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Comparison of Chili, Orange Peel,

and Cinnamon Essential Oil Extract as a Pest Repellant

A Research
Presented to
Diliman Preparatory School

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for Science Research

BAUTISTA, PAUL IVAN T.

FE VIDAL, GEROME M.
TUAZON, DANIEL

MARCH 2016
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CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

One of our greatest problems especially the farmers are the pests.They cause us

many troubles. They eat the plants from which we get our food and they also make the

work of farmers more difficult.

Rice is a staple food in the Philippines. It connotes survival, and the absence of it

would mean starvation. If the pests destroy it continuously, time may come that we will

experience the scarcity of rice. On the other hand, these pests also affect the fruits and

vegetables from which we get the nutrients that are needed by our body and from which

many people get their income.

It is just very simple to make. We can do it in lesser time, lesser expenses, and

lesser work but with great assurance that it is effective though we cannot say that this is

totally safe and has no harmful effects. However, with proper use and carefulness, this

will be a big help for us all.

Ants can transmit infectious bacteria, including Salmonella and Staphylococcus. It

has been reported at least as far back as 1914 (Wheeler) that if an ant walks through an

area densely populated with infectious bacteria, they track it along in quantities large

enough to show up in a Petri dish. Many of the typical invasives have been found to carry

such pathogens (pharaoh ants, and fire ants).

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Statement of the Problem

This study aims to determine the effectivity of chili (Capsicum annuum), orange

peels (Citrus sinensis), and cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) as an organic pest repellant.

Specifically, this study aims to:

Compare the effectivity of chili, orange peels and cinnamon essential oil extract in

warding off ants.

Significance of the Study

This can help stop spreading diseases from pests because ants can carry bacteria

and might transfer them to food or an open wound. This study will provide other people

with alternatives to commercial insecticides. This can also help the farmers to control the

increasing amount of pest because ants are a serious pest to humans and livestock.

Delimitations of the Study

The researchers only used chili, orange peels and cinnamon essential oil in making

the organic insecticide. The organic insecticide was sprayed only on ants (Formicidae)
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CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This Review of related literature focuses on the effect of Cinnamon, Chili and

Orange peelings as a natural insecticide. This study contains information about

Cinnamon, where can it be obtained, its description, and the effect and what is does to

insect. The study and test of Chili if it has a potential to be used as an extract to pesticide

production, what is does to insects. And the uses of orange peelings.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a spice that comes from the branches of wild trees that belong to the

genus "Cinnamomum" (Nordqvist, 2015). Cinnamon is also called as Cinnamonmum

zeylanicum. Cinnamon is a spice that can be obtained in the inner bark of a small, tropical

evergreen cinnamon tree (Park, 2011). Cinnamon is the second most popular spice, next

to black pepper in the United States and Europe (Nordqvist, 2015). Cinnamon trees are

native to Southeast Asia. Cinnamon has a long history both as a spice and as a medicine.

Cinnamon is a great source of manganese, fiber, iron and calcium. Cinnamon's essential

oils also qualify it as an "anti-microbial" food, and the cinnamon has been studied for it

can stop the growth of bacteria as well as fungi (Zoladz, 2004). It is also effective in

reducing blood sugar levels and lowering cholesterol. Cinnamon can be used as an

insecticide to get rid of the undesirable insects that can be found in your house. Dengue

fever is a viral disease spread by mosquitoes. Particularly, pure cinnamon is effective in

killing mosquito larvae, can act as an all-purpose insect repellent (American Chemical

Society, 2004) Insects dislike cinnamon for two reasons: (a) insects do not like the feeling
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of the powder in their mandibles, and, (b) insects hate the spice odor. The advantages of

using cinnamon as a natural insecticide are the house will be free from unwelcomed

insects, and the cinnamon will give a wonderful aroma. Natural insecticide will reduce the

amount of poisoned children and pets from ingesting insect repellents, which contain

chemicals, as well as repel the insects in the house without the potential for unpleasant

health effects. Cinnamaldehyde is the main component in the cinnamon leaf oil and is

used worldwide as a flavoring agent (American Chemical Society, 2004). Bark oil from

the Cinnamomum cassia tree is the most common source of cinnamaldehyde. The

disadvantage of cinnamon is that, if cinnamon is used too much in the insect repellent, it

can burn your skin since its highly concentrated (Park, 2011).

Orange Peelings

Orange peelings are the rind of the orange. The Florida orange juice industry

generates 5 million tons of citrus peel waste annually (Bloch, 2007). The oil on the orange

peelings can also be used to remove water stains in your metal fixtures (Bloch, 2007).

And orange peelings can also be used to remove bad odors. Most insects hate limonene,

which comprises 95% of the oil in an oranges peel, and is being used in all sorts of

applications, including the manufacturing of plastics (Bloch, 2007). A pure blend of orange

peel and water can be applied to an area to discourage ants from crossing. Citrus

sinensis (sweet orange) and Citrus aurantifolia (lime) had insecticidal activity against

mosquitos (Ezeonu, 2001). Small piles of zest can be placed around an area to keep it

free from flies and mosquitoes (Bloch, 2007). The oil in orange peels shows promise of

being a powerful all-purpose insecticide (Bass, 1984) Orange oil can wipe out a colony of

fire ants and could kill wasps and flies without harming any human, animals and the
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environment (Bass, 1984). Orange oil is being used in many cleaning products these days

for its pleasant aroma and powerful solvent properties (Bloch, 2007). Some studies claim

rubbing orange peel on your skin will repel mosquitoes.

Chili

Chili is the spicy fruit of plants in the genus Capsicum. Chili has been found as one

the oldest spice use in the world (Evans, 2007). Chili originated in South America and is

now widespread throughout the tropics and subtropics. Chili are now grown around the

world, and is widely used as medicine, and as or vegetables in cuisine (Evans, 2007).

Chili offers truly powerful medicine for boosting circulation, dilating blood vessels and

protecting the cardiovascular system (Evans, 2007). Chili has insecticidal properties,

insects do not like plants with strong odors or taste (Grover, n.d.). Capsaicin that gives

the chili its hot flavor is distasteful to insects. Spraying plants or the soil with chili powder

spray can keep away the insects from biting (Grover, n.d.). Chili can be used to control

ant infestations (Shwartz, 2001).

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Computation of the Effectiveness of the Spray

First they subtracted the percentage of dead in the heck plat from the

corresponding figure for the treated plat and called the remainder the

effectiveness of the treatment.

Let X = the percent living in the check.

Let Y = the percent living in the treated plat.

Then X Y = the percent killed by the treatment

And the percent killed by the treatment (X Y) divided by the percent of

living in the check (X) gives the control or expressed by an equation.

( Abott W.S.,1952)

100 =

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CHAPTER 3

MATERIALS AND METHODS

MATERIALS

1.)135 milliliters Chili pepper (Capsicum annuum) adding more might kill the ants.

2.) 262 milliliters Orange peel (Citrus sinesis) adding more can kill the ants. 3.) 47.4

milliliters Cinnamon essential oil (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) adding more can also kill

the ants. 4.) 474 milliliters Water so that the pesticide wont have that much

concentration. 5.) Graduated cylinder to get accurate measurement for liquid

substances. 6.) Electronic balance used to measure solid substances. 7.) Beaker for

temporary container. 8.) Spray bottles container for the pesticide. 9.) Litmus paper to

separate liquid and solid.10.) Gloves used for handling the cinnamon.

PROCEDURE

Preparation of the Spray with Orange Peel

265 milliliters orange peels extract and 474 milliliters of water were added in a

beaker and mixed.

.Preparation of the Spray with Chili

135 milliliters of chili pepper and 474 milliliters of water were added in a beaker

and mixed.
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Preparation of the Spray with Cinnamon Essential Oil

47.3176 milliliters of cinnamon essential oil and 474 milliliters of water were

added in a beaker and mixed.

Applying the Spray

The ants were enticed using a chocolate chip cookie. After the ants were

attracted, 30 ants were manually collected for each setup. Three (3) trays were

prepared, each having a dimension of 30x30 centimeters. Another chocolate chip

cookie was placed at the center of each tray so the ants will stay in one place. Thirty

(30) ants were placed in each tray. A small amount of water was placed around the

edge of each tray so that the ants would not cross it. The chili spray was applied to the

ants in setup A, the orange peel spray to the ants in setup B, and the cinnamon

essential oil spray to the ants in setup C. Each setup was sprayed with 2 milliliters of

each extract.
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CHAPTER 4

RESULT AND DSCUSSION

Spray No. of ants No. Ants left Equation Percent

Control

Chili 30 18 30 18 40%
100
30

Orange peel 30 23 30 23 23.33%

100
30

Cinnamon 30 16 30 16 46.67%
100
30

Table 1 shows the computation of the effectiveness of each spray. The effectiveness

percentage of the orange peel spray is 23%, whereas the percentage for chili is 40% and for the

cinnamon essential oil is 46.67%. This shows that the cinnamon essential oil spray is the most

effective among the three sprays.

Cinnamon disrupts ant communication. Cinnamon leaf oil upsets an ants sense of smell.

Ants rely on a chemical scent known as pheromones to find food and send signals back to their

home base.
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CHAPTER 5

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

Conclusion

Based on the results, cinnamon essential oil spray is most effective ant repellant.

Recommendations

Based on the results and conclusions gathered, the researchers recommend the following

for the future use of this study:

Use of other organic repellants such as coffee grounds (ants are repulsed by the strong

smell the brewed coffee grounds put out), mint (mint deteriorates the smelling abilities of

ants and thus, aids in preventing ant attacks), and cucumber and pepper (the taste of

cucumber and smell of pepper is not appealing to ants).

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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Evans, C. (2007). Chili peppers found to have been domesticated more than 6000 years
ago. Retrieved 02-13-2016 from
http://www.naturalnews.com/021757_chili_peppers_domesticated_crops.

Grover, H. (n.d.). Homemade Chili Powder Sprays as an insecticide. Retrieved 02-13-

2016
From http://homeguides.sfgate.com/homemade-chili-powder-sprays-insecticide-
86195.html

American Chemical Society. (2004). Cinnamon Oil Kills Mosquitoes. Retrieved 1-31-
2016
From https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/07/040716081706.htm

Nordqvist, J. (2015). Cinnamon: Health Benefits, Nutritional Information. Retrieved 1-

31-2016
From http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266069.php

Ezeanu, F.C. (2001). Insecticidal properties of volatile extracts of orange peels.

Retrieved 1-31-2016
From http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960852400001206

Lea, D. (n.d.). Organic pepper spray for insects. Retrieved 1-31-2016

From http://homeguides.sfgate.com/organic-pepper-spray-insects-78401.html

Kannall, E. (n.d.). Health Benefits of Organic Red bell peppers. Retrieved 1-31-2016
From http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/health-benefits-organic-red-bell-peppers-
8952.html
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APPENDICES