La Consolacion College – Liloan, Cebu Inc.

(formerly Holy Child School)

THE EFFICACY OF THE COMBINED GINGER (ZINGIBER OFFICINALE) AND

CHILLI PEPPER (CAPSICUM FRUTESCENS) AS MOSQUITO REPELLENT IN

TERMS OF AROMA

A Research Proposal Presented to

In Partial Fulfillment for the subjects

Researchers

Mariadel Tagalog
Joseph Bughao
Jhun Raven Dela Torre
Jenneyberly Duque
Ferdinand John Legarte
Jay Tejada

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The researchers would like to sincerely thank Mrs. Sarah Jane Maghanoy, Ms.

Queenie Rabor, and Ms. Marian Gulle, who all helped craft this research. Their

generosity in sharing their knowledge and wisdom to the researchers made the

completion this research possible.

The researchers would also like to thank the La Consolacion College-Liloan,

Cebu, Inc. Community for their great support to the researchers in the process of

making this research. Their communitarianism and good heart enabled the researchers

to finish this research.

The researchers would like to thank Ferdinand John Legarte and family for

lending the researchers their time to enable the researchers to conduct this research.

Their cooperation enabled the researchers to accomplish the goals of this research.

Lastly and most importantly, the researchers would like to thank God for all the

blessings He has bestowed upon the researchers. His mercy and compassion made the

researchers able to finish the research.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT....................................................................................................ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS...................................................................................................iii
CHAPTER 1: THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE.............................................................1
INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................1
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK............................................................................................. 3
STATEMENT OF THE SCIENTIFIC PROBLEM.......................................................................4
HYPOTHESES..................................................................................................................4
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY..........................................................................................5
SCOPE AND LIMITATION...................................................................................................6
DEFINITION OF TERMS.....................................................................................................7
CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURES...................................................8
ZINGIBER OFFICINALE AS INSECTICIDE.............................................................................8
ZINGIBER OFFCINALE AS HEALTH TREATMENT..................................................................9
CAPSICUM FRUTESCENS AS INSECTICIDE.......................................................................10
CAPSICUM FRUTESCENS AS HEALTH TREATMENT...........................................................11
CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY................................................................13
RESEARCH DESIGN.......................................................................................................13
RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT.............................................................................................13
RESEARCH SUBJECT.....................................................................................................13
RESEARCH INSTRUMENT............................................................................................... 14
RESEARCH PROCEDURE................................................................................................14
REFERENCES................................................................................................................16

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CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE

Introduction

The Philippines is a tropical country. It has lots of mosquitos. It is very common

knowledge nowadays that mosquitos are present everywhere. It is known to be a carrier

of malaria and dengue, both of which are diseases that cause morbidity and tragically,

mortality. According to the Department of Health, there have been 322,693 cases of

dengue from January 1 to September 21, 2019; of which 1,272 died. This is a rise of

115% from the previous year. This figure is alarming to the researchers.

Many people already use neem tree and tomato leaves to repel and kill a wide

variety of insects, including mosquitoes (Markham, 2016). The researchers became

intrigued as to the possibility of using other plants found in the pantry as alternative to

neem trees and tomato leaves. The researchers chose to study chilli peppers and

ginger due to its wide presence in Filipino kitchens.

Chilli Pepper (Capsicum frutescens) is a spice that is a staple of Filipino Culture.

It is mostly used in cooking spicy foods like Sisig and in condiments and sauces. It is

also used as liniment in doing massage helping rid of muscle pains and as pepper

sprays to get rid of creepy predators.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale), on the other hand, is an herb that is an integral part

of Filipino Cuisine. It is an important part of sinangag, or Filipino Fried Rice. It is also

known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties.

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 It is the primary aim of the researchers to learn of the potential of Chilli and

GInger in repelling insects, specifically mosquitoes. Moreover, this study is also aiming

that if the insect repelling properties of ginger and chilli are proven, the consequent

product of this study will aid in managing the spread of dengue in the community,

specifically the La Consolacion College – Liloan, Cebu, Inc. Community. And

proponents hope that by the end of the research an effective product – both practically

and economically – will be introduced to the community to combat mosquito proliferation

and the worsening of this dengue crisis.

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Conceptual Framework

Figure 1-1. Conceptual Framework

3
Statement of the Scientific Problem

This study will test the efficacy of combining Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) and Chilli

Pepper (Capsicum Frutescens) as mosquito repellent via aroma. This study will further

be answering the following sub-questions:

1. To what degree will the combination of Zingiber Officinale and Capsicum Frutescens

be effective in repelling mosquitoes?

2. In which proportion of the ingredients will be most effective?

a. 50% ginger; 50% pepper

b. 30% ginger; 70% pepper

c. 70% ginger; 30% pepper

3. Is the product efficacy be affected by the following:

a. Amount of Chilli Pepper (Capsicum Frutescens) extracts applied;

b. Amount of Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) extracts applied;

Hypotheses

h0: The combined Zingiber Officinale and Capsicum Frutescens extract does not repel a

significant number of mosquitoes.

ha: The combined Zingiber Officinale and Capsicum Frutescens repels a significant

number of mosquitoes.

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Significance of the Study

The Members of the Household. Through the findings of this study, they will be able to

save from buying commercial mosquito killers and repellents products that may

cause harm to their health. They will also gain the idea of repelling mosquitoes in

an alternative and organic way without the risk of complicating their existent

health problems or contributing another health problem.

The Scientists. The findings of this study may serve as basis for their further studies.

The STEM Students. The findings of this study will inspire them to conduct a study in

another perspective.

The Government. The findings of this study hope to give ideas to the Philippine

government in lessening mosquito-borne diseases in the country. Thus, the

economy will boost and the country will become progressive.

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Scope and Limitation

Considering that the communities to which the researchers belong to do not have

access to neem trees and tomato leaves, this study will only focus on the efficacy of

organic mosquito repellent through using the combination of Zingiber Officinale (ginger)

and Capsicum Frutescens (chili pepper) extracts. Z. Offcinale will may be treated with

Citrus Sinensi (orange).

This study will only test Zingiber Offcinale and Capsicum Frutescens on

mosquitoes alone.

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Definition of Terms

Combined Ginger & Chilli Pepper refers to the mixture of the Ginger (Zingiber

Officinale) and Chilli Pepper (Capsicum Frutescens) substances which could be

more amount of ginger in the mixture, more amount of chilli peppers in the

mixture, or equal amount of both ginger and pepper in the mixture.

Extract is the oil taken from Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) and Chilli Pepper (Capsicum

Frutescens).

Product Efficacy refers to the level of effectiveness of the product; which could be a

hundred percent effective or just half effective.

Repel refers to the effect in which the insects are being kept away or forced out of the

experiment area.

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 CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURES

This chapter provides an overview of the previous studies on the usage of

Zingiber Officinale and Capsicum Frutescens as both insecticide and health treatment.

Through understanding the previous studies, the researchers hope to present an in-

depth knowledge about the efficacy of the combined Zingiber Officinale and Capsicum

Frutescens extracts as mosquito repellent and health treatment via aroma.

Zingiber Officinale as Insecticide

A study according to Ofuya and Okuku (1994), the acetone extract of Z. Offcinale

with the emulsion of water has effectively killed 100% of cowpea aphids. In their study, it

has been found out that Z. Offcinale contains pesticide components. Gingerols and

shogaols in the rhizomes of Z. Offcinale are active insecticide components of the plant.

They are responsible for the 100% mortality rate of cowpea aphids.

In the second study of Prajapati et al., (2005) in which they tested the efficacy of

ginger (Z. Officinale) extracts in repelling and deterring the oviposition of three different

mosquito species, the Anopheles Stephensi, Aedes Aegypti and Culex Quinque. In their

study it has been found out that the essential oils of ginger (Z. Offcinale) has both

ovicidal and repellent activity to Anopheles Stephensi which has manifested the highest

effect among the two, and the Aedes Aegypti showed higher effect than Culex

quinquefactus. However, the researchers did not specify their level of effectiveness.

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 Lastly, another study of Bosly, (2017) has manifested the efficacy of Z. Offcinale

essential oils against Musca Domestica (housefly). The essential oil of Z. officinale

resulted larvicidal activity and recorded LC50 value of 259 ppm against M. Domestica

Morey and Khandagle, (2012). Products isolated from Z. officinale found to be effective

as insect antifeedant and insect growth regulators Agarwal et al., 2001). The essential

oil of Z. officinalis showed effective larvicidal and repellency activity against M.

domestica and found effective as well in repellent and oviposition deterrence assay

Morey and Khandagle, (2012); Krishna, (2013).

Zingiber Offcinale as Health Treatment

Ginger has been used greatly as health treatment by the ancient Indians and

ancient Chinese until it has been deported to different parts of the world. Some studies

have been conducted to prove the significance of Z. Offcinale in the human body.

The first study is according to Bode and Dong, (2011) which stated that Z.

Officinale has major positive health effects in the human body. The bioactive

components of ginger such as gingerols and shogaols were proved to have general

antioxidant properties, anti-inflammatory effects, anti-nausea effects, anticarcinogenic

activity, cardiovascular and other disease preventive properties.

Another study has manifested the same result. According to Mashhadi et al.,

(2013) in their study, the functional ingredients of Z. Officinale such as gingerols,

shogaols and paradol are the effective ingredients that help prevent various cancer. Z.

Offinale as well has anti-oxidative stress effects. The anti-oxidative stress effects of Z.

Offcinale was tested in vitro and in vivo tests. Shogaol has manifested the most potent

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anti-inflammatory and antioxidant component of ginger which is responsible for the

presence of alpha, beta-unsaturated ketone moiety. Manifested in the animal modeling,

was that ginger significantly lowered the induced lipid peroxidation and raised levels of

antioxidant enzymes. It also has anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and anti-diabetic effects.

However, ambiguities of the research have led the researchers to recommend further

research about the topic.

Lastly, according to Alsamarai et al., (2015), Z. Officinale is effective in treating

allergic rhinitis and can also reduce IgE level after 4 weeks of treatment course. They

invited 79 patients with allergic rhinitis and after 2 months of treatment, 83.3% (35

patients) in the experimental group showed improvement in sinusitis but only 21.6% (8

patients) of the control group have demonstrated so. Nasal itching had improved 78.5%

(33 experimental patients) but only 32.4% (12 control patients). While sneezing had

decreased 61.9% (26 experimental group) and 24.3% (9 control group). Rhinorrhoea

had improved 69.0% (29 experimental patients) and 37.8% (14 control patients).

Capsicum Frutescens as Insecticide

According to the study of Vinayaka et al., (2010), using both leaves and fruits of

Capsicum Frutescens against Aedes aegypti, the fruit extract was more effective than

the leaves. However, the larvicidal activity is concentration dependent. In this study, the

researchers found out that the larvicidal effects of both leaves and fruit extracts of C.

Frutescens was due to their phytoconstituents.

The second study of Oni (2010), proved the toxicity of C. Frutescens fruit and

seed powders against stored cowpea and Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky in stored

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maize. C. Frutescens’ fruit and seed powder dust were toxic to C. Maculatos, S.

zeamais at the rate of 5.0g, 7.5g and 5.0g, per 50g cowpea and 50g maize within 48hrs

and 96hrs respectively. So, C. Frutescens was proved to have insecticidal properties

against C. Maculatos and S. Zeamais.

Finally, in another study of Akinbuluma et al., (2015), they tested the efficacy of

ethanol extracts of C. Frutescens against Sitophilus Zemais in stored maize. C

Frutecsens showed insecticidal effects on S. Zemais, however it is concentration

dependent. The increase concentration of C. Frutescens showed decreased adult

emergence and higher mortality rate of S. Zeamais.

Capsicum Frutescens as Health Treatment

A study of Jolayemi and Ojewole (2013) suggested that C. Frutescens has anti-

inflammatory effects in rat models. Their objective was to find out which of the two forms

of capsaicin in C. Frutescens, the ethyl acetate (CFE) or the capsaicin (Fluka

Biotechnika-CPF), has anti-inflammatory effect that can compete with nonsteroidal anti-

inflammatory analgesics (NSAIDS). Later on, they found out that both forms have both

analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Another study according to Parvez (2017), showed a similarity with Jolayemi’s

study. Capsicum Frutescens, has been used as anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-

cancer, anti-ulcer, anticoagulant, analgesic, anti-arthritis, immuno-modulatory, memory

enhancing, pain relief, hypocholesterolaemic, hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective and

antimicrobial effects. C. Frutescens contains capsaicin that is responsible for its positive

effects in human health. However, C. Frutescens has also adverse effects since it can

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cause irritation to mucous membrane and neurotoxicity and it should not be applied to

open wounds for it has antagonistic effects.

This section has presented different studies showing that both Z. Officinale and

C. Frutescens extracts showed both insecticidal effects to different insect species and

health treatments to humans. However, their studies have not identified specific

treatments and repellency via aroma. Hence, the present study intends to investigate

the aromatic factors of Z. Offcinale and C. Frutescens as mosquito repellent and

aromatherapy.

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 CHAPTER 3

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents the methods used by the researchers in conducting this

research. The researchers hope to give insights for the researchers.

Research Design

The researchers will use a quantitative approach in research. Specifically, the

researchers will use experimental design. This includes the manipulation of various

variables, in this case is the amount of ginger and chilli pepper oils in the mixture. It also

includes observation of the effects of such change in variables. The researchers are

looking for variation in efficacy between the different setups used in this research.

Research Environment

The research will be conducted at the house of Ferdinand John Legarte, a fellow

researcher. The residence is located in Bagong Dalan, Liloan, Cebu, Philippines, 6002.

The location is full of uncovered containers stagnant water – a good breeding ground for

dengue-carrying mosquitoes. Hence, this is location is chosen. The area is also the

most accessible location for all the researchers.

Research Subject

The researchers will test the combined ginger and chilli pepper oil aroma on

mosquitoes. Ginger is a very common part of Filipino cuisine. It is well-known for its cool

and soothing effect on the throat, making it good for sore throats and coughs. Chilli

Peppers are also very popular in Filipino gastronomy. It is a very common additive to

Filipino meals such as sisig and spicy roasted peanuts. It is also a well-known

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insecticide especially to cockroaches. Mosquitoes thrive in the stagnant waters found in

homes. They carry many fatal diseases such as malaria, and dengue. They are

considered as the deadliest animal in the world. It is the hope of the researchers to curb

their proliferation on the area of study so that people could live their lives without

worrying of contacting dengue.

Research Instrument

The researchers will use experimentation to gather the data needed in this

research. The researchers will also use cameras to record the progress of the

experiment and to have a dependable documentation of what may transpire during the

experiment. The researchers will use statistical measures to analyze the results of the

experiment conducted.

Research Procedure

Materials

 1 kg ginger

 1 kg chilli pepper

 mortar and pestle

 5 pcs bottle

 Sieve

 Gloves

 Face mask

 Measuring cups

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  Goggles

Procedures

1) Prepare all the materials needed.

2) Wear the face mask, goggles and glove to prevent skin and lung irritation.

3) Chop ginger into small cubes

4) Crush ginger on a mortar and pestle to extract the juice. Pour extracted juice onto a

sieve on top of a glass bottle.

5) Clean the mortar and pestle to avoid cross-contamination.

6) Crush chilli peppers on a mortar and pestle to extract the juice. Pour the extracted

juice onto a sieve on top of a separate glass bottle.

7) Pour a 60 mL mixture on 3 different glass bottles according to the following

proportions:

a) Bottle A: 30mL ginger oil; 30mL chilli pepper oil

b) Bottle B: 42mL ginger oil; 18mL chilli pepper oil

c) Bottle C: 18mL ginger oil; 42mL chilli pepper oil

8) Put mixture on a diffuser. Let it diffuse until the mixture lasts.

9) Record the effects on camera.

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References

Markham D. (2016) 8 natural & homemade insecticides: Save your garden without

killing the Earth. Retrieved from [Link]

Ofuya, T.I. and Okuku, I.E. (1994) Insecticidal effect of some plant extracts on the

cowpea aphid Aphis craccivora Koch (Homoptera: Aphididae). Retrieved from

[Link]

Prajapati, V. (2005, January 18) Insecticidal, repellent and oviposition-deterrent activity

of selected essential oils against Anopheles stephensi, Aedes aegypti and Culex

quinquefasciatus. Retrieved from [Link]

Vinakaya, K.S. et al., (2010, January) Potent insecticidal activity of fruits and leaves of

Capsicum frutescens (L.) var. Longa (Solanaceae). Retrieved from

[Link]

Oni, M.O. (2010, September 14) Evaluation of Seed and Fruit Powders of Capsicum

annum and Capsicum frutescens for Control of Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) in

Stored Cowpea and Sitophilus zeamais (Motsch) in Stored Maize. Retrieved from

[Link]

Bode, A.M and Dong, Z. (2011) The Amazing and Mighty Ginger. Retrieved from

[Link]

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Ahmad, F. (2013, May 18) Insecticidal Activity of Some Plant Extracts Against

Trogoderma granarium (E.). Retrieved from [Link]

Jolayemi, A.T. Ojewole, J.A. (2013, June) Comparative anti-inflammatory properties of

Capsaicin and ethylaAcetate extract of Capsicum frutescens linn [Solanaceae] in

rats. Retrieved from [Link]

Alsamarai, A.M. et al., (2015, April 22) Therapeutic and Immunologic Effects of Zingiber

officiale in Allergic Rhinitis. Retrieved from [Link]

Akinbuluma, M.D. (2015, November) Insecticidal Effects of Ethanol Extracts of

Capsicum Frutescens and Dennettia Tripetala against Sitophilus Zeamais

Motschulsky on Stored Maize. Retrieved from [Link]

Parvez, G. M. (2017, May 01) Current Advances in Pharmacological Activity and Toxic

effects of Various Capsicum Species. Retrieved from

[Link]

Bosly, H.E. (2017, December 02) The Toxic Spectrum of Ricinus Communis and

Zingiber Officinalis Essential Oils against Musca Domestica L. Retrieved from

[Link]

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