Malunggay and Guava Decoction as Antifungal
CHAPTER I
Introduction
Background of the Study A lot of our citizens are dependent on commercially available fungicides to control fungi growth at homes and businesses. However, most of these products are costly and contain dangerous chemicals that may harm human health and other organisms. The intention of this investigatory project is to manufacture an indigenous product that is effective, innocuous, and affordable to eradicate fungi, specifically bread molds. Mold is something that we often take for granted, as something that makes us have to throw the bread away or the cheese smell bad. Mold is, in fact, a fascinating organism which has had many different uses over the years and our lives would not be the same without it. Most of us know that food seems to become moldy more quickly in the summer than in the winter when it is colder.
Moringa is used as a topical treatment for minor infections. Its antibiotic property is identified as Pterygospermin, a bacterial and fungicidal compound. Its chemical description is glucosinolate 4 alpha-L-rhamnosyloxy benzyl isothiocyanate. Studies have shown an agueous extract made from seeds was equally effective against the skin infecting bacteria Staphylococcus aureus as the antibiotic Neomycin.
In “The Moringa Tree” by Dr. Martin L. Price, he cites the benefits of moringa leaf extract as a plant growth hormone; and, the moringa shoots as green manure to enrich agricultural lands, moringa leaves as livestock feed because of its rich high protein content, moringa seed powder and the fresh cake left over from oil extraction as treatment for turbid distilled water, moringa as a good live fence tree with its bark used to make mats and rope; and, the compound in the flowers and roots of the moringa tree, pterygospermin, as a powerful antibiotic and antifungal remedy.
Leaves also have an anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory effect when applied to wounds or insect bites. Leaf extracts can be
Introduction
Background of the Study A lot of our citizens are dependent on commercially available fungicides to control fungi growth at homes and businesses. However, most of these products are costly and contain dangerous chemicals that may harm human health and other organisms. The intention of this investigatory project is to manufacture an indigenous product that is effective, innocuous, and affordable to eradicate fungi, specifically bread molds. Mold is something that we often take for granted, as something that makes us have to throw the bread away or the cheese smell bad. Mold is, in fact, a fascinating organism which has had many different uses over the years and our lives would not be the same without it. Most of us know that food seems to become moldy more quickly in the summer than in the winter when it is colder.
Moringa is used as a topical treatment for minor infections. Its antibiotic property is identified as Pterygospermin, a bacterial and fungicidal compound. Its chemical description is glucosinolate 4 alpha-L-rhamnosyloxy benzyl isothiocyanate. Studies have shown an agueous extract made from seeds was equally effective against the skin infecting bacteria Staphylococcus aureus as the antibiotic Neomycin.
In “The Moringa Tree” by Dr. Martin L. Price, he cites the benefits of moringa leaf extract as a plant growth hormone; and, the moringa shoots as green manure to enrich agricultural lands, moringa leaves as livestock feed because of its rich high protein content, moringa seed powder and the fresh cake left over from oil extraction as treatment for turbid distilled water, moringa as a good live fence tree with its bark used to make mats and rope; and, the compound in the flowers and roots of the moringa tree, pterygospermin, as a powerful antibiotic and antifungal remedy.
Leaves also have an anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory effect when applied to wounds or insect bites. Leaf extracts can be