The Production of Insecticidal Chalk out of Cucumber

(Cucumis sativus) Leaves Extract

A Research Paper

Presented to the Faculty of

Trece Martires National High School

Trece Martires City, Cavite

In partial Fulfillment

Of the Requirements for the subject

Research I

Raven Azarcon

Jhomarienel Marilag

Shane De Vera

March 2017

Chapter I
 THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction

Cucumbers are also known as Cucumissativus.The fruit is roughly cylindrical, elongated,

with tapered ends, and may be as large as 60 centimeters long and 10 centimeters in diameter.

(NewWorldEncyclopedia, 2013). They are believed to be native to India and have been

cultivated in western Asia for about 4,000 years. The cucumber spread to the Mediterranean and

was especially beloved by the Romans who eventually introduced the vegetable/fruit to

Europe. (Rayment).The extracts of twelve species showed moderate cytotoxicity and one of this

is Cucumissativus. Tavernieraspartea had the most cytotoxic and antioxidant activity.

Cytotoxicity is the quality of being toxic to cells. This could help to eliminate ants by giving

toxic to its cells. Examples of toxic agents are an immune cell or some types of venom.Antibody-

dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) describes the cell-killing ability of certain

lymphocytes, which requires the target cell being marked by an antibody. Cucumber leaves also

contains alkaloids that could also be used as an insecticide and pesticide but they are not

poisonous in humans.

Ants are one of the major problems in the country. According to the Biosecurity

Queensland, fire ants are a social menace because of their sting. Encounters with fire ants usually

involve dozens of ants moving quickly and undetected. By the time they sting, a large number of

ants could be on the body. Stings from fire ants can cause a painful, burning itching sensation,

which can last for up to an hour. Multiple stings give the sensation that the body is on fire.Fire

ants can also significantly affect the agriculture industry. Newborn or hatching animals are
particularly prone to attacks that can lead to death. Fire ants attack young animals and sting in

and around the eyes, which can lead to blindness; and around the mouth and nose, which can

lead to swelling and suffocation.

Some insecticide chalk that is being imported from other countries and sold in the

Philippines is not registered in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is considered as an

“illegal pesticide product” by USA because of its hazardous components. It contains

deltamethrin as an active ingredient and cypermethrin. Deltamethrin was considered by US

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as “one of the most toxic pesticides of its kind” and

advises the consumer that the “insecticide chalk should be avoided at all times”, according to

EcoWaste Coalition. It causes people to vomit, have diarrhea and convulsion when exposed.

Statement of the problem

Generally, this study will aim to producean insecticidal chalkout of Cucumber

(Cucumissativus)leavesextract.

Specifically, the study seeks to find answer to the following:

1. What will be the physical characteristicof the produced insecticidal chalk out of

Cucumber leaves extract in terms of color, texture and odor?

2. How effective is the produced insecticidalchalk out of Cucumber leaves extract in

terms of the mortality rate of ants?

3. Which is the best treatment in producing insecticidal chalkout of Cucumberleaves

extract?

Objectives of the Study

(Cucumissativus)leavesextract.

Specifically, this study will aim to:

1. Evaluate the physical characteristicof the produced insecticidal chalk out of cucumber

leaves extract in terms of color, texture and odor.

2. Determine the effectiveness of the produced insecticidal chalk out of Cucumber

leaves extract in terms of the mortality rate of ants.

3. Determine the best treatment in producing insecticidal chalkout of Cucumberleaves

extract.

Hypothesis

The researcher postulates that:

 There is no significant effect in using insecticidal chalk out of Cucumber leaves

extract.

Significance of the Study

The primary purpose of this study is to produce an organic ant chalk using Cucumber

leaves extract in decreasing the number of ants in houses or any places and prevent them from

coming. This ant chalk will also be an eco-friendly, affordable and free from chemical product. It

will be an effective ant chalk that will benefit those who experience ants infestation.
This study is beneficial specifically to:

 Humanity –the ant chalk to be produced will help in killing ants and prevent them

from coming. This product can be applied in any infrastructure that is said to be

invaded by ants. It can also be made easily and in affordably because the

materials needed are commonly found in houses and for sale in markets.

 Health – the produced ant chalk is expected to be chemicals free. There will be no

toxins that can harm the user itself.

 Environment – the product is expected to be no toxins that can harm the

environment. It can also reduce waste because the material needed which is the

Cucumber leavesis only a leftover of the cucumber and usually disposed by the

farmers.

 Food Business – the ant chalk is expected to be chemical free. Thus, business

involving food can safely use this to prevent their product to be invaded by ants

that could cause their products to spoil and cause food poison to its consumer.

Scope and Limitation

The study will be done in JICA Laboratory of Trece Martires National High School. The

study is only limited in producing insecticidal chalk specifically for Fire ants out of Cucumber

leaves. The physical characteristics of the product which is color, texture and odor will be

evaluated. The effectiveness of the product will be determined based on the mortality rate of the

ants. The exact concentration of the Cucumber leaves will be measured to determine the

effective ant chalk in killing ants. This study will be conducted in one of the residences of the

researcher.
Definition of Terms

Cucumber–(Cucumissativus).It is the primary material in producing the ant chalk.The fruit is

roughly cylindrical, elongated, with tapered ends, and may be as large as 60 centimeters long and

10 centimeters in diameter. It is the primary material in producing the ant chalk.

Fire ants -red and black in color. They have six legs and are protected by hard exoskeleton. The

experimental subject of the research study.

Ant Chalk – an insecticide in a form of chalk. The product to be produced in the study.

Color- particular color thatis to be observe.

Mortality rate – death in a particular period of time. One of the properties to be calculated in the

study.

Odor – particular smellto be observed in the produced insecticidal chalk.

Texture - appearance or consistency of a surface of theproduced insecticidal chalk.

Review of Related Literature

Fire Ants

Fire ants are red and black in color. They have six legs and are protected by hard

exoskeleton like other insects. Worker ants is a type of Fire ants that have round heads with

mandibles, an armored thorax midsection and an abdomen, made up of the pedicle and the

gaster. Queen’s role returns to laying egg. It can lay up to 1500 eggs per day. Larvae hatch

within 8 to 10 days, and the pupal stage lasts for 9 to 16 days. Fire ants usually eats dead

animals, including insects, earthworms, and vertebrates. They collect honeydew and forage for

sweet food, proteins, and fats. If the Fire ants are aggravated they react aggressively and can

inflict a painful sting, resulting in a pustule some 48 hours later. These ants are a major

agricultural and urban pest, destroying crops and invading residential areas both outdoors and

indoors.

Ant Chalk

Ant chalkcontains toxic chemical that is hazardous and illegal. “This illegal product

contains Deltamethrin a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide that ants, and roaches (which it was

intended for) pick up and it then kills them.”(Sam Bryks, 2015). Being overexposed with this

chemical can cause serious health effects comprising loss of consciousness, stomach pain,

vomiting, convulsion, tremors, and diarrhea.

the tempera paint and the plaster of paris until it achieve the exact texture to be placed in a tube

and be dried for 12 hours.

Cucumber

Cucumbers have a mild, refreshing flavor. It contains unique polyphenols in plants called

lignans, and these health-benefiting substances have been studied extensively in cruciferous

vegetables and allium vegetables. Recent studies, however, have begun to pay more attention to

the lignan content of other vegetables, including cucumbers. Cucumbers are now known to

contain lariciresinol, pinoresinol, and secoisolariciresinol three lignans that have a strong history

of research in connection with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease as well as several cancer

types, including breast, uterine, ovarian, and prostate cancers. Skin of the cucumber has cu-

curbitacins, taste bitter but it is a good natural pest control. This is a safer method as compare to

using pesticides to get rid of pests because we have children and pets at home. “(AZ Money,

February 2010)”

Cucumber Leaves

Cucumber contains alkaloids that is the secondary metabolites of plants. They are internal

constitutes of plants so called as biomolecules.They contain nitrogen in them and so are alkaline

in nature. They are also less soluble in water. They can be found in different parts of the plant

like leaves, stem, bark, roots etc. Alkaloids can be used as insect repellant and pesticides but they

are not poisonous in humans. Its leaves also contain urea and hypoxanthine. Studies have shown

anticancer, antidiabetic, antiurolithiatic, adsorbent, anthelmintic, skin whitening, antifungal,

antibacterial, carminative, antidiarrheal, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective properties of

an immune cell or some types of venom. Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity

(ADCC) describes the cell-killing ability of certain lymphocytes, which requires the target cell

being marked by an antibody. It is the possession of such destructive action, particularly in

reference to lysis of cells by immune phenomena and to antineoplastic agents that selectively kill

dividing cells that may be used to weaken the immune system of ants.

Some studies said that cucumbers and its parts helps remove waste from the body and

reduce skin irritation that is proven in Cleveland Clinic, (Szalay, 2015). Others studies use other

plants like Coconut shell oil (Novel and Eco-friendly ant chalk and mosquito mat pg. 127).
 Chapter 3

METHODOLOGY

Materials:

(1 kg.) Cucumber Peel (1 L.) Olive Oil

(300 g.) Plaster of Paris Water

Tools and Equipment:

Measuring cup 3 Jars

Scissors Rubber band

Cheesecloth Mixing Bowl

Stirring Rod Masking tape

Cylindrical Tube

Collection and Preparation of Materials

The materials will be gathered at the researcher’s residence like Scissors, Rubber band

and Cucumber leaves. Cylindrical tube, measuring cup and stirring rod will be borrowed at the

JICA Laboratory of Trece Martires National High School. Cheesecloth, 3 jars and masking tape

maybe available in the researcher’s residence or in Trece Martires City Wet and Dry market.
Procedure

Preparation of Cucumber Leaves Extract

One kilogram of Cucumber leaves will be rinsed using tap water. The leaves will

be cut into smaller pieces and will be placed separately into 3 different jars. 333 ml. of Olive oil

will be poured inside three different jars containing the leaves until full. The jar will be tightly

covered and will be stored for 3 weeks. It will be shaked for several times within three weeks to

avoid formation of molds.

Making of Ant Chalk

There will be 3 treatments in making the ant chalk. Each treatment will be mixed together in

separate mixing bowl until it achieved the right texture.

Treatment 1 Treatment 2 Treatment 3

Plaster of Paris Plaster of Paris Plaster of Paris

(100 g.) (100 g.) (100 g.)

Cucumber Peel Extract Cucumber Peel Extract Cucumber Peel Extract

(25 ml.) (50 ml.) (75 ml.)

Molding
 The end of the tube will be covered using masking tape. 3 different mixtures will be

placed inside 3 different cylindrical tubes and will be dried for 12 hours. As the mixtures dried

up, the produced insecticidal chalk will be test in fire ants.

Data Gathering

The produced products will be compared to each other in terms of its color, texture and odor

and mortality rate of ants. Mortality rate will be computed by dividing the dead ants by the

previous number of ants. Its quotient will be multiplied by one hundred. The Cucumber leaves

extract ant chalk will be applied into three different containers containing 10 ants each. The

number of ants killed in the container will be observed for five minutes.

Evaluation Sheet

Treatment 1 Treatment 2 Treatment 3

Texture

1 - Smooth 2 - Rough

Treatment 1 Treatment 2 Treatment 3

Odor

1 - Pungent 2 - Odorless 3 - Fragrant

Treatment 1 Treatment 2 Treatment 3

Color
 1 - White 2 -Green 3 - Other colors

Treatment 1 Treatment 2 Treatment 3

Mortality Rate

0% to 30% - Not effective 40% to 60% -Slightly 70% to 100% - Effective

Formula in getting the mortality rate of ants

Mortality rate of ants= Number of ants killed

Statistical instrument

F-test will be used to compare the characteristics and effectiveness among treatments in

terms of color and mortality rate.

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