Ampalaya Leaves as an Alternative Ingredients for tea with Calamansi

Extract

A Research Paper presented to the Senior High School Department of Laganac

High School as Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements in Practical Research
Project

AMY B. ARILLAS

GINALYN N. BELEN

JUDY ANN P. TODENIO

LOURDES B. ARILLAS

Proponents

ELEZEN G. VALDEZ

Practical Research Adviser

 CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM

1.1 Introduction

Bitter gourd (Momordica Charantia or M. Charantia), also known as bitter

melon, karela, or balsam pear, is a popular plant used for treating diabetes-

related conditions amongst the indigenous populations of Asia, South America,

India, the Caribbean, and East Africa. Its fruit has a distinguishing bitter taste,

which is more pronounced as it ripens, hence the name bitter melon or bitter

gourd.

Bitter gourd (M. Charantia) is a flowering vine in the family of

Cucurbitaceae. It is a tropical plant that is widely cultivated in Asia, India, East

Africa, and South America for its intensely bitter fruits that are commonly used in

cooking and as a natural remedy for treating diabetes as stated by Abascal K,

and Yarnell E. It is a climbing perennial that usually grows up to 5 m, and bears

elongated fruits with a knobble surface. It is a useful medicinal and vegetable

plant for human health and one of the most promising plants for diabetes.

Bitter gourd is a powerful nutrient-dense plant composed of a complex

array of beneficial compounds. These include bioactive chemicals, vitamins,

minerals, and antioxidants which all contribute to its remarkable versatility in

treating a wide range of illnesses. The fruits contain high amounts of vitamin C,
vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamins B1, B2, and B3, as well as vitamin B9 (folate). The

caloric values for

leaf, fruit and seed were 213.26, 241.66, and 176.61 Kcal/100 g respectively.

(Bakare RI. et al.).

Its medicinal properties do not take away the fact that the leaves are a

versatile ingredient for perking up the plate. The leaves are nutritious and rich in

minerals like potassium, sodium, calcium, zinc, magnesium, iron, manganese,

and copper, and vitamins like carotene, tocopherol, folic acid, cyanocobalamin,

and ascorbic acid along with some traces of vitamins B3, B6, D, and K.

Furthermore, Bitter gourd is traditionally known for its medicinal properties such

as antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-inflammation, antivirus, and cholesterol-lowering

effects. It contains many phenolic compounds that may have the potential as

antioxidants and antimutagen as stated by Budrat P, Shotipruk A.

This study determined the Health Benefits of Bitter Gourd Leaf Juice Extract

with Lemon. The fruit, stems, leaves, and roots of bitter melon have all been

used in traditional medicine to help treat ailments such as hyperlipidemia,

digestive disorders, microbial infections, and menstrual problems. Bitter gourd

has been shown to possess powerful antiviral properties that can stimulate the

immune system and activate the body's natural killer cells to help fight off

viruses such as the white spot syndrome virus and human immunodeficiency

virus. Ray et al. showed that the extract of bitter melon modulates signal

transduction pathways for inhibition of breast cancer cell growth and can be
used as a dietary supplement for the prevention of breast cancer (Ray RB,

Raychoudhuri A, Steele R, Nerurkar P.).

1.2. Statement of the Problem

This study aims to determine the health benefits of Bitter Gourd Leaf Juice

Extract with Lemon.

Specifically, this study sought answers to the following questions:

1. What is the profile of students and adults in terms of:

a. Gender
b. Age

2. What are the health benefits of Bitter Gourd Leaf Juice with lemon?

3. What part of Ampalaya is used for medicine?

4. What are the side effect of Ampalaya leaf juice in adults, especially

children?

1.3 Research Hypothesis

Null Hypothesis (Ho)- The bitter gourd leaf juice extract with lemon is

not effective as medicine in adults especially children that have asthma

and has no significant side effects.

 Alternative Hypothesis (Ha)- The bitter gourd leaf juice extract with
lemon is effective as medicine in adults especially children that have
asthma and has significant side effects.

1.4 Scope and Delimitation

This study covered the health benefits, side effects, and effectiveness of

using bitter gourd leaf juice extract with lemon as a medicine for asthma and

other diseases. The focus of this research is to determine the effectiveness and

also the side effects of bitter gourd leaf juice extract with lemon on children and

adults especially pregnant women in Barangay Laganac as medicine for asthma

and other diseases. This medicine will benefit families who lack financial

resources for medicine and, when not in the hospital, it can be used as a

temporary treatment. The researchers applied the Aqueous Extraction of

Phytonutrients as the safest procedure, which can circumvent the challenges

associated with other extraction techniques. Materials and methods. To optimize

the process parameters for aqueous extraction of bitter gourd leaf juice: water

ratio, extraction time, and temperature were selected within the ranges 30 –

100mL, 20 – 160 minutes, and 30 – 90°C, respectively. The optimum conditions

for aqueous extraction of bitter gourd leaf are leaves:water ratio of 50mL, an

extraction time of 95 minutes, and an extraction temperature of 68°C.

The production extracted made from water, bitter gourd leaves, and lemon

was done on March 2022 at Laganac, Balatan Camarines Sur. Furthermore, the
data gathering procedures were conducted on April 2022 at the same location

where the extracted bitter gourd leaves with lemon was made.

The evaluation of the effectiveness of extracted bitter gourd leaves with

lemon was only delimited to the stated dependent variable and was not tested in

laboratories.

1.5 Significance of the Problem

The significance of this study will benefit the following:

Children. This study will benefit most children and cure their asthma.

Adults. This study will benefit adults especially old ones to alleviate their

liver problems, asthma, and other diseases.

Community. This study will be beneficial to the community since they

can save money. They can easily recreate this and use it in their home.

Plant Industry. This research will introduce the use of bitter gourd leaf

juice extract with lemon as medicine through a much safer and cheaper method.

Department of Health. The result of this study may give a contribution

to the Department of Health since bitter gourd leaf juice extract with lemon is a

medicine for asthma and other diseases.

Students. This research study will help students gain more knowledge on

experimenting and developing alternative products such as organic or herbal

medicine.
 Researcher. The researchers will benefit from conducting this study

because it will provide them with knowledge of medicinal plants’ manufacturing

process which they can employ in the near future.

Future Researcher. This study will serve as a foundation of new ideas

for future researchers and for their own studies. This can be potentially utilized

as a research tool in the future. If they have the same or similar topic, they can

use this as relevant literature and studies.

1.6 Definition of Terms

The following terms that were used in study have been defined to its

preparation and alternative medicines.

USES – Due to its blood sugar- lowering properties, bitter melon is

most commonly used in the treatment of diabetes. The extract has been used to

reduce fevers, relieve menstruation symptoms and treat viral infections as well,

but lacks research and evidence of its efficacy.

SIGNIFICANCE – For diabetes, the active substances of the extract

act like insulin in your bloodstream. It simulates the absorption of glucose into

cells, and thereby helps to lower blood sugar levels.

 DOSAGES – The recommended dosages for bitter melon in the

treatment of type 2 diabetes is 50 ml to 100 ml of juice a day, 15 g at extract

each day or 900 mg of the fruit 3 times a day, but much larger clinical trials are

necessary to support these claims.

INTERACTIONS – If you do decide to take amplaya to complement

your current treatment plan, talk to your primary health care provider. Bitter

melon can adversely interact with other medications.

WARNING – Taking bitter melon each day may also result in liver

damage and favism, which is an enzyme deficiency in the blood. Bitter melon is

also known to be toxic in children and could pose a danger for pregnant women,

as it may induce premature constructions, vaginal bleeding and spontaneous

abortion.
 CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

This chapter shows the review of related literature and studies,

it will help in familiarizing information that are saying on this study, we
will interpret the relevant and similar in this study.
Perhaps not too many people know that there are natural weapons against
diseases that can be grown right in the garden or farm. One such weapon is the
wrinkly green vegetable with a distinctive bitter taste called Ampalaya.
Known in the science world as ‘Momordica Charantia,’ it is called bitter gourd or
bitter melon. In terms of nutritional contents, the fruits and leaves of the
Ampalaya are reportedly rich in minerals and vitamins, notably iron, calcium,
phosphorus and Vitamin B.
Philippine traditional medicine attributes many medicinal properties to
Ampalaya. Books and articles on Philippine medicinal plants list several diseases
where Ampalaya is apparently beneficial. Reportedly, the extract from the leaves
or roots shrinks hemorrhoids. The leaf juice is supposedly a good antitussive
(i.e., it stops cough), antipyretic (i.e., for fever), purgative and for asthma.
Ampalaya is also used to treat sterility in women and it can supposedly
alleviate liver problems. Likewise, it is claimed that Ampalaya has some
antimicrobial activity and can help infected wounds.
According to Cayetano (1998), the immature plant of Ampalaya (Momordica
charantia) is harmful to a fetus. By this information, there is a possibility that it is
also known obnoxious to insects.
Also, in some regions of the Philippines and as it dies is expelled, the termite
will die too (Santos et al.,2003).
“Commonly known as Ampalaya in the Philippines, researchers refer to its as a
vegetable, fruit, or herb”, wrote Frank Murray in his book, Ampalaya: Nature’s
Remedy for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. “It is Indigenous to Asia, but is
cultivated around the world, where it goes by almost 90 different names”.
Dr. A. Raman and Dr. C. Lau, who received over 150 pre-clinical and clinical
studies on Ampalaya’s anti-diabetes properties and phytochemistry, concluded
that, “Oral administration of fruit juice or seed powder [or bitter melon] causes a
reduction in fasting blood glucose and improves glucose tolerance”.
 Ampalaya is rich in vitamins and minerals. It contains less of the vitamin C
content present in oranges but is sufficient enough for everyday consumption.
Vitamin C helps us in improving your immunity and thus keeps your body healthy
and protects it in fighting cancer cells. Its seed contain nutrients that are healthy
Ampalaya is rich in vitamins and minerals. It contains less of the vitamin C
content present in oranges but is sufficient. Vitamin C helps us in improving your
immunity and thus keeps your body health and protect it.

According to Dr. Eduardo G. Gonzales of the college of medicine at De La

Salle University. “This effect is noticeable regardless of how the leaves are
prepared – boiled then eaten, or in the form of extract, tea, capsule or tablet.”
As the bitter fruit is famous for its many medicinal attributes, there are also
other unique ways in preparing mixtures, drinks or solutions made from
Ampalaya. Those with cough, fever and diarrhea are advised to drink a spoonful
of grounded and juiced Ampalaya leaves every day. For other health conditions,
the fruit and leaves can both be juiced and taken orally. For wounds, burns and
other skin diseases, the fruit’s warmed leaves may be applied to the affected
area.

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

Our theoretical framework, when you heard “Amapalaya”, then you may
feel unfamiliar to this word. As the consequences, Ampalaya or known as bitter
melon or bitter gourd is a common cuisine for Indian. It is also known as
Momordica Charantia as its scientific name and balsam pear as its English name.
Ampalaya also belongs to Cucurbitaceae. This edible fruit is also famous to every
Filipino and has been widely used for medicinal purpose. Moreover, this plant
grows well in Asia, Africa, South America, and India.

Ampalaya has unique characteristics as it has dark green color and looks like a
cucumber or zucchini with warts. Besides, this vegetable has an “acquired taste”
and is commonly being soaked in salt water to remove the bitterness. Ampalaya
also famous for its benefit as the natural medication treatments. The fruits,
leaves, and seeds can be used as the nutritional supplements as well.
 Many green vegetables and fruits As a result, it will help to protect the
which have great antioxidant body against the risks of cancer and
source and promotes the overall other health problems for sure.
body health as well.

It is shown that Ampalaya

What people need is the
strong immune system in
order to prevent the
presence of certain
diseases.
contains the source of
Due to the presence of
calcium. This nutrient is
antioxidant nutrients, then
known as the major key for
Ampalaya is a good candidate to
getting great bones structure
act as the anti-inflammatory.
and density.

Not only for providing the good

source of calcium, but Ampalaya Next, Ampalaya provides a good
is also good to provide the source of phosphorus. This one is
source of iron. really valuable to promote healthy
bone formation.

Infection is the one who can lead

another disease to the body. There
are many factors which can result in
infection.

FIGURE 1. THEORETICAL PARADIGM

 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

The conceptual framework of the study will serve as guide, concept, process,
and ideas and this also serve as the researcher used the input-process-output
system.
The focused of the study is the health benefits of bitter gourd (momordica
charantia) leaf juice extract with lemon.

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

LEGAL BASES:
>Making
Ampalaya Leaf >Prepared and
Juice Extract with measured the
Lemon ingredients
AMPALAYA LEAF
>Expirement a >The researchers JUICE EXTRACT
medicine conduct an WITH LEMON
interview and
>Process
survey
>Procedure
>Respondents
>Ingredients
>Research
Instrument

FEEDBACK
BARANGAY LAGANAC BALATAN CAM.SUR
 CHAPTER 3
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

This chapter describe the detailed and process of making Ampalaya Leaf Juice
extract with lemon and to know the healthy benefits of this to students and
children with asthma. This research helps students to become healthy. In this
research we have to know how affective if we use Ampalaya Leaf Juice extract
with lemon as medicine. It can help the students and children to cure their
asthma.

RESEARCH DESIGN
This study will determine the importance of making Ampalaya Leaf Juice. The
descriptive method was availed to describe the study of Ampalaya Leaf Juice in
Barangay Laganac. On the other hand, Evaluative method was availed to
determine the healthy benefits of the Ampalaya Leaf Juice and also to evaluate
the agreement of the individual or the students who was the target of this study,
the respondent perception with the good and bad effects of Ampalaya Leaf Juice
to themselves. While correlational method was used to determine the significant
settlement by the respondents in tasting the Ampalaya Leaf Juice. This study is
to help the respondents to have a healthy body and also to have a good health.

SAMPLING TECHNIQUE
This study sampling was used in the choice of the locale of the study that
these respondents which is the students of Barangay Laganac. In connection
with the respondents of the study because most of the students there are some
respondents that similar to their health problems such as having asthma in
students so we’re doing a sample for solving potential medications for asthma by
making a common drinks such as Ampalaya Leaf Juice. To make young people or
the individual more appealing or excited for them to like it and to keep them
from drinking and also to keep them from having a different vision and taste of
the Ampalaya Leaf Juice. It can help to the respondent of Barangay Laganac to
become healthy by drinking and trying it as a cure of asthma for having a good
health of the individual.
RESPONDENTS OF THE STUDY
The respondents of this study is composed of the children and adults in
Barangay Laganac. All of these participants was selected through random
sampling. The chosen respondents of this study are containing of ten (10)
random adults and children from selected Barangay Laganac suitable and
applicable to the study.

DATA GATHERING PROCEDURES

Presented in this study are findings of the data gathered through the use of
questionnaire, result of the research to the respondents and getting the result by
computing, plotted on table. Ten (10) copies of questionnaires distributed in the
chosen respondents.

Table 1. Distribution of Participants

GENDER NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS

Female 5

Male 5

Total 10

DISTRIBUTIONS OF PARTICIPANTS
The table shows that five (5) or 50 percent of the respondents are female and
the five (5) or 50 percent is for the male respondents, in total of 100 percent.

STATISTICAL DATA ANALYSIS

The data gathered will be subjected to descriptive and inferential analysis this
study.