PUPIL 1: Good morning. We are here to present to you our investigatory project. I am ___________________________and PUPIL 2: And I am ____________________________________.and we are the Grade V pupils of Tinanogan Elementary School. Pupil 1: This project is about the effectiveness of lemon grass which has a scientific name of cymbopogon citratus, as natural insect repellent. Pupil 2: (Discussing the abstract) We all know that Insect repellents are important tools for prevention of insect-borne diseases as well as insect bites. And one of natural insect repellent is the lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus). Determining the effectiveness of lemon grass as insect repellent is the main goal of the study. Specifically, it intends to apply the Steam Distillation Technique in obtaining the natural elements and essential oil of lemon grass such as citral and citronella. Using two candies as observation, one is with extract of lemon grass and the other is without extract of lemon grass. In fourteen (14) minutes, one candy that without lemon grass, approach by ants but the candy with lemon grass is just ignored by ants. The study has found out that lemon grass is an effective and alternative natural insect repellent. The result of the present study would provide knowledge and information about lemon grass as insect repellent. Additionally, this study will produce significant and relevant information for future studies regarding to insect repellent. Pupil 1: (Background of the Study)According to research, Insect repellents are important public health tools to prevent and control the outbreaks of insect-borne diseases such as malaria, lyme disease, dengue fever, and bubonic plague. Technically, an insect repellent is any chemical or natural, that causes insects or other arthropods to make directed, oriented movements away from the source of repellent. And lemon grass can be use as natural insect repellent. According to an article of new tech bio, lemon grass is a very popular and used for medicinal, food and insect repellent products. The lemon grass oils are used in cosmetics, soaps, perfumes, dyes and odorizes along with thousands of other products. Pupil 2: Lemon grass has thin stems, and the flowers are white, cream or green. It grows around 8 feet in height in some cases with the majority of species tapering off at 4 feet. Lemon grass is mainly found in tropical Asia in countries such as India, Ceylon, Brazil, Philippines, Malaysia, Myanmar, Guatemala, Madagascar, Mauritius, New Guinea and countries in Africa and South America. In the Philippines, it has a local name known as “tanglad”. PUPIL 1: Unlike many repellent products containing chemical which can be toxic and harmful , lemon grass is extremely safe and is listed on the EPA’s GRAS list (generally regarded as safe). People all over the world have come to rely on the potent insect repellent properties of lemon grass and utilize it as a personal and area spray. PUPIL 2: This study was conducted to answer the following problem: Can lemon grass extract be an effective natural insect repellant? PUPIL 1: This project will not be complete without forming hypotheses or an educated guess which is If lemon grass extract is easily applied over a subject that can easily be approached by insects, then the insects can drive back from the subject. PUPIL2: Now, what is the significance of this study? Is this study helpful to us? Yes! This study can be very beneficial to everyone since insect-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever are very common nowadays, and everyone is looking for the best natural solution to prevent these diseases. Using lemon grass extract as a natural insect repellent is one of the safest and cheapest way to address this problem since lemon grass can be found anywhere. It is not as expensive as using any commercial insect repellent which can be toxic and harmful too. Through this study, the knowledge of parents regarding lemon grass as insect repellent would be increased and prevention could be done to avoid more serious damage to their children’s health. PUPIL 1: (Scope and Limitation) The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of lemon grass as insect repellent. Investigating the performance of these will be described by observation of two candies. One candy will be treated with lemon grass and another candy is without lemon grass. The data used in the research is gathered through observation and Steam Distillation Technique. PUPIL 2: We will now proceed to one of the most important part of this study- the Methodology. Here in the board is the chart showing the procedures, materials,and equipments used in the study. (pointing at the board.) Procedures, Materials, and Equipments Collection of Lemon Grass Preparation of the materials and equipments Extraction process of Lemon grass Getting the extract of Lemon Grass from the receiving vessel Testing the extract from Lemon Grass and its effectivity as natural insect repellent Recording, Analysis and Interpretation of Data Gathered Preparing the finished product (The essential Oil as natural Insect Repellent) About twenty (20) pieces of lemon grass leaves was collected near the house of the researchers in a vacant lot. Only green and fresh leaves were collected. Additionally, this leaves is clean and dry to prevent the other organic substance to be extract in extraction process. If the lemon grass is wet, let it be air dry first before doing the extraction process. PUPILS 1: As you can see in the picture, the extraction process was done through Steam Distillation Technique. Due to lack of laboratory apparatus, the researcher intends to use an improvised apparatus. It requires a stainless pot with an integral strainer, a curve pot cover, and a stainless or steel glass receiving vessel. The Consumables are water, ice, and lemon grass leaves to be extracted. Most essential oils available today are extracted using a steam distillation process. It is believed by many to be the only way oils should be extracted. This distillation process really is quite simple as long as this extraction process is closely monitored, the steam will remain at a temperature that won’t damage the lemon grass, according to the article in essential of aromatherapy, 2011. PUPIL 2: First, set the pot on the heat source and fill with purified water to level just below the strainer bottom when it is in place. A strainer will be inserted and fill it with lemon grass leaves. Clear the space in the center of the strainer to set the receiving vessel. Position the pot cover on the top in vertically. Make sure that the drip tip is centered over the receiving vessel. Fill the pot cover as much ice as it can hold. It is not necessary to add water to the pot cover. Boil it up to 15-30 minutes. Get the extract of lemon grass in the receiving vessel. Here is the picture of the strainer filled with lemon grass leaves and a receiving vessel. (pointing at the picture) PUPIL 1: Using two candies as observation, one candy is treated with lemon grass and the other candy is without lemon grass. Put it in the area were ants are present for faster observation in both candies. Using stopwatch, get the time that ants will approach to both candies and observe what candy ants will go to. PUPIL 2: Here is the result of the experiment. In the observation of two candies, one is with lemon grass and the other is without lemon grass. After fourteen (14) minutes, the candy without lemon grass are now approaching by the ants, but the candy with lemon grass still no ants, because of the lemon grass that repel the ants away. Here is the picture of two candies after 14 minutes. (A) The candy with lemon grass has no ants at all. It is because the lemon grass repels the ants. (B) The candy without lemon grass. As you can see, ants are now approaching to the candy. PUPIL 1: Lemon grass oil is an essential oil used in deodorants, herbal teas, skin care products, fragrances, insect repellents, and for aromatherapy. Citral is therefore an aroma compound used in perfumery for its citrus effect. Citral is also used as a flavor and for fortifying lemon oil. It also has strong antimicrobial qualities and pheromonal effects in insects . PUPIL 2: Citral has a toxic effect on the sensory nervous system in insect antennae that affect the behavior and physiology of insects. That is why the candy that has treated by lemon grass can repel the ants because of its citral content that when the ants smell it using their antennae, it will have a pheromonal effect to it. PUPIL 1: And another important constituent of lemon grass oil is the citronella. Citronella oil is also renowned plant-based insect repellent, and has been registered for this use in the United States since 1948, according to U.S. EPA Citronella Factsheet, 2007. PUPIL 2: The United States Environmental Protection Agency considers oil of citronella as a biopesticide with a non-toxic mode of action (EPA Citronella Registration Factsheet, 1997). And this biopesticide are naturally occurring substance that control or directly kill or inactive the insects or pests especially the mosquito. With these two constituents of lemon grass, it can repel the insects away and protect us from insect bites and vector-borne disease. PUPIL 1: From the experiment we have conducted, we therefore conclude that the hypothesis was right. Lemon grass can repel insect away and can be an effective and alternative natural insect repellent.
