Anti-oxidant Property of Aratiles (Muntingia calabura) Extract as

an Inducer Against the Oxidative Stress Present in Rice

(Oryza sativa), and in Sweet Potato (Ipomea batatas).

A Research Proposal

Presented to the Faculty of

Quezon Science High School (QSHS)

Isabang, Tayabas City

______________________________________________________________________

Proponents:

John Edilbert G. Escritor

Gian Emmanuel M. Gallegar

Ron Dave S. Magyaya

____________________________________________________________________

March 27

Russel T. Soltura PhD

Research Adviser
TITLE

Anti-oxidant Property of Aratiles (Muntingia calabura) Extract as an Inducer

Against the Oxidative Stress Present in Rice (Oryza sativa), and in Sweet Potato

(Ipomea batatas).

RATIONALE

Today, according to United Nations’ Annual Food Security Report, world hunger

has risen for the third time. The World Health Organization (2018) stated that, over 821

million is still suffering from hunger, affecting more than 150 million children making the

goal to a hunger-free world, impossible. This is because of extreme climate-related

disasters, which are extreme heat, droughts, floods, and storms that causes a widely

known pathogenic disease present in plants due to environmental stress that can be

accumulated during food production called oxidative stress that affects the production of

many agricultural land and major crops such as wheat, rice, and maize (Bonn, 2018).

The situation may also worsen as it is expected the increase in temperature and be

more extreme (WHO, 2018). The situation here in the Philippines is not as far as the

world is experiencing right now. Several agricultural lands are now in debt and slowly

closing down because of their low production of crops. Making a higher production cost

of the crops, as the population continuously arises. Resulting to more people

experiencing hunger for they cannot afford to buy these staple crops. (Mendoza, & e.

Nabua, 2018). Oxidative stress occurs together with the natural sress in plants, this

weakens and decreases the defense activity of rice, corn, and sweet potato. Induced

lipid peroxidation and cell death are some of the products of oxidative stress affecting
the plant cell growth and its secondary metabolism (Krishnamurthy & Rathinasabapathi,

2013; Halliwell, 2006). Oxidative stress is an imbalance between free radicals and

antioxidants in plants. Free radicals are oxygen-containing molecules with an uneven

number of electrons. The uneven number allows them to easily react with other

molecules. Free radicals can cause large chain chemical reactions in plants because

they react so easily with other molecules. These reactions are called oxidation. They

can be beneficial or harmful. Antioxidants are molecules that can donate an electron to

a free radical without making themselves unstable. This causes the free radical to

stabilize and become less reactive (Legg,2017).

General Objective

The study generally aims to induce the oxidative stress produced during

photosynthetic activity in rice, and sweet potato using the antioxidative properties of

aratiles fruit extracts.

Specifically, this study will seek:

1. to identify the active chemical components present in an aratilis fruit.

2. to compare the different concentrations of antioxidative extracts obtained

from aratiles, and the positive and negative control groups in inducing the

oxidative stress present in rice, and sweet potato plants in terms of:

a. stalk height;

b. leaf width;

c. size of xanthic stalk parts; and

d. size of spotted disease.

 3. to test the significant difference between the different concentrations of

antioxidative extracts obtained from aratiles, and the positive and negative

control groups in inducing the oxidative stress present in rice, and sweet

potato plants in terms of:

a. stalk height;

b. leaf width;

c. size of xanthic stalk parts; and

d. size of spotted disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The materials which will be used in the study are aratiles (Muntingia calabura)

fruit, food processor, and syringes. The aratilis fruit will be the independent variable that

will manipulate the other variables. The food processor will be used to break down the

aratiles. The syringes will be used to inject the extract in the experimental plant.

Gathering of Plant Materials

The independent variable with known antioxidant property were chosen based on

their availability. The researchers will collect aratiles fruits from Tayabas, Quezon.

Plant Verification

The leaves and fruit of the plant will be washed thoroughly with water to remove

dirt and other residue for the verification. The plant samples will be verified and

authenticated at the Bureau of Plant Industries situated in Malate, Manila.

Phytochemical Analysis

The aratiles fruit will be extracted and will be brought to Department of Science

and Technology (DOST) in Los Baños, Laguna and then the plant samples will be

delivered by the staffs in DOST Los Baños to DOST Bicutan, Taguig City, Manila to be

screened at the Industrial Technology Development Institute-Standards and Testing

Division (ITDI-STD). The plant extracts will be tested for the presence of antioxidant

constituents (sterols,

triterpenes, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, glycosides, and tannins).

Laboratory Testing

Antioxidative activity on oxidative stress will be tested at the Industrial

Technology Development Institute-Standards and Testing Division (ITDI-STD) of the

Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Bicutan, Taguig City, Manila.

Extracts will be tested on plants wherein they will undergo various testings.

On-Field Experiment

The researchers will provide five (5) plants from rice, and sweet potato per

setups. They will be injected with the extracts every three (3) days and will be watered

everyday. After 60 days, the plants will be assessed to find out the results.

Analyzing and Interpreting Data

 The results will be gathered and recorded. The researcher will create a table,

wherein they can compare and assess which setup is the most effective.

The researchers will prepare the aratiles fruits to be readied for extraction

through the use of mortar and pestle. After all of the preparations, the researchers will

then generate the following design: Setup A will receive 100% aratiles extract, 0%

distilled water; Setup B will receive 75% aratiles extract, 25% distilled water; Setup C

will receive 50% aratiles extract, 50% distilled water; Setup D will receive 25% aratiles

extract, 75% distilled water; Setup E will be the negative control group which contains

100% distilled water; and Setup F will be the positive control group containing

glutathione. Overall, the research design consists of six (6) setups with five (5) trials

each plant per setup.

Stalk Height

The height of the stalk will be measured from the base up to the tip of the plant. It

will be measured using a meter stick in meters (m).

Leaf Width

The width of the leaf will be determined through the center of the pin up until to

the leaf’s outside edge. It will be measured using a ruler in centimeters (cm).

Size of Xanthic Stalk Parts

 The size of xanthic stalk parts will be determined through measuring the area of

stalk parts with yellow spots. It will be measured in centimeters (cm).

Size of Spotted Disease

The size of spotted disease in a plant will be determined through the area of the

disease in the plant. It will be measured in centimeters (cm).

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