REPELLANT EFFECT OF Gliricidia sepium(KAKAWATE) APPLIED IN CANDLE

AGAINST Musca domestica (HOUSE FLY)

Introduction

One of the most familiar and widely distributed of all insects is the house fly. Besides being

a nuisance, it is a prime carrier of disease. The house fly is found everywhere in the world. There

are about 30 000 species of flies in the world, but only a few hundred are threats to human health.

Flies multiply at an enormous rate; it takes roughly two weeks from the time a female hatch until

she is able to lay eggs of her own. Favorite breeding sites are horse and cow dung, exposed human

feces, rotting garbage. (Natural History Notebooks, 2015)

House flies, (Musca domestica) are ubiquitous and transmit more than 100 human and

animal diseases, including bacterial infections such as salmonellosis, anthrax, ophthalmia,

shigellosis, typhoid fever, tuberculosis, cholera and infantile diarrhea; protozoan infections such

as amebic dysentery; helminthic infections such as pinworms, roundworms, hookworms and

tapeworms; as well as viral and rickettsial infections. (Jeffrey Scott, 2014)

For decades, synthetic insecticides have been used as a principle control measure for this

pest. However, resistance to insecticides in the pest has become a major issue due to the extensive

and poorly optimized application of insecticides. (Khan et al., 2013) M. domestica is ranked among

the top twenty (20) resistant pests of the world and resistance is reported from all over the world

against almost all classes of insecticides. (Abbas et al., 2014; Avecado et al., 2009; Bell et al. 2010)

Botanical insecticides affect various insects in different ways depending on the

physiological characteristics of the insect species as well as the type of the insecticidal plant. The
components of various botanical insecticidal can be classified into six groups namely; repellents,

feeding deterrents/antifeedants, toxicants, growth retardants, and attractants (Rajashekar,

Bakthavatsalam, & Shivanandappa, 2012).

G. sepium is an adaptable, fast growing, precociously seeding tree, with the ability to

disperse seeds up to forty from the parent tree from exploding pods. This species has been widely

introduced across tropical and subtropical regions to be used for fuel wood, animal feed, green

manure, shade, poles, living fences, erosion control, soil improver, and as a boundary and support

plant. It has escaped from cultivation and has become a successful colonizer of disturbed sites,

roadsides, abandoned agricultural land and areas near cultivation (Elevitch and Francis, 2006).

In the Philippines, Kakawate (G. sepium) is usually found in rice plantations, thus the

farmers believe that it can repel insects in their fields although their observations are not yet

validated in the working mechanism in the field. It is also known for its anti-fungal and

antimicrobial ability, and previous researches it is reported that it can repel mosquitoes.
Statement of the problem

To date, there’s a need for developing and manipulating our agricultural resources for

promoting public health. Specifically, it also seeks to answer the following questions:

1. Is the extract of G. sepium contains repellant properties?

2. Does the extract of G. sepium applicable as an ingredient of making candles?

3. How effective does the candle can repel flies?

Objectives of the Study

This study pursues to utilize Gliricidia sepium extract as an organic based pesticides; to

develop a botanical-based product as an alternative for synthetically made ones.

Deliberately, the study is aiming for:

1. The Determination of the pesticide properties of G. sepium

2. The Application of G. sepium extract as an ingredient for making candles

3. The Determining the efficacy of the candle in repelling flies.

Theoretical Framework

Theory of Olfaction and of the Action of Mosquito Repellents, to produce an odor

sensation, a substance must be volatile and its molecules must come into contact with the olfactory

end organ, which may require some measure of lipoid solubility. This much is generally agreed,

but beyond this there has been no accepted theory of the triggering process by which the odorous

molecule initiates a discharge of the olfactory nerve. (R.H Wright, 1957

Conceptual Framework

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

 Fresh leaves 1. leaves collection  Insect Repellant

of G. sepium Candle
 Leaf extract 2. Extraction of the
collected from leaf extract
the plant 3. Phytochemical
analysis
 Bees wax
 Wick 4. Product Making
 Container
5. Product testing
 Close cage

Figure 1. Conceptual Model

Significance of the Study

Prior to the result of the study, this could benefit the following:

The consumers and general public which will provide them an efficient and cost-effective

organic pesticide that will prevent spread of many vector-borne diseases. It may help also in

encouraging the public for giving more knowledge about the uses of Gliricidium sepium.

The institutions and the government could be more mindful of the potential uses or benefits

for using wild-crafted plants. This could open many opportunities for local businesses to gain more

profit in using organic based products.

For the future researchers, this could serve as a basis for developing more useful and efficient

natural products that may help securing and improve health of the people.

Time and Place of Study

The experiment will be conducted at the Department of Medical Technology College of

Nursing, Cavite State University-Indang Campus. The study will be conducted from June to

August 2019 including the experiment and manuscript writing.

Scope and Limitations of the Study

The study will be focusing in the repellant action of G. sepium leaf extract which is

commonly found in most areas of the region. The leaf extract collected from the plant will be

mixed in melted bees wax; put into containers and let it solidify. It will be tested into a close cage

with a rotten fruit as a control together with flies and observe for the repellence activity.

Definition of Terms

Arthropod-borne diseases – are illnesses caused by a pathogen, such as a bacteria or

virus, is transmitted from its reservoir (natural host) to a human via the arthropod vector.

Bees-wax - the wax secreted by bees to make honeycombs and used to make wood polishes

and candles.

Candle - a cylinder or block of wax or tallow with a central wick that is lit to produce light

as it burns.

Kakawate (Gliricidia sepium) . is a perennial, medium-sized (2-15 m high) legume tree.

It is mostly deciduous during the dry season but is reported to remain evergreen in humid areas.
 House Fly (M. domestica) -a common small fly occurring worldwide in and around human

habitation. Its eggs are laid in decaying material, and the fly can be a health hazard due to its

contamination of food.

Pesticide/Insecticides - a substance or preparation used for killing insects.

Plant Extract - a substance with desirable properties that is removed from the tissue of a

plant, usually by treating it with a solvent, to be used for a particular purpose. Extracts may be

used in various sectors of activities: Food and functional properties for foodstuffs, Processing aids,

additives – chemical replacers, pharmaceutical for therapeutic properties - preventive and/or

curative – cosmetic for functional properties for beauty and well-being, etc...

Phytochemicals –. any of various bioactive chemical compounds found in plants, as

antioxidants, considered to be beneficial to human health.

Repellent or Repellant – a substance that repels or keep away insects.

REVIEW OF RELATED LIERATURE

 METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents the methods to be used in the study of assessing the repellant effect

of Kakawate (Gliricidium sepium). This includes the collection of the materials, step by step

procedures of conducting the experiment, experimental design, experimental treatment, data

gathering, analysis and statistical treatment of data.

Materials:

1. Kakawate leaves (G. sepium) – 2 kilos of fresh leaves will be used in the experiment.

It will be the source of the extract to be tested.

2. House Flies (M. domestica) - approximately 100 flies will be used for the experiment

3. Bees Wax – 3 kilos of bees-wax will be used. It is the base candle wax to be used, which

can be bought in the market.

4. Small Glass Container – This will be used as the container of the candle made.

5. Wick – made of cotton and rounded shape, it where the lit is put into.

6. Cage – Place where the flies are being kept.

7. Closed Cage – This is where the testing of the product will be conducted
Preparation of the Materials

The laboratory materials that will be needed includes: Basin, beakers, electric heater,

blender, containers where the candles will be put, wick, wick holder. The study also needed to use

a cage where the flies are being kept.

Collection and Authentication of Plant Samples

Fresh leaves of G. sepium will be collected from Barangay Luciano, Trece Martires City,

Cavite. The plant will be authenticated at the Bureau of Plant Industries in Manila.

Preparation of the Plant Material

Three (3) kilograms of plant will be used for the extraction. The plant will be collected

prior to the start of conducting the experiment. The leaves were washed first and let it dry in room

temp for about an hour.

Preparation of the Extract

Plant extraction of Gliricidium sepium (Kakawate) will be conducted at the research center

of Cavite State University, Indang Campus.

Phytochemical Screening

The extraction of essential oil will be executed at the DOST Compound, Gen. Santos Ave.,

Bicutan, Taguig, Metro Manila. This will determine the chemical components of G. sepium that

has repellence activity.

Collection and Preservation of the Test Samples:

Musca domestica (House fly) will be the primary subject of the study. The 100 flies will

be the target population, that will be caught and collected by the researchers. The researchers will

keep the flies alive in cages supplying the insect water and food source.

Procedure in Making the Candle:

There are several simple ways to make a candle. Here are listed how would the procedure

be done:

1. Prepare the beeswax for melting.

2. Fill a medium or large pot halfway through with water. Put it into the hot plate.

3. Place the beeswax into a heat-resistant container, and put it into the pot.

4. Measure the temperature of the wax using thermometer. (The Beeswax will melt

approximately in 62.7ᴼC but not exceeding 79.4ᴼC)

5. Add the Plant extract into the melted wax.

6. Place the wick in the center of the candle mold

7. Pour the melted wax into the candle mold

8. Let it cool. (Beeswax candles take six (6) hours to cool)

Experimental Design

The study will be using Completely Randomized Design (CRD) which is commonly used

in a laboratory setting. In using this design, subjects are randomly assigned to treatments. It relies

on the randomization to control for the effects of extraneous variables. The experimenters assume
that, extraneous factors will affect treatment conditions equally; so any significant differences

between conditions can fairly be attributed to the independent variables.

Experimental Treatments

Treatments to be used to test the efficacy of the extract includes: T1 –for positive control

using Baygon insecticide spray (sprayed in a banana peel); T2 – 25% leaf extract, T3 – 50%, T4 –

75%, and T5 – 100% concentration of leaf extract.