Insecticidal Efficacy and Repellency of Oregano

Background of the study

We live in a world full of bloodthirsty insects. They can trouble humans and animals and can
transmit diseases. They are all parasites of humans or other host animals and are abundant at certain
times of the year. Bloodsucking insects can be grouped as mosquitoes, flies, lice, and true bugs
(Koehler & Castner, 2018).

Of all the blood-feeding insects, mosquitoes are perhaps the most familiar. They can cause sickness
and death through the diseases they can carry. They are the primary vectors for major human
diseases such as yellow fever, malaria, and dengue fever, which infects hundreds of millions of
humans worldwide and kill millions each year, according to Omar Akbari, Phd,. He also stated
that more than 50 percent of the world’s population is presently at risk from mosquito-borne
diseases, from the World Health Organization reports (Keeffee, 2016).

Dengue is a viral disease transmitted primarily by female mosquitoes from the species Aedes
aegypti. Transmission of dengue viruses is influenced by population growth, urbanization,
inadequate public health infrastructure, poor solid waste management, environmental risk factors
and inconsistent preventive practices, among others (de los Reyes & Escaner, 2018).

In the Philippines, Dengue is a dominant public health matter and is endemic in all regions of the
country. The prevalence percentage of dengue revealed that it was highest among children of 5–
14 years of age, with over 80% of dengue-related deaths transpire among individuals of less than
20 years of age, in the latest review of the epidemiology of dengue in the Philippines (Undurraga,
et al. 2017).

There is no way to completely prevent bites from bloodsucking insects, but we can take steps to
keep from becoming their next victim. Insect repellents are important tools for prevention of
insect-borne diseases as well as painful or uncomfortable insect bites.

Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is a common herb that many people assume is simply a spice to
enhance or enrich the taste of their food, however this herb has a lot of benefits that most people
do not surely understand (Staughton, 2019).

Oregano is a Lamiaceae mint or genus, a culinary and medicinal herb. It has been used in
medication and baking for thousands of years (Nordqvist, (2017).
The benefits of essential oregano oil can be attributed to its features as antiviral, antibacterial,
antifungal, antiparasitic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and digestive. It also works as an anti-
allergic drug and emmenagogue (Nagdeve, 2019).

Research has been performed on vector-borne diseases usually transmitted to people and livestock
through mosquito bites and arthropods carrying one or more bacterial pathogens. The insects were
found to be 100 times repelled when carvacrol, linalool, p-cymene, and thymol were found in
oregano oil (Carroll, et al. 2017).

Personal safety from mosquitoes and tick assaults is by far very important, causing serious
wellness impacts in today's culture. Proper protection can be obtained using repellents. There are
numerous skin repellents products that can be used on the skin and even on our clothing (Daniella,
2019).

The objective of this research was to determine the repellence behavior of vital oregano oil used
as an insect repellent.

Statement of the Problem

It is necessary to understand that Arthropod transmitted diseases which are inevitably passed on
between humans and animals through blood sucking insect bites are pressing problems in our
community today and for our pet animals that we love and take care of (Daniella, 2019).

Dengue is a mosquito-borne, acute febrile illness that is an important public health problem in
tropical countries. In the early 1950’s, the disease was described in the Philippines as hemorrhagic
fever or infectious acute thrombocytopenic purpura. Dengue continues to cause considerable
concern in the country because of its widespread endemicity and the minimal success of vector
control strategies (Agrupis, et al 2019).

The purpose of this research study is to find out the repellency activity of oregano essential oil
used as an insect repellent and to determine if there is a difference between the commercial insect
repellent and oregano oil repellent. To fulfill this purpose, a quantitative experimental research
design will be used in conducting this study.

Significance of the Study

This study could provide help and guidance to people who are having a tough time with blood
sucking insects and have not much money to acquire insect repellent products.
Review of Related Literature

Plants are one source of the compounds with antimicrobial activity that provides options of novel
alternative drugs for microbial disease. Essential oils derived from plants are one of the most
important agricultural products with antimicrobial properties (Memar, et al 2017).

Oregano is an herb that has been cultivated for centuries in the Mediterranean region, although
now it can be found in most continents. The volatile compounds carvacrol and thymol are
considered major components of oregano essential oils (Singletary, K. 2010). Thymol and
carvacrol are active ingredients of family Lamiaceae, these components have antibacterial and
antifungal effects (Memar, et al 2017).

Many studies on plant extracts against mosquito have been conducted around the world, and their
larvicidal, pupicidal, adult emergence inhibition and repellent activities have been reported
(Bouguerra, 2019). Some gardeners plant oregano in the garden to repel pests such as mosquitoes,
and others claim the essential oil is a mosquito repellent (Deizel, n.d.).

Mosquitoes are the best known disease vector. Vectors are living organisms that can transmit
infectious diseases between humans or from animals to humans. Vector-borne diseases are human
illnesses caused by parasites, viruses and bacteria that are transmitted by mosquitoes, sandflies,
triatomine bugs, blackflies, ticks, tsetse, flies, mites, snails, and lice. Every year there are more
than 700, 000 deaths from diseases such as malaria, dengue, schistosomiasis, human african
trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, chagas diseases, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis and
onchocerciasis, globally (World Health Organization, 2017).

The Philippines is facing a surge in dengue cases, with over 100,000 dengue cases reported by the
Department of Health (DOH) from January 1 to June 29, 2019 (reliefweb, 2019).

Although chemical mosquito repellents available in the market have been formulated so that they
have remarkable safety profile, but their toxicity against the skin and nervous system can cause
rashes, swelling, eye irritation and other serious problems to children. Hence it was felt that bio-
based natural mosquito repellents would be preferred over chemical mosquito repellents. Bio based
mosquito repellent are pest management tools that are based on safe, biologically based active
ingredients derived from plants. Benefits of bio-products include effective control of mosquito as
well as human and environmental safety (Shukla, 2018).

A number of natural mosquito repellents were studied in many research papers and review papers
that work to repel mosquitoes. Mosquito repellents based on chemicals has a designed with
remarkable safety profile, but even then they are toxic against the skin and nervous system and
usually cause rashes, swelling and sometimes eye irritation. Hence, natural mosquito repellents are
preferred over chemical products (Shukla, 2018).

Conceptual Framework

Research Questions:

1. Is the Oregano oil an effective insect repellent?

2. Is there a significant difference between the commercial insect repellent product and the
extracted oregano oil repellent in terms of effectiveness, aspect, application, time, reaction,
and scent?
 Model Study

Materials And Methods

Extracting Oregano Oil

Materials: Oregano leaves chopped or crushed, Carrier oil, Sanitized jar

Methods:
Boiled some water in saucepan. Once that was at rolling boil turn off the heat. Then place the oil
and chop oregano leaves in the sanitized jar. Place the jar into the hot water and let it sit for about
5-10 mins. This allows the oil to heat up and helps give the oregano a kick start of the releasing of
its oils. Now remove the jar from the water bath and place in a sunny window for 1-2 weeks. Shake
the jar every few days. Once the two weeks are up, strain the oil from the leaves. Dilute a few
drops (2 to 3) of oregano with a carrier oil (one teaspoon) and rub on your exposed skin.
Another suitable way is to use a spray bottle which you can carry along with you everywhere you
go and especially traveling out of the country to unfamiliar grounds. Use about 5 – 6 drops of
oregano in a 250 ml spray bottle filled with water. Remember to shake thoroughly before use and
spray on exposed skin. Remember to spray after every 40 minutes to an hour.

You can also use air vaporizer method by diffusing oregano oil in your living area and rooms
before going to bed. You can use 5 – 6 drops of oregano in your diffuser and let on for a few hours.
Also, you can as well prepare a mixture of oregano and water which can be used to wipe surfaces
and cupboards in the kitchen and living area to keep the fleas away or even cockroaches if you see
them around your house.

Breeding of Mosquito
Materials: Bottles of Wilkins
Steel net
Rubber bands

Methods:
Prepare clear water and place it into the dim light until the mosquito eggs reach the life cycle of
adult mosquito.
Put number of mosquito larvae into canister filled with clear water.
Cultivate the mosquitoes and transfer it inside the prepared bottles.

Data Collection

This study will use direct observation. The researchers will record the activity of mosquitoes using
a video camera to observe the behavior and reaction made by the mosquitoes upon simulation of
main bottle with mosquitoes going to Bottle A with extracted oregano oil, Bottle B with
commercial repellent, and Bottle C without any kind of insect repellent. And notes for writing
down the detailed process of the experiment and documentation.

Data Analysis

The researcher will collect the time interval and ratio during experiment within the three trial
period to test the effectiveness of the oregano as an insect repellent. Four bottles will be made
available Bottle 1 with mosquito, Bottle 2 and 3 with oregano extracted oil and commercial
repellent, respectively, and Bottle 4 an empty bottle.

The researchers will analyze the experiment based on the following criteria: first, observing the
behavior of the mosquito in the initial stimulus. Second, observation in the time, consumed by
mosquitoes’ reaction, movement and direction during the stimulus of the bottle. Third, observation
of mosquitoes’ directions and recording, the bottle with majority number of mosquitoes between
the bottles filled with oregano extract oil repellent, bottles filled with commercial insect repellent,
and bottles without any insect repellents .
Conclusion

After conducting the experiment, the researchers could prove whether oregano oil could repel
insects or not.

This research study could also help the community to have an alternative way to repel insects and
possibly make their own insect repellent in an easy way.

References:

Carroll, J., et al (2017). Repellency of Origanum onites L. essential oil and constituents to the
lone star tick and yellow fever mosquito. Retrieved from
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14786419.2017.1280485

Undurraga, E., et al (2017). Disease Burden of Dengue in the Philippines: Adjusting for
underreporting by comparing Active and Passive Dengue Surveillance in Punta Princesa, Cebu
City. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5392638/

Staughton, J. (2019). 7 Wonderful Oregano Benefits. Retrieved from

https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/oregano.html

Nordqvist, J. (2017). What are the health benefits of Oregano. Retrieved from
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266259.php

Nagdeve, M. (2019). 11 Amazing Benefits & Uses of Oregano Essential Oil. Retrieved from
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/essential-oils/health-benefits-of-oregano-essential-
oil.html

Daniella, (2019). Using Oregano Oil As An Insect Repellent. Retrieved from

https://oreganoessential.com/using-oregano-oil-as-an-insect-repellent/

Agrupis, KN. et al (2019). Trends in Dengue Research in the Philippines: A Systematic Review.
Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6483330/

de los Reyes & Escaner, (2018). Dengue in the Philippines: Model and Analysis of Parameters
Affecting Transmission. Retrieved from
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17513758.2018.1535096
Keeffee, (2016). Mosquitos: The Most Dangerous Animals on Earth. Retrieved from
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/mosquitos-the-most-dangerous-animal-on-earth-
021216#1

Koehler & Castner, (2018). Bloodsucking Insects. Retrieved from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in019

Deizel, (n.d.). Oil of Oregano as Mosquito Repellent. Retrieved from

https://www.hunker.com/13406599/oil-of-oregano-as-a-mosquito-repellent

Singletary, K. (2010). Oregano: Overview of the Literature on Health Benefits. Retrieved from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232240488_Oregano_Overview_of_the_Literature_on
_Health_Benefits

reliefweb, (2019). Philippines: Dengue Cases Snapshot. Retrieved from

https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/philippines-dengue-cases-snapshot-january-june-2019

Memar, et al (2017). Carvacrol and Thymol; Strong Antimicrobial Agents Against Resistant
Isolates. Retrieved from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313428025_Carvacrol_and_thymol_Strong_antimicrob
ial_agents_against_resistant_isolates

Bouguerra, (2019). Oregano Essential Oil as Potential Mosquito Larvicides. Retrieved from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333677930_Oregano_Essential_Oil_as_Potential_Mos
quito_Larvicides

World Health Organization, (2017). Vector-borne Diseases. Retrieved from

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/vector-borne-diseases

Shukla, D. et al (2018). Effective mosquito repellent from plant based formulation. Retrieved
from http://www.dipterajournal.com/pdf/2018/vol5issue1/PartA/4-6-17-974.pdf