Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Region III
Division of Nueva Ecija
Bartolome Sangalang National High School
Guimba, Nueva Ecija

“Formulation and Evaluation of Psidium Guajava (Guava)

leaf extract as alternative hand sanitizer.”
Nicole Ann G. Bautista
Jennie R. Acapuyan
John Cedrick D. Baluyut
Heart Ann B. De Vera
Rowie Lutap
Elvin Jhon G. Occasion
11-STEM RYANN

The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) has caused a worldwide health

crisis that has changed our perceptions of the world and our daily lives. Given that there’s
still no medication found to cure this disease, various researchers and pharmaceutical
companies are working to develop vaccines and treatments. According to the CDC, the
new coronavirus transmits mostly through talking, coughing, or sneezing, which releases
large respiratory droplets containing the virus into the air for others to inhale. Experts
believe that people infected with the new coronavirus and other viruses that are carried
through droplets can spread them up to six feet. Hand sanitizer only protects your hands
from taking up the droplets and passing them on to your mouth, nose, and eyes. [1]
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers, which are mostly made up of ethanol, isopropyl
alcohols, and hydrogen peroxides in various combinations, are recommended by the
World Health Organization for frequent hand washing. When these preparations are used
incorrectly, they can be harmful to human health and the environment. When released
through evaporation, these chemicals are known to be poisonous and hazardous to the
environment. [2]
The American Association of Poison Control Centers reported 9,504 alcoholic
hand sanitizer exposure cases in children under the age of 12 years in the first five
months of 2020, recognizing that even a small amount of alcohol can cause alcohol
poisoning in children, resulting in confusion, vomiting, and drowsiness, as well as
respiratory arrest and death in severe cases. [3]
The main objective of this project is to make a formulation that has less side
effects and has better cleaning of hands using the ethanol extract from the leaves of
Guava. Adaptation of alternative preparations of hand sanitizers based on natural and
plant resources can be the possible solution to get ride off toxicity problem.
Psidium guajava (Linn.), is a popular tropical plant in the Myrtaceae family, has a
long history of traditional use. It is utilized as a meal as well as a folk medicine, and
various sections of the plant have therapeutic qualities ranging from antibacterial activity
to anticancer activity.
Guava (Psidium guajava) is a phytotherapic plant that is considered to have active
components that can help treat and manage a variety of ailments. Malaria, gastroenteritis,
vomiting, diarrhea, dysentery, wounds, ulcers, toothache, coughs, sore throat, irritated
gums, and a variety of other ailments have all been treated with various portions of the
plant in traditional medicine [4–5]. This herb has also been used to treat life-threatening
illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, and obesity [3, 5].
Phytochemicals isolated from guava leaf extract have been shown to have
antibacterial action (Guintu and Chua, 2013). Flavonoids, saponins, tannins,
triterpenoids, and eugenol are bioactive chemical ingredients found in guava leaves, with
flavonoids and polyphenolic chemicals predominating over others (Mailoa et al., 2013).
Phenolic compounds are responsible for inhibiting microbial growth, and because guava
leaves are high in phenolic compounds, they have excellent antimicrobial qualities.
The guava tree is a tiny, evergreen tree. Guava leaves range in size from 2 to 6
inches long and 1 to 2 inches wide, are scented when crushed, and are dull-green with
stiff yet coriaceous veins [6]. The guava leaf contains bioactive components that can fight
infections, regulate blood glucose levels, and even help with weight loss.
Guava leaves contain cineol, tannins, triterpenes, flavonoids, resin, eugenol, malic
acid, fat, cellulose, chlorophyll, mineral salts, and a variety of other fixed compounds [7].

This research will investigate the leaves of guava if it could be extracted as

alternative hand sanitizer. The aims of this study are to find the properties guava leaves to
make herbal hand sanitizer, what will be the possible component of Psidium Guajava
leaves that can be the source of hand sanitizer, how to extract guava leaves into hand
sanitizer and to make a hand sanitizer that has less side effects to reduce chemical toxic
and hazardous impact on human and environment.

REFERENCE
[1] Can Hand Sanitizer Prevent Spread of Coronavirus Infection (indushealthplus.com)
[2] COVID-19 and frequent use of hand sanitizers; human health and environmental hazards by exposure
pathways - ScienceDirect

[3] COVID-19 and frequent use of hand sanitizers; human health and environmental hazards by exposure
pathways (nih.gov)

[4] Antimicrobial activity of Psidium guajava L. - ScienceDirect

[5] Chemical constituents from the leaves of Psidium guajava: Natural Product Research: Vol 18, No 2
(tandfonline.com)

[6] Morton: Fruits of warm climates - Google Scholar

[7] Assessment techniques of antimicrobial properties of natural compounds of plant origin: current
methods and future trends | African Journal of Biotechnology (ajol.info)