POTENTIAL AND EFFECTIVENESS OF ARATILES 

(Muntigia calabura) AS AN
INGREDIENT OF ANTI-BACTERIAL HAND SOAP PRODUCTION

On Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement in Research Project/ Capstone

Presented to:

Dr. CRISTITA C. FERRER

Presented by:

BARUZO, FRANKLIN Y.

LLAMERA, ANGELO G.

YAPIT, RYSAL D.

FERRER, DAFNY B.

GALVAN, SHERLY N.

GALVEZ, CLARAGEN FAYE A.

LOPEZ, ALAIKA ANNE R.

May 2021
 CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION

Situational Analysis

Aratiles (Calabura) is a fast-growing tree native to the Philippines with spreading branches and

a height of 5 to 10 meters. Its hairy, sticky, oblong-ablate leaves are edible, sweet, and juicy,

and the fruit contains a large number of tiny (0.5 millimeters) yellow seeds. Its flowers can also

be used to make antiseptics and as a therapy for abdominal cramps. The bark is also used in the

production of soap. (Reyes)

People usually suffer from skin problems like being rough and dark nowadays due to too much

exposure to heat from the sun and lack of nutrients to moisturize the body. That is why there is

a reliable soap wherein the aratiles tree leaves can be used as a component for a soap due to

their high anti-oxidant value and moisturizing capability. Furthermore, according to the article

entitled "The Aratiles Tree," M.Calabura poses a potential antibacterial property comparable to

the standard antibiotics. (M. Calabura)

Washing your hands is popular advice right now, and with good reason: it's one of the best
strategies to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, along with social distancing. Even with that

simple directive, however, there are still some unanswered questions: Is it antibacterial or not?

Which is better: a bar or a liquid? Those that are mass-produced or those that are labeled as

"natural," such as those seen at a farmers market? The variety of soap styles, brands, and types

available might be overwhelming. However, in this circumstance, the ideal kind of soap to use is

both simple and readily available: use the soap you already have.

Aratiles fruit, on the other hand, is a small but well-known and healthy fruit produced by a

multipurpose tree and thus deserves to be included. The plentiful fruits are small, with red and

yellow skin, smooth, thin, tender-skin and light-brown, thick, juicy pulp with sweet, musky, fig-

like pulp, filled with highly minute, yellowish seeds, too fine to be noticed when eating. The

fruit has become naturalized and is readily available. It is widely known, especially in the

Philippines. (Reyes)

The advice that's everywhere right now is to wash your hand, and no wonder—along with

social distancing, it's one of the best ways to slow the spread of the coronavirus. But even in

that simple dictate, there's still room for questions: Antibacterial or not? Bar or liquid? Mass-

produced or those marketed as "natural," like the handmade ones you can find at a farmers

market? The array of styles, brands, and types of soap out there can be dizzying. But in this

case, the answer to the best kind of soap to use is both simple and efficiently within your grasp:

Use the soap you already have. (Ria Misra, 2020)

According to Erin Sheets(2021), an associate professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the

University of Minnesota, Duluth, told us. “This particular Corona Virus is coated with a lipid

coat,” "Membrane proteins - the spike proteins that detect your proteins within your lungs to

infect you - are also found in that lipid sheath.” To function, such proteins require a lipid

membrane. “What soap does is dissolve and wash away those lipid .” This is something that all

soap, regardless of shape or form, can do well, ”any soap will suffice,” she stated. “It doesn’t

matter if it’s liquid soap or bar soap, fancy-pants soap or farmer’s market soap, If you currently

have antibacterial soap in your bathroom, Sheets says it isn’t necessary or anymore effective

than other types of soap.

Antibacterial products, such as aratiles soap, aid in the killing of bacteria and viruses.

Sheet, on the other hand, advises against it when washing your hands: Try not to use “soap

free” skin cleansers because they may not be able to dissolve the virus’s lipid covering as well as

soap. Instead, when washing your hands, use soap. (Sheets,2020)

Soap is defined as an oil, fat, and herbal mixture, according to the Consumer Product

Safety Commission (N.D) (including plants oils, animal fat, and herbal plants). What happens on

a molecular level when soap and the corona virus collide is what makes soap effective……………

According to Erin Sorell, 2019 an assistant professor of microbiology and immunology at

Georgetown University told us, "Any soap, used properly, will be effective in disinfecting your

hands from coronavirus," "It's the amount of time that the soap is in contact with your hand

that allows for the soap to be effective," An adequate contact time lets the soap do its job and

inactivate the virus. That's why that 20-second time period is critical Water alone may rinse off

the dirt. Still, viruses and bacteria are so small they often need chemical and mechanical

intervention to get their sticky nanoparticles out of the crevices that make up our unique

fingerprints.

That's why soap is so important, a handmade soap that is antibacterial like Aratilis. Give

aratiles soap 20 seconds, at least, of thorough scrubbing. The pin-shaped molecules will

penetrate the types of bacteria and viruses, including COVID-19, that protect themselves with

an oily lipid membrane. Like a nail popping a tire, the water-repelling end of the soap molecule,

a hydrophobic tail that can bond with oil, fats, and herbal, stabs COVID-19 and leaves the virus

a deflated and broken sack of RNA cells.

In 2016, the Department of Education issued DepED Order No. 10, "Policy and Guidelines

on the Comprehensive Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in Schools (WinS) Program." This is to

increase access to water supply, working toilets, and successful hygiene promotion. This is in

recognition of the importance of WASH in schools in achieving children's learning outcomes.

The goal is to provide a safe and pleasant learning environment in school, allowing children to

participate and learn to the best of their abilities (DepEd 2019).

 A lot of aratiles trees are planted around us. Still, we didn't know that this can be an

antibacterial agent, so the researcher has decided to make the aratiles leaves as antibacterial

soap. We can see a lot of aratiles tree cause it grows everywhere like an ordinary tree, which is

why this is well known in our country.  People thought that the only use of aratiles tree is to

bear fruits to be eaten, but this tree is different for it has many nutrients and uses that some

people didn't know, like the leaves of it can use a bar of antibacterial soap.

  

This research aims to see if Aratilis (Muntigia calabura) soap can be used as an effective

antibacterial for us nowadays. The researchers will use this method to see how effective Aratilis

(Muntigia calabura) leaves in soap are at Anti-Bacterial. This is how a research study is

conceived.

The Objective of the Study

             The concern of this study is to find out the effectiveness of Aratilis (Muntingia calabura)

leaves extract as antibacterial soap.

      

Specifically, it aimed to:

1. Determine the effectiveness of Aratiles soap to all the users of this soap

2. Determine the quality of the Aratiles soap in terms of:

1. pH Level

2. Lather product

3. Fragrance

4. Visual appearance

3. If there is a significant difference in the quality of the soap and ordinary soap in terms of:

1. pH Level

2. Lather product

3. Fragrance

4. Visual appearance

4. If the produced soap beneficial to the skin in terms of:

1. Antibacterial

2. Anti-inflammatory

3. Moisturizing

4. Lightening

5. Anti-aging

6.

Null Hypothesis

1. The Aratiles leaves extract does not affect an antibacterial soap 

2. The Aratiles leaves extract soap has a low quality as soap 

 3. The Aratiles leaves extract has no significant difference between the quality of an

ordinary 

4. The Aratiles leaves extract has no beneficial effect on the skin 

Alternative Hypothesis 

1. The Aratiles leaves extract has an antibacterial soap. 

2. The Aratiles leaves extract soap has a high quality as an antibacterial soap 

3. The Aratiles leaves extract has a significant difference between the quality of an

ordinary soap 

4. The Aratiles leaves extract has a beneficial effect on the skin.

Significance of the Study 

   This study will be conducted to extend the known knowledge about Aratiles, its contents,

benefits, and uses. Moreover, the study will prove that it is possible to produce a soap using a

natural extract of Aratiles leaves. The concept of the study was to make an alternative soap

with an antibacterial agent. The success of this study will be beneficial to the following:
Grade 11 and 12 students. For them to have a reference on the preparations of making soap

and how Aratiles soap was made. It can also help them understand the benefits they can

receive by using it as an alternative soap.

Parents. For them to be informed and guide their children properly in their proper hygiene

through an organic soap. It will also help them to take care of their skin since it aims to know if

it is beneficial to the skin.

Consumers. For them to try and test a new feature of a soap that is not yet available in the

market. Since our study is to produce a soap using Aratiles leaves, they may also use this study

to find some facts on how the soap will benefit the skin.

Society and Community. Soap is personal hygiene that can prevent skin illness from one person

to another throughout a community. Because Aratiles soap is an antibacterial formula that can

help society and the community lessen communicative skin diseases.

For economy and Education system. If the Aratiles soap is proven effective, they can use this

study to sell soaps or experimental variables.

Environment. Aratiles soap is an organic soap; it's suitable for any skin type of skin, for children,

especially for people with sensitive skin, it is environmentally friendly. We can protect the

environment from poisoning it with the toxic chemicals contained in ordinary soap.
Future researchers. For them to have a reference if they would have a topic related to this

study. This research can serve as a related study for future researchers who will plan to make

any related study about Aratiles.

Time and Place of the Study 

This study was conducted at San Juan, La Union, from April 2021-July 2021.

   
DEPENDENT VARIABLE

Parameters

Sensory Evaluation of Aratiles

INDEPENDENT VARIABLE
leaves Extract Soap in terms of:
Concertration of Aratilis Extracts

in the soap mixture (30g)

a. pH Level

b. Lather Production
Extract Others
c. Fragrance
70% 30%
d. Visual Appearance

60% 40%
Skin reaction of using Aratiles

soap in terms of:

 a. Anti-Bacterial

Figure 1: Conceptual Framework

Definition of terms 

Anti-Aging - Designed to prevent the appearance of getting older.

Antibacterial- The leaves of Aratiles can be used as antibacterial soap because it contains

chemical ingredients that purportedly assist in killing bacteria.

Anti-Inflammatory- is a property of a substance or treatment that reduces inflammation or

swelling.

Aratiles- Is a fast-growing tree native to the Philippines with spreading branches and a height of

5 to 10 meters. It’s hairy, sticky, oblong-ablate leaves are edible, sweet, and juicy, and the fruit

contains a large number of tiny (0.5millimetres) yellow seeds.

Fragrance- The pleasant sweet smell of Aratiles soap.

Lather- a frothy white mass of bubbles produced by Aratiles soap or a similar cleansing

substance mixed with water.

Moisturizing- Aratiles tree leaves have a moisturizing capability.

Saponification- Is a process that can be used to create soap.

Soap- Is an essential cleaning agent that aids in keeping people and their surroundings clean.

Skin whitening, also known as skin lightening and skin bleaching, uses chemical substances to

lighten the skin or provide an even skin color by reducing the melanin concentration in the skin.

Visual appearance- The visual appearance of Aratilis soap is given by how they appeal to the

respondents.
 CHAPTER ll

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Medicinal plants are essentials sources of therapeutic assistance in human ailments.

Traditional medicine relies on approximately 80% of people in developing countries and

worldwide from primary health care. Surprisingly, plant extract is used in nearly 85 % of

traditional medicine. Understanding the health risks and toxicities associated with the

unsystematic use of synthetic drugs and antibiotics has reignited interest in using plant and

plant-based medications worldwide. However, there are still many medicinal plants that need

to be researched for their potential pharmacological value. Muntigia calabura L. is one of the
plants that has recently been designed as a medicinal plant (Elaeocarpaceae).

  Muntigia calabura is known throughout the world as "Jamaican cherry," and Malaysia,

particularly along with the Malay, is known as "kerukup siam." Being the only species within the

genius Muntigia, It is native to Southern Mexico, Tropical South America, Central America, the

Greater Antilles, Trinidad, and St. Vincent. It is also widely grown in India and Southeast Asia;

Muntigia calabura is commonly cultivated as roadside trees in Malaysia (Morton, 1987; Sani et

al., 2012; Yusof et al., 2011; et al., 2006a,b, 2010, 2011; Zakaria et al., 2006a,b, 2007a-f, 2008,

2010, 2011).

This plant is a slender, incredibly quickly growing tree with nearly horizontal extending

branches that grow to a height of 7.5-12 meters. Muntigia calabura has evergreen leaves that

are 5-12.5 centimeters diameter, alternate lanceolate or oblong on shape, long-pointed at the

apex, oblique at the base, dark green in color and minutely hairy in the upper surface, gray or

brown hairy on the underside, and irregularly toothed.

The flowers are about 1.25-2 centimeters are borne singly or in the group of two or three

on the leaf axils. They have five green sepals and white petals, as many prominent yellow

stamens. The fruit is plentiful, round, and about 1-1.2 centimeters tall, with red and yellow thin,

smooth, tender skin and light-brown, soft juicy pulp with a lovely, musky, fig-like flavor, and

packed with tiny, yellowish seeds (Morton).

REASONS

Foreign Studies

The only species in the Muntigia genus, M. calabura, is the Synonym of M. Rosea H. karst.

This flowering plant is native to America and Southern Mexico and widely grown in tropical

Asian Countries, including Inda, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and

Singapore (Morton 1897; Sani et al. 2012; Yusof et al. 2011 Zakaria et al. 2010, 2011)

Traditional folklore used M. calabura (leaves, fruits, roots, and barks) to treat various

diseases. However, because this plant is undervalued or neglected in Malaysian, there is limited

information on M. Calabura Traditional (Zakaria et al.)

According to Pharma Chemica (2015), The Muntigia calabura leaves exhibited potential

anti-tumor and anti-oxidant activities attributed to their high content of phenolic compounds.

The leaves also exerted potential anti-tyrosinase and anti-oxidant activities. The aqueous leaf

extract at concentrations of 10%, 50%, and 100% showed significant anti-nociceptive, anti-

inflammatory, and antipyretic activities. The chloroform-methanol and aqueous leaf extracts

exhibited antibacterial activity against typical S. aureus infection and other bacteria. 

Other studies reported the isolation of cytotoxic chalcones and flavonoids from the leaves

and cytotoxic flavonoids from the leaves and stems of Muntigia calabura. Furthermore, the

aqueous leaf extract of M. calabura elicited both transient and delayed hypothesis effects

through NO production. The activation of the NO/sGC/cGMP signaling pathway may mediate

the M. calabura-induced hypotension. Steam distillation-extraction of the fruit, followed by

GC/MS analyses, resulted in the identification of 56 compounds composed of esters (31.4%),

alcohols (15.9), phenolic compounds (11.3%), sesquiterpenoids (10.6%), and Fur a derivative

(8.3%).

Local literature

         Muntigia calabura, commonly known as aratilis or aratiles in the Philippines, has other

local name such as datiles in Bicolano and manzanitas and cereza in Ilocano. Other international

names of aratiles include Jamaican cherry, Panama berry, and Strawberry Tree in English;

bolania in Yamanza and memizo in Spanish; kersen in Indonesian; and trungca in Vietnamese.

(Muntigia, 2016) Aratilis is a small tree measuring five meters to, at most, 10 meters high with

spreading branches.

 That is why fruits are easily reached by children. Leaves are light green, oblong-ovate to

broadly oblong-lanceolate a measuring 8-13cm long-toothed margins. White flowers are long-

pedicelled, about two centimeters in diameter, and solitary in pairs. Fruits are Globose, about

one centimeter in diameter, smooth, light red, sweet, and numerous tiny seeds. The tree

originated in Tropical America, and it was introduced during the Spanish Era in the Philippines,

where it was widely distributed and became thoroughly adapted. (Aratilis, 2016).

One of the distinct characteristics of the aratiles tree is its ability to grow in poor soil and

tolerate acidic and alkaline conditions and drought; it a good "pioneer" plant. In addition,

aratiles is also a fast-growing fruit tree and is very prolific. Once the berries ripened and
harvested, the tree flowers again are pollinated by birds and insects such as bees and

butterflies. These make for many seeds spread by man and animals as the next generation of

aratiles trees.

Aratilis trees can shed many leaves and branch litter. Therefore, they can be used for

reforestation projects in a level open area as they contribute to improving the soil, resulting in a

better adaption by other Trees. (Liza Barral, 2017)