Calabash Tree Leaves (Cresentia cujete) as Antibacterial Ointment

 Calabash Tree Leaves (Cresentia cujete) as Antibacterial Ointment

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Wherever in this world, there is the existence of human disease. Disease is the impairment of the health, or the normal functioning of an organism or human being to be specific. This may primarily affect a single organ or tissue, a group of organs or tissues, or the entire body of a human being therefore preventing his body to work normally and efficiently. Disease is sometimes defined as the failure of an organism to respond adaptively to its environment (Encyclopedia Americana, 1992).

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of health (DOH) here in the Philippines are government agencies tasked of encouraging everybody to undergo research for possible local herbal medicines for the different kinds of diseases. Products of local researches such as Tanglad, Sambong, Mangosteen, and Lagundi are among the medicines developed locally.

In our country, a lot of herbal medicines have been discovered for diseases caused by microbes. Opportunity to find more is very promising since our nation is rich with various species of plants (Guevara, 1974). To mention one of these is the species Calabash Tree (Crescentiacujete) which is the subject for our research study. In Mindanao, Calabash Tree is available locally here in Davao City and is locally known as miracle tree. There are more than  enough testimonies that this tree cured people of their disease. But, only a very limited study so far has been conducted on the plant.  So the proponent choose this sample as to test whether it can be developed into an additive to ointments or cream.

Objectives:

The researcher aims to attain the following;

1. Use calabash tree leaves extract as antibacterial cream.

2. Find out whether the leaves exhibit antibacterial properties.

3. Find out what type of bacteria can be inhibited by calabash tree leaf extract

Significance of the study

            The study is significant in the field of medicine as bacteria are evolving which means that new sources of medicine and cure must also be found. The study can also be of big help to those in the marginal sector, as the product is readily available and accessible to common people. And lastly this can be economically important as it will open up opportunities for business or it will attract investors.

REVIEW OF THE RELATED LITERATURE

Calabash Tree(Crescentiacujete)

Calabash Tree, a tropical American tree cultivated primarily for its large fruits, which are used as water gourds and bowls. It grows to a height of 20 to 40 feet (6 to 12 meters). The branches extend outward horizontally with practically no secondary branching. The Calabash Tree’s scientific name is Crescentiacujete.  (Encyclopedia Americana, 1922).

In another publication,Crescentiacujete, commonly known as the Calabash Tree, is species of flowering plant that is native to Central and South America. It is a dicotyledonous plant with tripinnate leaves. It is naturalized in India. It is also known as Ayale (English), Calabacero (Spain), Totumo (Panama), Cujete (Spain, Philippines), Miracle Fruit (Philippines).The tree shares its common name with that of the vine calabash (Lagenariasiceraria). (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crescentia_cujete)

The Calabash has many uses, but two of the most popular ones are its medicinal use and its mythical power. They can also be used as bowls. They are cut in half, its contents scooped out, and after a good wash, left in the sun to dry. It is sanded with a fine sand paper, and the exterior is lacquered and hand painted usually of something tropical. In the Caribbean, vendors sell them; sometimes they have been made into purses and can fetch a quite good price. Others make ornaments for hanging on walls, or simple decorative bowls to be place on table tops. 

Bocquillon-Limousin reports that the bark is employed in diarrhoea with mucous. The pulp of the fruit, in an alcoholic extract, is laxative and expectorant Corre and Lejanne report that in Western Africa and the Antilles the pulp of the fruit, macerated in water, is considered depurative, cooling and febrifuge; it is applied to the head in headaches caused by isolation and to burns. They add that in Western Africa, roasted in ashes it is mildly purgative and diuretic. They also say that in the Antilles, Chevalier has recommended it in dropsies. Heyne says that in Sumatra a decoction of the bark is used to clean wounds, and the pounded leaves are used as a poultice for headache. Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk state that the leaves are diuretic in action when taken internally. De Grosourdy writes that in the Antilles the fresh leaves and tops are ground and used as topicals for wounds and as a cicatrizant. He quotes Dr. Benites, who states that in Venezuela a decoction of the bark is given for diarrhea. (Quisumbing, Eduardo. Medicinal Plants of the Philipines)

RELATED STUDIES

There is a published study performed on the nutritive and anti-nutritive compositions of Calabash Fruit Pulp by Mare NwosuOgbuaga, Department of Chemistry, MichealOkpara University of Agriculture, Nigeria with the following conclusions:
“The values of the ash, crude protein, fiber and carbohydrate in the dry pulp as well as the ether and thiamin values in the wet pulp are very reasonable. The values of the mineral elements are also high. These are indications that the pulp, in addition to its useful contributions to human health, as a result of the presence of phytochemicals, can also make useful contributions to human nutrition”. (http://tungkinfoongsblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/calabash-tree-crescentia-cujete.html)

            In the study done by Lagdameo and Villaflores, 2011. In which they found out after comparing the 2 parts, leaves and fruit extracts. That the leaf exhibits antibacterial property in which the results as tested in the Science Resource Center are as follows.

BACTERIA	Treatment 1 (mm of the zones of inhibition)			Treatment 2 (mm of the zones of inhibition)			Treatment 3 (mm of the zones of inhibition)
Escherichia coli (E. coli)	17	18	18	19	17	17	17	17	17
Staphylococcus Aureus	14	14	14	16	15	16	14	14	14
Salmonella enteritidis	13	14	13	14	13	14	14	14	15

CALABASH LEAVES

CALABASH FRUIT EXTRACT

BACTERIA	Treatment 1 (mm of the zones of inhibition)			Treatment 2 (mm of the zones of inhibition)			Treatment 3 (mm of the zones of inhibition)
Escherichia coli (E. coli)	7	7	7	7	8	7	8	8	7
Staphylococcus Aureus	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8
Salmonella enteritidis	8	7	7	8	7	7	7	8	7

The study proved that the Calabash tree leaves extract has an antibacterial potential against the bacteria Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enteritidis, however, the Calabash tree fruit extract showed less activity in the zones of inhibition of the said bacteria.

METHODOLOGY

MATERIALS

            The materials used were mortar and pestle, clean linen cloth (katsa), Coconut oil or common baby oil may be used, 500 grams of Calabash tree leaves (Miracle fruit), filter paper if available, bottle container.

PROCEDURE

500 grams of Calabash Tree (Crecsentiacujete) leaves were used for extraction. The leaves were washed using tap water to remove the dirt and had been air dried overnight . The leaves  were then chopped into small pieces. Then using the mortar and pestle ground the leaves placed securely inside the cloth. Collect the pure extract and set on a clean bottle container. One may filter the extract to remove some unwanted lumps or mass that may be produced in the extraction. Then, add the filtrated extract to the coconut oil or baby oil.

RECCOMENDATIONS:

            The proponent would like to forward the following for the improvement of the study;

1. Determine a better process to minimize impurities.

2. Identify the potent chemical content of the extract that exhibits antibacterial property.

3. Determine some potential allergens that may cause after effect.

4. Increase the mass of the leaves because only less than 10ml of extract were produced in the process of extraction.

5. Further study on the other possible use of the leaves in medicine.

REFERENCES

Encyclopedia Americana, 1992

Guevara, 1974

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crescentia_cujete

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/88688/calabash-tree

http://liveinthephilippines.com/content/2009/08/the-many-uses-of-the-calabash-tree/

Quisumbing, Eduardo.  Medicinal Plants of the Philippines

http://tungkinfoongsblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/calabash-tree-crescentia-cujete.html

Sarah Loren Villaflores, Jaira Mara Lagdameo , 2011

Lantana Camara Leaf Essential Oil Against Termites

Lantana Camara Leaf Essential Oil Against Termites

INTRODUCTION

A.   HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The Philippines lies to the east of continental Asia between the South China Sea and the Philippine Sea.  It extends from 5º to 20º north of the equator, well within the so-called termite belt (about 40º south and north of the equator) where termites are widely distributed and most active (Lee and Wood 1971).  The climate in this region is generally warm with abundant rainfall throughout the year.  Dead stumps, leaves and wood debris are also readily available on the ground. This condition is ideal for termite colonies to thrive.

Termites (known in the local dialects as “anay”) are serious structural pests of homes and wood structures in the Philippines. A rich termite fauna comprising 55 known species in 18 genera is known from the Philippines (Snyder and Francia 1960; Acda 2007a).  Costs of repairs due to termite damage in the Philippines are estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars annually (Yudin 2002; Acda 2007b).

Termites (Isoptera: Termitidae) commonly occur in tropical soils, especially in the rain forest, where they play an important part in soil ecology by recycling wood and decaying plant materials (Lee and Wood 1971). Unfortunately, they become economic pests when their appetite for wood extends to human homes, timber structures and agricultural crops. The Philippines supports a rich termite fauna comprising of fifty-five known species in eighteen genera (Snyder and Francia 1963; Acda 2006). Of the 55 reported species, four subterranean species are considered serious structural pests; Coptotermes vastator Light, Nasutitermes luzonicus Oshima, Macrotermes gilvusHagen, and Microcerotermes losbanosensis Oshima. These species are widely distributed and are considered serious structural pest of timber structures (Valino 1967; Acda 2004). The total damage caused by these termites in the Philippines is unknown but considering the abundance and level of activity of these insects, financial mflosses due to termite attacks are large (Acda 2004).

In recent years, the use of baiting techniques (Su 1994; Tsunoda et al. 1998; Getty et al. 2000, Sajap et al. 2000;Evans 2001) and non-repellent insecticides (Kard et al. 1989; Boucias et al. 1996; Potter and Hillery 2002) have resulted in successful control or elimination of invading termite colonies. However, the ability of termite baits and non-repellent chemicals to control higher species of subterranean termites (Termitidae) under tropical conditions is still unclear. At the moment, there is no method that can rapidly and effectively destroy subterranean termite colonies common in the tropics.

Medicinal plants represent an important source of medically important compounds. Since ancient time, medicinal plants are used to cure several types of health problems. Systemic analysis of these plants provides a variety of bioactive molecules for the development of newer pharmaceutical products. Recently, there is a growing interest in the pharmacological evaluation of various plants used in different traditional system of medicine. In last few decades, many of traditionally known plants have been extensively studied by advanced scientific techniques and reported for various medicinal properties viz, anticancer activity, anti-inflammatory activity, antidiabetic activity, anthelmintic, antibacterial activity, antifungal activity, hepatoprotective activity, antioxidant activity, larvicidal activity etc. 

Lantana camara Linn. is a flowering ornamental plant belonging to family Verbenaceae. L. camara is also known as Lantana, Wild Sage, Surinam Tea Plant, Spanish flag and West Indian lantana. L. camara is a well known medicinal plant in traditional medicinal system and recent scientific studies have emphasized the possible use of L. camara in modern medicine.

Taxonomy :

Kingdom: Plantae; Division: Magnoliophyta; Class: Magnoliopsida; Order: Lamiales; Family: Verbenaceae; Genus: Lantana; Species: Lantana camara Linn.

Phytochemical composition:

Phytochemical composition of the L. camara has been extensively studied in last few decades. Different parts of L. camara are reported to possess essential oils, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, carbohydrates, proteins, alkaloids, glycosides, iridoid glycosides, phenyl ethanoid, oligosaccharides, quinine, saponins, steroids, triterpens, sesquiterpenoides and tannin as major phytochemical groups.

B.   BENEFITS IN TERMS OF:

a.    Human Health

Termites are eusocial insects living in organized colonies characterized by division of labour among colony members.  A typical colony is composed of workers, soldiers, nymphs, larvae (1st and 2nd instars) and reproductive.  Unlike ant workers, which are sterile females, termite workers are sexually immature males and females that retain the capacity to transform into secondary reproductive and produce the next generation of offspring.  Termites live cryptically in large populations in interconnecting tunnels which are both underground and above the ground.  This behavior necessitates the need for an effective termite management program to be built upon the concept of continuous population suppression and elimination.               

Many types of insecticides have been used for controlling termites. The conventional control method against subterranean termites is by injection of liquid termiticide to the soil to establish a toxic or repellent chemical barrier and prevent termites from entering homes and wood structures. Termite baiting systems using insect growth regulators containing agents that inhibit chitin synthesis (e.g., hexaflumuron and chlorfluazuron) had also recently been introduced in the Philippines.

However, the use of these substances can leave toxic residues – chemicals damage the environment or remain in food, which can cause consumer resistance. It is also highly expensive and possible for groundwater contamination.

Essential oils are usually safe to humans and the environment. Insecticides of plant origin are expected to be target selective and biodegradable leading to fewer harmful effects on human and other animals and are environmentally safe as compared to synthetic compounds.

b.    Environmental Preservation

Termites commonly occur in tropical soils, especially in the rain forest, where they play an important part in soil ecology by recycling wood and decaying plant materials. Unfortunately, they become economic pests when their appetite for wood extends to human homes, timber structures and agricultural crops.

These species are widely distributed and are considered serious structural pest of timber structures. The total damage caused by these termites in the Philippines is unknown, but considering the abundance and level of activity of these insects, financial losses due to termite attacks are large.

c.    Economic Advantages (Local and Global)

Lantana is often planted to attract butterflies. Commonly called shrub verbena, or red sage, its oil is aroma-therapeutic and has insecticidal properties. Also found in pinks and reds, it is a sun lover but is very tolerant of a variety of conditions. Its oil is aroma-therapeutic and has insecticidal properties. It is cheap and easy to use.

Various people interviewed indicated that lantana had a number of benefits including the following:

• The farmers believed that the species fertilizes the soil by acting as manure. When sites

previously colonized are cleared and tilled there is very good performance of food crops (e.g. millet)

• Building materials for granaries, local huts

• The species controls weeds such as Cynodon dactylon. The cleared areas can then be

 used to grow millet and other crops relatively free from weeds.

• It is cut for firewood

• The fruits eaten by birds

• Used as land marks and to demarcate gardens

• Used to control soil erosion

• Used as mosquito repellent when fresh branches are hanged in the house

• Some parts of the plant such as roots are used for medicinal purposes

• The stems are used as tooth brushes

RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

Lantana camara Linn. (Verbenaceae) is a hardy, evergreen, straggling shrub with characteristic odour, it grows up to 3 m height, with or without minute prickles on the branches. It is a perennial shrub found growing up to 2000 m altitude in tropical, sub tropical and temperate L. camara parts of the world. The plant is spread widely over Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and north-eastern States of India8,9. All parts of this plant have been used traditionally for several ailments throughout the world. The leaves of this plant were used as an antitumeral, antibacterial, and antihypertensive agent, roots for the treatment of malaria, rheumatism, and skin rashes. Several tri- terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, and glycosides isolated from this plant are known to exert diverse biological activities.

Extract from the leaves of possessed larvicidal activity while extract from flowers of the plant showed repellent activity against mosquitoes.

Essential oil from the leaves of L. camara was reported to possess adulticidal activity against Aedes aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus, Anopheles culicifacies, An. fluvialitis and An. stephensi mosquitoes with LD50 values 0.06, 0.05, 0.05, 0.05 and 0.06 mg/cm while LD90 values were 0.10, 0.10, 0.09, 0.09 and 0.10 mg/cm against Ae. aegypti, Cx. quinquefasciatus, An. culicifacies, An. fluvialitis and An. stephensi respectively.

 Mosquito larvicidal activity of methanol and ethanol extracts of leaves and flowers of L. camara were reported against 3rd and 4th instar larvae of Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus mosquito. Both extracts exhibited significant larvicidal activity against both species of mosquitoes, however, at low concentrations (1mg/ml) extracts were highly active against Ae. aegypti than that of Cx. quinquefasciatus.

The corn beetle or maize grain weevil can cause widespread damage to stored corn crops. Lantana camara has been shown to be effective in preventing these insects from destroying grain. Oil distilled from the plant is a recommended insecticide for silo storage to prevent both beetles and their larva from infesting grain. Similarly, the application of the oil mixed with coconut oil can provide protection from the Aedes mosquito, which carries yellow fever and malaria. Methanol and chloroform extracts from lantana showed a high mortality.

OBJECTIVE

The researcher would like to find out the efficacy of the essential collected from the L. camara leaves. After its extraction, it will be placed in the ground where the termites are tunneling.  

MATERIALS AND METHODS

            The preparation was patterned in the oil extraction of the L. camara leaf as mosquito repellant.

Sample preparation

Leaves of L. camara were collected from the field in district Hardwar, India. The leaves were washed with distilled water to remove dust particles and essential oil from the leaves was obtained by simultaneous hydro-distillation followed by the extraction of the distillate using n-hexane as organic phase for five hours. Solvent was removed by vortex evaporator.

RESULTS

            Since there is no actual experimentation done by the researcher, results  done in mosquitoes will be presented.

L. camara is reported to possess insecticidal activity against stored grain pest, vegetable crops pest, mosquito larvae and antifungal, repellent, and other biological activities. In the present study the oil extracted from L. camara leaves showed adulticidal activity against different mosquitoes.

The repellent effect of Lantana camara flowers was evaluated against Aedes mosquitoes. Lantana flower extract in coconut oil provided 94.5% protection from Aedes albopictus and Ae. aegypti. The mean protection time was 1.9 h. One application of Lantana flower can provide more than 50% protection up to 4 h against the possible bites of Aedes mosquitoes. No adverse effects of the human volunteers were observed through 3 months after the application.

(Repellency of Lantana camara (Verbenaceae) flowers against Aedes mosquitoes. Dua VK¹, Gupta NC, Pandey AC, Sharma VP.)

RECOMMENDATIONS

In the present investigation, essential oil obtained from the leaves of L. camara showed adulticidal activity against important vectors of malaria (An. culicifacies, An. stephensi), filariasis (Cx. quinquefasciatus) dengue, dengue haemorrhagic fever, yellow fever and chikungunya (Ae. aegypti). The researcher recommends the present finding may be utilized for the development of plant-based termiticides as supplementary to synthetic insecticides since its efficacy stems from the presence of particular molecules--terpines and alkaloids.

Further study should be made utilizing all parts of the L. camara plant.

The researcher further recommends to explore about the potential ecological and economic implications on introducing this nonnative species, much more work is needed. Other drawbacks of lantana seem more serious--its leaves are toxic when eaten by cattle, which may happen when alternative foods are scarce, and, even worse, the plants may provide a refuge for Tsetse flies, which transmit sleeping sickness. Given these problems, one has to wonder whether to utilize or not lantana camara plants knowing all its economic advantages. 

References:

Lantana Plant As a Pesticide | Garden Guides http://www.gardenguides.com/130457-lantana-plant-pesticide.html#ixzz2z8G6boiX

Frohne, D. and H.J. Pfander. 1983. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants: A Handbook for

Pharmacists, Doctors, Toxicologist and Biologist. Wolfe Publishing Ltd. 291 pp.

Hardin, J.W. 1991. Plants Poisonous to Livestock and Pets in North Carolina. North Caroline Agriculture Research Service, North Calroline State University, Raleight, N.C. 165 pp.

Kinghorn, A.D. (ed.) 1979. Symposium on Toxic Plants. Columbia University Press.195 pp.

National Institute of Malaria Research New Delhi, India

Journal of Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology 2006, 32 (2): 189 184

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist Vol. 96 No. 2 (June 2013)

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8887218

http://www.science20.com/anthrophysis/lantana_friend_or_foe-85299