Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
REGION IV-A CALABARZON
DIVISION OF CAVITE
CAVITE SCIENCE INTEGRATED SCHOOL
(REGIONAL SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL)
GARITA B, MARAGONDON, CAVITE

Utilization of TuMaSi (Jatropha curcas (Tuba-tuba) leaves,

A. Rationale

Termites (known in the local dialects as “anay”) are serious structural pests of

homes and wood structures in the Philippines (Acda 2013). Termites are known to cause

tremendous losses to finish and unfinished wooden structures in buildings, besides loss in

agriculture and forestry crops (Sen-Sarma et al. 1975). Termites (Isoptera) frequently

receive negative press. They destroy the livelihood of tropical farmers, literally eat their

way through our homes, and even threaten our cultural heritage including assaults on the

Statue of Liberty in New York, the ancient books of the Vatican, or the historical city of

Isfahan in Iran (Korb 2007).

Pesticides constitute any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing,

destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest (Bernardes, Pazin, Pereira, and Dorta 2015).

However, due to their known ability to cause a large number of negative health and

environmental effects, their side effects can be an important environmental health risk

factor (Nicolopoulou-Stamati, Maipas, Kotampasi, Stamatis, and Hens 2016). For the
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
REGION IV-A CALABARZON
DIVISION OF CAVITE
CAVITE SCIENCE INTEGRATED SCHOOL
(REGIONAL SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL)
GARITA B, MARAGONDON, CAVITE

control of this destructive pest a number of chlorinated hydrocarbons like Aldrin,

Dieldrin, Chlordane, Heptachlor, DDT, and BHC are known effective against termites.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) bans their use in the world because of

environmental hazards they cause (Saljoqi, Muhammad, Khan, Rehman, Nadeem, and

Salim 2014). The adverse effect on human health and concerns for the environmental

deterioration are some of the disadvantages that hinder the widespread uses of pesticides.

During the past three decades, efforts have been made to reduce the exposure and

human risk of pesticides, especially insecticides. There is great demand for selective and

safe insecticides that spare natural enemies and non-target organisms. Some conventional

pesticides have been replaced by newer bio-rational (Biopesticides) or "low risk"

pesticides (Oguh, Okpaka, Ubani, Okekeaji, Joseph, and Amadi 2019). Biopesticide is a

term that includes many aspects of pest control such as microbial (viral, bacterial and

fungal) organisms, entomophagous nematodes, plant-derived pesticides (botanicals),

secondary metabolites from micro-organisms (antibiotics), insect pheromones applied for

mating disruption, monitoring or lure and kill strategies and genes used to transform

crops to express resistance to insect, fungal and viral attacks or to render them tolerant of

herbicide application (Copping and Menn 2000). Botanicals include crude extracts and
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
REGION IV-A CALABARZON
DIVISION OF CAVITE
CAVITE SCIENCE INTEGRATED SCHOOL
(REGIONAL SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL)
GARITA B, MARAGONDON, CAVITE

isolated or purified compounds from various plants species and commercial products (Liu

et al. 2006).

Today many safe and simple practices of termites’ management including cultural

and biological control, queen removal, plant resistance, natural products, physical barriers

and baiting systems have been proposed but insecticides are still playing a key role for

the termites’ control (Sohail, Tariq, Mohammad Asam, and Abid 2006). In this regard,

bioactive compounds of plant origin are considered as ecologically safe alternatives (Zhu,

Henderson, Chen, Fei, and Laine 2001). Bioactive compounds in plants can be defined as

secondary plant metabolites eliciting pharmacological or toxicological effects in man and

animals (Bernhoft 2010). Botanical insecticides are prepared in the form of the crude

plant material, extracts or resins (Singh and Saratchandra 2002).

The purpose of this study is to serve an alternative cost- effective and eco-friendly

option for people who cannot afford to use synthetic termiticide in controlling and

eradicating termites in their home, using Jatropha curcas (Tuba-tuba) leaves, Swietenia

macrophylla (Mahogany) seeds and Capsicum annuum (Siling Labuyo) fruit extracts. In

recent years, several researchers revealed the potentials of several local botanicals which

displays bio-efficacy against termites.

Several insecticides have been tried to control the insect pests. Control by chemical

insecticides are very effective, but indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides has given

rise to many serious problems, including resistance by pest species, environmental

pollution, threat to wild life, motivation by weather, hazards from handling etc., as

mentioned earlier these hazards have created awareness to people and developed a

worldwide interest for the use of botanical pest control agents as botanicals are

comparatively safer to mammalian and higher animals (Feinstein 1952).

The use of botanical pesticides is biodegradable, relatively safe for humans; non-

target animals and farm produce because the residue is easily lost. Botanical pesticides

can kill or disrupt insect pests and diseases through the unique work, which can be

through a combination of various means or singly (Fathoni, Yanuwiadi, and Leksono

2013).

Botanical insecticides are insect killing chemical substances obtained from plants.

(Mondal and Hossain 2013). The defense chemicals in plants offer such promise of

developing them as pesticides that can be effective against insects including termites

(Ahmed and Qasim 2011). Many plant derivatives substances have fungitoxic, pesticidal

and insecticidal ability (Rahman, Salam, and Chowdhury 2019). Plant leaves extracts
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
REGION IV-A CALABARZON
DIVISION OF CAVITE
CAVITE SCIENCE INTEGRATED SCHOOL
(REGIONAL SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL)
GARITA B, MARAGONDON, CAVITE

provide a distinct variety of biochemical compounds with diverse prospective uses (Nisar

et al. 2022). Jatropha curcas L. commonly known as Tuba-tuba is one of the poisonous

plant species in the Philippines. It contains phytotoxins that are said to be dangerous

when ingested. (Hongria n.d.). Various plant parts of J. curcas have been reported to

possess insecticidal and larvicidal and anthelmintic activity. (Kumar and Tewari 2015).

Jatrophine is the dominant compound found in Jatropha curcas (Tuba-tuba) leaves. This

compound makes Jatropha curcas a well-known botanical insecticide with contact and

stomach poisoning mode of action. Insect pests of stored grains (Sitophilus zeamais and

Rhyzorpertha dominica) are susceptible to seeds and pericarps of J. curcas (Silva et al.

2012).

Swietenia macrophylla (Mahogany) seeds is one of the traditional medicine which

has many benefits. Existing research shows that Mahogany seeds contain compounds that

have antidiabetic activity usually used as insecticides, larvicides, nematicides, antipyretic,

fungicides, antimicrobials and antioxidants (Nurcahyanti and Timotius 2011).

Chemical constituents in Mahogany seeds are alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids (Mursiti

2009). This plant is quite bitter and it has antipyretic and antifungal property.

Additionally, most parts of the mahogany tree such as leaves, barks, and seeds can be

used for controlling and killing insects and pests like mosquitoes, cockroaches, flies,
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
REGION IV-A CALABARZON
DIVISION OF CAVITE
CAVITE SCIENCE INTEGRATED SCHOOL
(REGIONAL SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL)
GARITA B, MARAGONDON, CAVITE

moths, beetles, termites, and ants which may be harmful to people and can also destroy

some of the plants and trees and their surroundings (Cruz et al. 2018).

Capsicum annuum (Siling Labuyo) fruit is a commercially grown pepper known for

its culinary uses. The heat of chillies is cause by the family of compounds called

Capsaicinoids. Several different compounds are found in the various varieties of chillies

but the dominant compound is capsaicin (Colon, Gapo, Genovia, Paye, and Rosales

2016). The pungency of hot peppers that gives the heat and sting effect when contacted

by skin is caused by Capsaicin, a chemical compound found in Capsicum annuum that is

non-toxic to human but highly active against living insects.

In attempt to provide additional option to plant-derived pesticide, this study aims to

assess the effectiveness of the mixture of Jatropha curcas (Tuba-tuba) leaves, Swietenia

macrophylla (Mahogany) seeds and Capsicum annuum (Siling Labuyo) fruit extract

against termites. The plants selected are readily available within the general locality. In

this case, all homeowners who are dealing with the control of colonies of termites in our

community will benefit from this research study.