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