 13 deaths for the month of June alone. In total, precisely 44,

671 dengue cases and 62 deaths took place in the country from the beginning of the year until

July 2019.

On the other hand, there are 60, 000 citizens of Sri Lanka that are infected with

DENV. Moreover, death cases in relation to dengue peaked to eighty in the country last

October, from a total of fifty-eight in the preceding year (Xinhua, 2019).

Meanwhile, the News Desk (2019) stated that the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease

Control and Research (IEDCR) declared that Bangladesh has reached an appalling total of

100, 021 dengue fever cases with 121 lives lost since January until November 2019.

Santos (2019) reported that dengue cases in Southeast Asian countries augmented

about thrice of 2018’s, particularly, in Vietnam with 124, 571, Malaysia with 85, 270, and

Singapore with 10, 206 total dengue-related incidents as of August 2019, disclosed by the

WHO. Even so, among all countries in Southeast Asia, the Philippines experienced the most

grievous outbreak with 271, 480 dengue victims and 1, 107 death cases. For this reason, the

Department of Health (DOH) proclaimed that the country is suffering from a national dengue

epidemic.

A Dengue Surveillance Report by DOH showed that dengue-related cases are mainly

from Western Visayas, with about 23, 330 in total. CALABARZON comes next with 16,

515, followed by the Zamboanga Peninsula with 12, 317, Northern Mindanao with 11, 455,

and SOCCSKSARGEN with 11,803 incidents (Department of Health, 2019).

According to Datu (2019), 400 cases of dengue in a coal-fired power plant in

Mariveles, Bataan, where around 120 of these are Chinese workers, were reported earlier this
year. The Bataan Provincial Health Office (BPHO) also released a statement declaring 771

total dengue cases and the death of a five-month-old boy in the province for the first half of

2019.

Dengue cases are also taking place in the municipality of Dinalupihan. A medical

report presented by Ms. Carolyn Yap, a Medical Technologist from Jose C. Payumo Jr.

Memorial Hospital , showed that there are 157 patients diagnosed with dengue for the month

of October alone. From these, 110 are admitted to the said hospital while the other forty-

seven are not. Additionally, the town received free dengue vaccination, popularly known as

Dengvaxia, wherein public elementary schools, including Dinalupihan Elementary School,

participated.

Dengue outbreaks abruptly rose to a great height this year. In many regions around

the world, a shedload of dengue-related occurrences have been reported and a multitude of

lives are lost. Unfortunately, there is still no medicine invented to cure the aforementioned

disease. In relation to these, the researchers eagerly want to continue this study to have an

extensive understanding of the Dengue Virus and be able to contrive an Ylang-ylang air

freshener integrated with Lantana camara and Eucalyptus globulus that can repulse dengue-

causing mosquitoes

Statement of the Problem

The worldwide threat of vector borne diseases, with their associated mobility and

mortality, underscores the need for effective mosquito repellant.

Specifically, the researcher sought answers to the following questions:

1. Why should I use mosquito repellant?

 2. How does mosquito repellant work?

3. In addition to using mosquito repellant, are there other ways to avoid mosquito bites?

4. How effective the repellant is?

Significance of the Study

The study will give benefits to the following:

Community. This study will give benefits to the community as their tool to become

safe from the diseases coming from mosquitoes including: Malaria, West Nile Virus, Zika

Virus, Yellow Fever, Chikungunya, Dengue Fever and so on.

Economy. This study will give benefits to economy because of its low price and

affordability.

Department of Health. This study will give benefits to the DOH in terms of reducing

health threats that mosquitoes create.

Environment. This study will give benefits to the environment because of its

ingredients of soy bean and lemong grass that has no chemicals that has harmful effects and

also a eco-friendly thing.

Future Researchers. This will be used as a basis for future researchers and may also

be included as their related study.

Scope and Delimitation

The study is focused on fabricating a citronella candle which has the capability of

repelling mosquitoes. The study’s parameter that could affect the performance and efficacy of

the mosquito repellant are the essential oils of the two herbs namely as Cymbopogon citratus
or lemon grass, Glycine max or soy bean and Cananga odorata or Ylang ylang. The study

limits on coverage on the mosquito repellant for other types of natural herbs such as lavender,

basil, rosemary and mint. Also, the other forms of mosquito repellant such as mosquito

repellant coils, sprays and creams were not part of the research coverage.

Definition of Terms

For clarity and for further understanding of the study, the following terms were

defined operationally:

Citronella Candle. Product to be produced.

Effectiveness. The characteristics to be tested.

Essential Oil. The product to be extracted from lemon grass and soybean.

Lemon Grass. The plant to be used in candle production as mosquito repellant.

Soy Bean. The plant to be used in candle production as mosquito repellant.

Repellant. The purpose of the candle.

 CHAPTER II

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

This chapter presents the foreign and local related literatures and relative studies

which will be reviewed to attain a clearer perspective and direction in the conduct of the

experimental research and to arrive at an adequate background of the study. It includes the

conceptual framework as well as the assumption and hypothesis of the study.

2.1 Related Literature

2.1.1 Mosquito-repellent Patch with Ylang-ylang and Lemongrass

RadioNatin (2015) discussed the production of a mosquito-repellent patch with

citronella, lemongrass, and ylang-ylang essential oils. The patch works through the

systematic time-delayed release of the essential oils. Unleashed oils emit a scent that

mosquitoes do not like, thus, making it an effective device to avoid mosquito-borne diseases

such as dengue.

2.1.2 Availability of Ylang-ylang

Additionally, Iňigo (2016) stated that our country was the main supplier of ylang-ylang

before. However, this suddenly decreased but the government is already about to take actions

to revive the ylang-ylang production in the country. Aside from bringing back ylang-ylang

production, the movement also aims to aid climate change and provide a living for the

Filipinos.
 In line with this, an article written from Sunday Punch (2017) reported that the

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) assisted the people’s

organization (POs) in conducting the National Greening Program wherein more than 200,

000 seedlings of ylang-ylang were planted by the members of the POs throughout the Second

District of Pangasinan as part of the Ylang-ylang propagation program which started last July

2016. More than hundreds of hectares of public land were planted with ylang-ylang,

particularly, 120 in Barangay Hacienda, Bugallon town, more than a hundred in Sitio Mapita,

Barangay Laoag, Aguilar town, and eighty in Barangay Bantocaling, Mangatarem. But, the

propagation of ylang-ylang will not be limited in these areas and expansion to other locations

is insight.

On the other hand, Ferdz (2018) classified ylang-ylang as an indigenous tree in

Indonesia, Malaysia, and Philippines which has been a source of income for the people of

Tarlac, also known as the “Ylang-ylang Capital of the Philippines,” since the 1900s. He also

added that the essential oil extracted from the flowers of ylang-ylang is beneficial in the

medical field as this can be used as an antiseborrheic, antiseptic, aphrodisiac, hypotensive,

sedative, nervine, and aid internal infections. Moreover, he also indicated that safety

measures must be observed as this could possibly cause unwanted side effects.

In accordance with the article from Sunday Punch, a report by Sotelo (2020) proved the

growth of the ylang-ylang industry in the Philippines as it revealed that 700 hectares of land

in different areas in Barangay Laoag were already cultivated with ylang-ylang seedlings.

2.1.3