KORONADAL NATIONAL COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL

Science, Technology and Engineering Program

Junior High School Department

THE POTENTIAL OF ACHIOTE (Bixa Orellana L.) SEED OIL EXTRACT

SOLUTION AS AN ALTERNATIVE FOR TERMITE (Isoptera) REPELLENT

A Research Study Presented to the Faculty of Koronadal National Comprehensive

High School Junior High School Department

Koronadal City

In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements in Practical Research 2

By:

CATEDRILLA, DANIEL

BUGANTE, RINAFLOR

ENRIJO, KRISTINE

PATRICIO, REYNA JOY

LICAYAN, SHAYNE

AISHAH D. ANDRADE

Research Adviser

November 2021
 CHAPTER I

Background of the Study

Flu Nature Lover (2018) discovered that Annato (Bixa orellana L.) is easily confused

with rambutan due to its similar appearance, texture, and colour. Considering rambutan was a

favourite of Filipinos, the achiote tree generally draws the eye of any by passer (Reddoorz,

2020). This led to neglecting its beneficial chemical components such as carotenoids,

apocarotenoids, sterols, aliphatic chemicals, monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, triterpenoids,

volatile oils, and other miscellaneous substances from all parts of this plant (Islam et al., 2016).

The Annato (Bixa orellana L.) natural extract possesses insect repellent properties due to its

about equal farnesyl pyrophosphate (C15) and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (C20) content, and

it has an advantage over synthetics considering the low negative side effects, low resistance, and

environmental friendliness.

Inside a household, there are various pests that can disrupt individuals' way of life and

disintegrate a family's economy by infesting their household goods; which may lead them to lose

their own resources in rebuilding damaged materials. As mentioned in the article "Things You

Should Know" (2017), aside from ruining portions of a home, pests can pose major health threats

like contamination of air, food, and water, as well as asthma, allergy, salmonella, E. coli, and

Lyme disease, among many other things. Home Team Pest Defense (2012) surveyed houses

across the country, underlining those termites are the most prevalent pest problem, impacting one

out of every four people and that 13% had experienced termites in the last year. A mite

infestation caused structural damage to nearly one-quarter (22 percent) of homeowners' homes.

Ignorance of the termite pest problem may result in serious allergy and asthma attacks. In the
article “Are Termites Harmful to Humans?”, although the pest is not toxic and cannot transmit

any diseases, it still stings and bites humans. Also consider how much termites (Isoptera) can

damage household goods, which will cost homeowners a significant amount of money. Arizona’s

experts on pests since 1969 said that the longer the pest remains, the more difficult it is to

eradicate it.

That is why, in order to keep a family's economy stable and reduce financial burdens, the

researchers came up with an idea on experimenting annato seed oil extract as a human and eco-

friendly insect repellent, because termites are commonly found living in walls, bathrooms,

furniture, logs, and other wood sources found in or near the home that are highly exposed to

human interaction. According to (Ventosa, 2018), achiote seeds grow in warm regions of Asia.

No specific studies have proved the potential of annato (Bixa orellana L.) seed oil extract as an

alternative for termite (Isoptera) repellent. This study will be conducted to test the termite

repellency of annato (Bixa orellana L.) seed oil extract.

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to determine the efficacy of utilizing Annatto oils seed extract as

a termite repellent alternative:

Furthermore, it seeks to respond to the following research question:

1. How much is the weight of the wood after using the following concentrations?

a. Twenty-five percent of Annatto oils seed extract?

b. Fifty percent of Annatto oils seed extract?

c. Seventy-five percent of Annatto oils seed extract?

d. One hundred percent of Annatto oils seed extract?

2. Is there a significant difference on the weight of the wood before and after the

treatment?

3. Is there a significant difference on the weight of the wood among all trials of all

treatments and setups?

4. Which treatment is the most effective termite repellent?

Scope and Delimitation of the Study
The purpose of this study is to test the potential of Annato (Bixa Orellana L.) seed oil
extract as termite (Isoptera) repellent, the seed oil extract of Annato will be utilized by the
process of bixin method. The study will be able to reduce the possibility of termites infesting
wood products, which might result in the decrease of product quality. The structure of the study
will be determined by the data gathered from the experiment that will be conducted in two set-
ups. One is experimental and the other is control set up. This research will be carried out
between November and December of 2021. The research paper will be completed within the
confines of the researchers' homes to ensure their safety. The Annato seeds that will be utilized
in the study can be accumulate within the vicinity of Koronadal City, South Cotabato. In
experimental set up, there will be four level of percentage of the solution and thirty termites will
be tested in each treatment. However, in control set-up, there will be two types of treatment
which is the positive treatment and the negative treatment. In positive treatment, a commercial
termite repellent agent will be used in order to decrease the possibility of mite infestation while
in negative treatment, no solution will be applied to the exposed wood product. The termites will
be separated from each other and will be put in a cage with a label according to the treatment
that is going to be applied. The colony of termites will remain at the location, specifically in a
moist cool and dark or shaded room for one week before the experimentation will take place in
order for it to be used on its surrounding. The observation will commence after the wood product
receive the treatment and every after one hour, the progress will be noted until all of the termites
are fully settled. As a precaution, the researchers discussion of this study will operate online,
conducting brainstorming via Messenger, Google Meet, Facebook, or Zoom.
Significance of the Study
This study will be conducted to prove the potential effectiveness of Annato (Bixa orella
L.) seed oil extract solution to be alternative for termite (Isoptera) repellent. Through this study,
homeowners will utilize the Annato (Bixa orella L.) seed oil extract to be use as termite repellent
in wooden furniture and will be able to have eco and human friendly repellent that can be
homemade. The study also gives significance to the wood furniture manufacturers to help their
product in termite infestation. This may serve as tool to keep their furniture business outstanding
in the community. To the society it provides evident knowledge about the benefits of organic
plants in eliminating the infestation of pests. To the field of entomology it gives the potential
knowledge that from this study will be able to contribute on their existing knowledge knowing
that there will be another solution from an organic plant that can repell termites. Furthermore,
to the other researchers and future researchers, it is for them to gain knowledge and understand
the phenomenon. They may use the information in this study as a guideline or to support their
study. This experimental research about Annato (Bixa orella L.) will contribute to the future
researchers that will explore the various potential of Annato (Bixa orella L.) as pests repellent.