THE FEASIBILITY OF ELEPHANT EAR

BICOLOR(CALADIUM) LEAF EXTRACTS AGAINST

MOSQUITO WRIGGLERS

Researchers:
Ariño, Nelia Colien
Comacao, Edelisa
Casuco, Ken Marcell
Duranza, Ronald
Gica, Marc Yhuan
Luna, Ronel
Villalon, Mark Frances

A Research proposal
Presented to the Faculty Of
High School Department
Western Leyte College
Ormoc City

In Partial Fulfillments of
The Requirement for the Course
Practical Research II

Elton John M. Meridor, RCh, M.Ed.

Instructor
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First and foremost, praises and thanks to GOD, for his showers of blessing
throughout this research we would also like to express our sincere gratitude for our
research teacher Sir. Elton Jhon Meridor for giving us the opportunity to do
research and providing us with invaluable guidance throughout this research, his
excellence, sincerity and knowledge have deeply inspire us, he successfully taught
us the thigs we need for this research to be successful it was a great honor to work
and study under his guidance, we are extremely grateful for what he has offered us.
I would like to thank him for his friendship, empathy, and great sense of humor
and for making each class fun.

ABSTRACT

ARIÑO, NELIA COLIEN, COMACAO, EDELISA,CASUCO, KEN

MARCELL ,GICA, MARC YHUAN,DURANZA, RONALD, LUNA, RONEL
V., VILLALON, MARK FRANCIS. May 2023, Western Leyte College of,
Ormoc City, Leyte " The Feasibility of Elephant Ear Bicolor (Caladium)
extracts against Mosquito Wrigglers."
 Table of Contents
Chapter I
Rationale …………………………………………………………………................................1

Statement of the problem ……………………………………………………………...………4

Research hypothesis …………………………………………………………………………...4

Objective of the Study………………………………………………………………………….5

Scope and Limitation of the study ………………………………………………………….....5

Significance of the study………………………………………………………………...……..6

Definition of terms ………………………………………………………………...…………..7

Chapter II

Review of Related Literature…………..………….……………………………………….…..8

Theoretical-Conceptual Framework……………………………….………………………….15

Chapter III

Type of Plant………………………………………………………………………………….17

Materials …………….………………………………………………………………………..18

Methods…...…………………………………………………………………………………..20

References.....…...……………………………………………………………………………21

Appendices…………………………………………………………………..……………….24
 Practical Research

Chapter I

The Feasibility of Elephant Ear Bicolor (Caladium) Leaf Extracts Against Mosquito Wrigglers

INTRODUCTION

According to the world health organization, mosquito bites were responsible for the

deaths of more than one million people every year and most of it were because of malaria. This

shows that mosquito is dangerous living organism roaming around the environment Mosquitoes

are familiar pests in the Philippines, the danger and sickness that mosquitos carry is many and is

a threat to us. This study lays the foundation for future research in alternative, unconventional

methods to repel mosquitoes that may be culturally acceptable and accessible for people.

Mosquito repellents can be an effective method for personal protection against mosquito bites

that are a nuisance and carry the risk of transmission of mosquito-borne diseases like plasmodia,

dengue virus, chikungunya virus, and Zika virus.

Mosquitoes are small insects living in houses or near houses and usually lay eggs on the inner

wet walls of containers with water, above the water line. Mosquitoes may be nocturnal, diurnal,

or crepuscular, depending on their species. Most of the mosquitoes prefer to live in dark places.

And some mosquitoes avoid heat and light, therefore during daytime they remain hidden in the

corners, under the luggage or inside the shoes and they will come out from their hiding places at

night to search for food. The female mosquitoes are blood suckers, they bite during day and

night. After sucking blood, it will lay eggs on any surface that contains water. Female mosquitoes
are responsible for transmitting diseases to humans where the transmission at the disease caused

by mosquitoes is a grave threat

to millions of people around the world. Especially those malnourished people and those with

weak immunity. The disease that mosquitoes carry also affects urban and rural communities with

poor living conditions, especially to those who have lack of access to safe drinking water and

sanitation.

Elephant Ear Bicolor (Caladium ) are primarily grown for their beautiful foliage, which makes them

popular in gardens, landscaping, and interior decorating. They are ideal for adding colored, texture,

and interest to any space. Caladiums are relatively easy to care for, making them ideal for novice

gardeners. They require minimal watering and can thrive in both indoor and outdoor environments.

Caladium have good air-purifying qualities. They absorb toxins such as benzene, formaldehyde, and

xylene, which are commonly found in indoor air, making them ideal for use in homes and offices.

Caladium contain a chemical called calcium oxalate, which makes them toxic to insects. This

chemical serves as a natural insect repellent, making them a popular choice for gardens and outdoor

spaces. Caladiums are used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of ailments such as snake bites,

skin rashes, and digestive issues. However, it is important to note that the plant is toxic when

ingested and should only be used under the guidance of a trained professional. Controlling the

continues cases of diseases caused by mosquitoes is extremely important in the present-day scenario.

The use of repellents to protect people from bites of mosquitoes has been acknowledged. The idea of

using natural mosquito repellent products as an alternative to develop new eco-friendly repellent

could be a friendly solution to scale back the undesirable effects on environment and human health.

We conducted this research to control the continuous cases of mosquito diseases and to test the

feasibility of Elephant Ear Bicolor (Caladium ) leaf extracts against mosquito wrigglers. This

research may hopefully prevent, control and could potentially solve this problem.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The use of organic alternatives in repelling mosquitoes will be greatly beneficial not just for its
quality but for the cost as well.

a.) What are the level of effectiveness of Elephant Ear Bicolor (Caladium ) in repelling mosquitos’

larvae?

b.) How long does The Elephant Ear Bicolor (Caladium ) extract took to eliminate a larvae?

c.) Is there a significant difference between the Elephant Ear Bicolor (Caladium ) mosquito

repellent alternative vs. the commercialized mosquito larvae repellent?

RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

There will be two hypotheses in this research:

1. Ha. Elephant Ear Bicolor (Caladium ) can be a suitable alternative in repelling Larvae.

2. Ho. Elephant Ear Bicolor (Caladium ) cannot be a suitable alternative in repelling Larvae.
SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS

The scope of this research study will be conducted to determine the effectiveness of Elephant Ear

Bicolor (Caladium) as an effective and alternative mosquito killer, this study focuses on the

Calcium oxalate which is a chemical compound that acts as a self-defense for insect pest and can

be found in caladium plants

Fig. 1&2(Calcium Oxalate)

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

We can confirm that the issue of dengue, malaria, and yellow fever is a significant
concern for many communities and societies around the world. By using Elephant ear Bicolor
(Caladium) plant extract we can reduce the risk and contracting disease and preventing their
spread. Some mosquito repellents contain harmful chemicals that can have negative effects on
the environment. Our study conducted a natural and non-toxic repellent that can help reduce the
environmental impact of mosquito control measures. We need a solution to the mosquito
problem because they are constant in society, and we want to reduce their population. Society
would benefit from this study in order to stop this issue.
 DEFINITION OF TERMS

REPEL - Drive or force an attacker back or away.

FOLIAGE- representative of leaves, and branches for architectural.

BENZENE - A colorless volatile liquid hydrocarbon present in coal tar and petroleum, and used

in chemical synthesis.

FORMALDEHYDE- A colorless pungent gas solution made by oxidizing methanol.

XYLENE- A volatile hydrocarbon obtained by distilling wood, coal tar, or petroleum, used in

fuels and solvents and chemical synthesis.

PLASMODIA- A motile multinucleate mass of protoplasm resulting from fusion of uninucleate

amoeboid cells.

NOCTURNAL- Active at night.

DIURNAL- Of or during the day.

CREPUSTULAR- Of, resembling or relating to twilight.

 CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Calcium oxalate effects on insects Calcium oxalate is the most abundant insoluble
mineral found in plants and its crystals have been reported in more than 200 plant families. In the
barrel medic Medicago truncatula Gaertn., these crystals accumulate predominantly in a sheath
surrounding secondary veins of leaves. Mutants of M. truncatula with decreased levels of
calcium oxalate crystals were used to assess the defensive role of this mineral against insects.
Caterpillar larvae of the beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua Hübner show a clear feeding
preference for tissue from calcium oxalate-defective mutant lines cod5 and cod6 in choice test
comparisons with wild-type M. truncatula. Compared to their performance on mutant lines,
larvae feeding on wild-type plants with abundant calcium oxalate crystals suffer significantly
reduced growth and increased mortality (Kenneth L. Korth and others, 2006)

Caladium bicolor (Aiton) is a medicinal plant belonging to the Araceae family and
commonly cultivated in and around residential homes due to its ornamental value. It is
commonly called Angel’s wings, elephant’s ear or heart of Jesus. It has a characteristic bi-
colored, heart-shaped leaves . Some of the reported therapeutic applications of C. bicolor include
anti-diarrheal, anti-ulcer, topical treatment of wounds and boils. The therapeutic properties of C.
bicolor can be attributed to the presence of secondary metabolites such as tannins, alkaloids and
saponins. However, phytochemical analysis of C. bicolor also showed the presence of toxic
calcium oxalate which has been implicated in pathology of internal organs such as the
gastrointestinal tract and kidney. This study was therefore carried out to assess probable
pathological effect of sub-acute exposure of methanol extract of C. bicolor on hepatic
histomorphology of experimental Wistar rats Omotoso (Dayo Rotimi Omotoso, 2020).Plant
Physiology 141(1), 188-195, 2006 Journal of Phytology 2020, 12: 77-81
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Elephant Ear
Bicolor(Calad
INPUT ium)
Stem and
Leaves

Homogeniz
PROCESS ation

Mosquito
OUTPUT Larvae
repellent

DISCUSSION AND INTERPRETATION FRAMEWORK

Elephant Ear Bicolor (Caladium) leaf in particular contains calcium oxalate that is toxic to
insect. Calcium oxalate crystals in plants can appear as irregular rectangles, spiked balls, or
needles The formidable appearance of these crystals has lead to speculation that might serve as a
form of pest control by deterring chewing insects.

Oxalic acid and oxalates are produced and present in plants in different amounts. Insoluble
calcium oxalate plays a key role in regulating calcium concentration, which is important in the
functioning of guard cells. Oxalates provide tolerance to aluminum toxicity to plants growing in
acid soils. Both oxalic acid and calcium oxalate provide self-defense against insect pests and
grazing animals. Oxalates are involved in phytoremediation of soils rendered toxic by heavy
metals, like lead, cadmium, zinc, etc.
 CHAPTER III

Type of plant

Caladium bicolor, commonly called caladiums or

angel wings, are arum family members that are
grown exclusively for their bold and colorful
foliage. Calla-type flowers, if present, are usually
hidden. Plants typically grow in clumps to 1-2.5'
tall. Arrowhead-shaped leaves (to 1.5' long) are
various shades of green mottled and blotched with
pink, red, white or combinations thereof often with
distinctively colored veins. Caladium Bicolor also called the heart of Jesus plant is a genus of
flowering plants that belong to the Araceae family native to South America. Caladiums are easy
to care for and are perfect for beginners or those who don’t have a green thumb. These plants
thrive in warm and humid conditions, and they prefer well-draining soil and bright, indirect light.
Caladiums are sensitive to cold temperatures, so they should be kept away from direct sunlight
and should be protected from frost.

Collection of Elephant Ear Bicolor (Caladium)

Elephant Ear Bicolor (Caladium) will be collected at Barangay Valencia Ormoc City
Leyte. About 50 leaves of Caladium Bicolor will be collected. The leaves will be washed
thoroughly with distilled water.

Preparation of Elephant Ear Bicolor (Caladium)

This study will have 2 variables of mosquito, approximately 25 leaves will be collected
and 20 stems, Caladium Bicolor will be washed thoroughly with distilled water and will be left
dry for about 2-3 hours. The dry leaves will be crushed using mortar and pestle. After
homogenization the extracts will be transferred to a clean spray bottle.
 SPRAY TYPE MOSQUITO REPELLENT

I. Materials

Spray bottle
 2 oz of spray plastic bottle A spray bottle is a small handheld
bottle that can be filled with water or other liquids and then
sprayed onto surfaces or into the air. Spray bottles are used to clean,
disinfect, and moisten surfaces and objects. They are also used to apply
cleaners, polishes, and protectants.

Mortar and Pestle Mortar and pestle

is a set of two simple tools used from the Stone Age to the
present day to prepare ingredients or substances by crushing and
grinding them into a fine paste or powder in the kitchen,
laboratory, and pharmacy.

Clean White Cloth

The cloth is made of cellulose fibers and metal-organic

framework molecules, crystalline compounds that form a
porous structure. The pores can trap and store molecules of gas,
serving as wearable filtration systems. Metal-organic
frameworks are often studied for their ability to store beneficial
gases, like hydrogen for a fuel cell, for instance.
II. Methods

A. Experimental Design
The Elephant ear (Caladium ) will be used in this study to test the feasibility of
Elephant ear (Caladium) leaf extract against Mosquito Wrigglers. In testing the
feasibility of this plant against Larvae we will measure and evaluate on how effective
is the extracts. Will it repel the Wrigglers, or will it just paralyzed it for a minute.

Variable Container with wrigglers/ Adult mosquitos

larvae

Stem of caladium 2.5g of caladium stem 2.5g of caladium stem

Leaves of caladium 2.5g of caladium leaves 2.5g of caladium leaves

 CHAPTER IV

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Precursor of Leaf Extracts

This study was conducted to test and know the overview result of the feasibility of
Elephant Ear Bicolor (Caladium) leaf extracts against mosquito wrigglers. Caladium leaves and
stem is the only ingredients needed for this study. Two (2) different variables were prepared for
the wrigglers we tested. The leaves will be homogenized to make the sample product. The
purpose of the different testing sample was to identify and compare the effectiveness on how the
wrigglers react into the two sample. Each treatment provided different results accordingly.

Calcium Oxalate

Calcium oxalate is a common component found in various plant, including the caladium plant. It
is present in the form of calcium oxalate crystals, which are microscopic needle-like structures.
These crystals can cause irritation and discomfort if they come into contact with the skin or
mucous membranes, leading to symptoms such as itching, burning and inflammation.

In the case of caladium plants, calcium oxalate crystals are primarily found in the plants leaves.
These crystals act as defence mechanism against herbivores, deterring them from feeding on the
plant. When an animal attempts to eat the leaves, the crystals can cause irritation and a burning
sensation in the mouth and throat, discouraging further consumption.

It is important to note that the toxicity and severity of the effects caused by calcium oxalate
crystals can vary depending on the individual and the amount of exposure. Some people may be
more sensitive to these crystals than others. If you come into contact with a caladium plant and
experience any discomfort or adverse reactions, it is advisable to wash the affected area with
soap and water and seek medical attention if necessary.
 PRESENTATION OF ANALYSIS, AND INTERPRETATIONN OF DATA
This chapter present the statistical analysis and interpretation of the data gathered.

Table 1. Result of the experiment in observing death duration of caladium stem

Insects Time of Death Percentage per Total Duration Average

spray
Mosquito Trail:1(3:24 ) 1 30.54 10.18
Wrigglers Trail:2(1:30) 2
Trail:3(26.9 ) 3

Table 1 indicates the average time of death which is 10.18 in each trail we conduct. It shows the
probability of death in mosquito as the percentage increasingly used.

Table 2. Result of the experiment in observing death duration of caladium leaves.

Insects Time of Death Percentage per Total Duration Average

spray
Mosquito Trail: 1(1:01.) 1 66.4 22.13
Wrigglers Trail :2(45.30) 2
Trail :3(20.10) 3

Table 2 shows the average duration of death in mosquito using caladium leaves per trails which
is 22.13. This table emphasize the comparison to table 1 in order to understand the efficacy the
following the caladium plants.

Table 3. The total population of mosquito wrigglers mortality affected by caladium extract stem
and leaves.

Insects Population Stem Extraction Leaves Extraction Trials

20 13 18 3 per parts
 CHAPTER V

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATION

The goal of this study was to test the Feasibility of Elephant Ear Bicolor leaf and stem
extracts against mosquito wrigglers. This research was conducted with the hypothesis that
Elephant Ear, which is known for its calcium oxalate, could be effective as mosquito repellent
since calcium oxalate is toxic to insects. However, the results did not support the hypothesis that
Elephant ear is effective as mosquito wriggler repellent.

SUMMARY

To test the effectiveness of Elephant Ear Bicolor extracts against mosquito wrigglers, the
researchers made two experiments. Which is the pure extracts only and pure extracts with 15ml
of ethanol. The researchers then put the two extracts to the two container with the same amount
of wrigglers. After a minute, the results shows that the pure extracts did not kill the wrigglers.
And the extracts with 15ml ethanol did kill the wrigglers.

The result of the study showed that the pure extracts of Elephant Ear was not effective to
mosquito wrigglers, on the other hand it shows signs of wrigglers being paralysis and it also
shows potential to be mosquito and insect repellent due to the calcium oxalate it has, So here we
conclude that Elephant Ear Bicolor (Caladium) is not effective against mosquito wrigglers.

FINDINGS

After the experiment, the following findings we’re:

 In terms of extracts, the stem produce more extracts than the leaves.
 Without ethanol, both pure extracts of stem and leaves only made the movements of the
wrigglers slow.
 With ethanol, the pure extracts of stem and leaves with a small amount of ethanol killed
the wrigglers after 5 minutes.
 The extracts cannot kill an insect if the insect did not consume it.
 The calcium oxalate contributes as an effective defense against chewing insects.
  It takes 25-30 minutes tell the pure extract takes effect making the wrigglers slower.
 In general, caladium extracts only works if eaten or digested.

CONCLUSION

This research provides information about elephant ear bicolor (caladium) as a non-
working subject but has properties that insect and even mosquitos avoid elephant ear bicolor is a
failed subject but can be use as a mosquito repellent but paired with ethanol the subject
successfully exterminate the wriggler in a much faster rate compared to a pure liquid ethanol
extract only.

RECOMMENDATIONS

For the improvements of the study, the following recommendations were proposed:

 The researchers recommend that in using insect repellent, instead of buying products that
could kill the insect. Use Caladium Bicolor it can be use as a repellent against insects and
mosquitos it also gives good air-purifying qualities.
 Use another extraction method.
 Conduct a longer time for extraction process.
 To improve the data gathered the study should have more replicants.
 Try using young caladiums stem, it produces more extracts but gives you a dirty kind of
liquid but the leaves gives you a nice color green liquid.
 Used adult mosquito not just mosquito wrigglers for comparison.
 Use more extracts and try using it on other types of insects
 Conduct further studies to improve the data and comparability of both extracts.
 REFERENCE

https://www.gardendesign.com/plants/caladium.html

https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/about/what-is-a-mosquito.html

https://malariajournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12936-019-3064-8

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6034598/

https://doh.gov.ph/node/1499

https://crisis24.garda.com/alerts/2022/09/philippines-authorities-report-elevated-dengue-fever-
activity-nationwide-through-september-update-3

https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.arplant.56.032604.144106

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