The Problem and its Background | 1

Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUD

Scabies is a common contagious itching disease

caused by Sarcoptes scabei hominis which can live only on

human skin. The fertilized female burrows into the skin

surface, creating a tunnel within the stratum corneum in

which she deposits 2–3 eggs per day, as well as fecal

pellets which contain the allergen which initiates the

immune reaction responsible for symptoms. The adult female

is just visible. Eggs hatch within 3–4 days, producing

larvae. After successive moults these become adult mites and

the 15-day lifecycle re-starts. A rapid build-up of mite

numbers is not noticed by the host until an immune response

induces itching after about six weeks. Subsequently,

scratching reduces the adult mites to a dozen or fewer.

Studies conducted on Vernonia Cinerea shows the following

properties (Stuartxchage, 2004): Antibacterial,

Antiulcerogenic, Antiulcerogenic, Analgesic/

Antiinflammatory, Antimicrobial, Radioprotective, Blood

Glucose Lowering, and Anti-Cancer / Radical Scavenging

Activity.

Vernonia Cinerea was chosen by the researchers for

their study since commercial drugs nowadays are becoming too

The Problem and its Background | 2

expensive and for the reason that, at this present times

skin problems like scabies are becoming one of the problem

of people especially those living in rural areas and near

the beaches. Children are mostly affected with this type of

skin problem and if not treated, scabies can spread out all

around the human body.

Conceptual Framework

Based on archeological evidence including Egyptian

drawings depicting people afflicted with symptoms of

scabies, scabies is estimated to have been infecting humans

for at least 2,500 years. There are many controversial

accounts of the history of discovery of the infectious

agent. Prior to the 17th Century, the condition of scabies

was known by many names and widely believed to be a humoral

disease, possibly associated with a mite.

Earliest known drawings of scabies were made by Giovan

Cosimo Bonomo in 1687, who collaborated with Diacinto

Cestoni and is disputably the discoverer of the scabies

mite.

In Australian literature, the scabies mite S. scabiei

was first collected from a wombat in Tasmania in 1804, but

The Problem and its Background | 3

not described as a separate species until eighty years

later.

The demography of scabies was studied in the sole

dermatology practice on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, over a

50-monlh period. Scabies was observed far more frequently in

whites and Hawaiians than in Japanese and Filipinos. Within

the while ethnic group, scabies was most frequently

diagnosed in persons between 15 and 44 years old, while in

Hawaiians, the disease was most common in the 0–14-year age

group. It is possible that learned or acquired behavior

patterns may play a significant role in contracting the

disease.

The fresh juice of the leaves is used in bloody

dysentery (Sanyal and Ghose, 1992). The leaves are used for

colic (Ridley).

In the Nighantas the plant is useful in the treatment

of asthma, bronchitis, and consumption (Caius). The flowers

are reputed to cure fevers. In Senegal and French Guinea an

infusion of the plant is used to wash a newborn infant and

is given also to children with incontinence of urine. The

bitter root is a vermifuge. In Ceylon it is used for wounds

and sores, and taken internally to promote perspiration.

The Problem and its Background | 4

In the formulation and finding the efficacy of the

Tabernaemontana Pandacaqui Poir (Bernardo 2008), an ointment

used is treatment for pimples and ringworm, the input-

process-output research paradigm were used. This research

uses two phases, the formulation and the efficacy test of

the ointment. This is also used in this study for the

formulation of Vernonia Cinerea Leaf Cream for scabies with

different formulation of 50%, 75% and 100%. These

formulations were applied to clients together with the

commercial drug (Betadine) to find the level of

effectiveness and compare it.

The Problem and its Background | 5

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

50g

Figure1.Phase1- Formulation Of Vernonia Cinerea Leaf Cream

Phase 1 deals with the formulation of Vernonia Cinerea

leaf cream where inputs are matured leaves of Vernonia

Cinerea, vegetable oil, paraffin wax, and grated white

candle. Hot oil extraction method was conducted producing

the Vernonia Cinerea Leaf cream with different formulation

of 50%, 75% and 100%.

Vernonia Cinerea

Healthy

Matured leaves

Vegetable oil

Paraffin Wax

Grated whitecandle

Petroleum jelly

Standard Kitchen Waves

Hot Oil ExtractionProcess

Formulation of

Vernonia Cinerea

cream

50g leaves + jelly grated candle

75g leaves + jelly grated candle

100g leaves + jelly grated candle

VERNONIA CINEREA CREAM FOR SCABIES

50% concentration

57% concentration

100% concentration

The Problem and its Background | 6

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

Figure2. Phase2- Formulation of Vernonia Cinerea Leaf Cream

Figure 2 shows the paradigm in identifying the level of

Effectiveness of Vernonia Cinerea Leaf Cream for scabies

where inputs are the profile of clients and the 50%, 75% and

100% formulations. Process undertaken includes conducting of

survey and applying treatment to respondents with scabies

Profile of 36 Respondents a.) ageb.) genderc.) duration of healing

Vernonia Cinerea cream

Experimental Groups

Respondents (9)

Respondents (9)

Respondents (9)

Control Group(9)

Survey of Respondents with Scabies

Treatment 1Experimental Group treated with 50% Vernonia Cinerea cream

Treatment 2Experimental Grouptreated with 75% Vernonia Cinerea cream Treatment 3Experimental Group treated with 100%Vernonia Cinerea cream

Treatment 4 Control Grouptreated with commercial drug

Level of

Effectiveness

of

Vernonia

Cinerea

Cream

for

Scabies

Against

the

Commercial Drug

(Betadine)

The Problem and its Background | 7

using the specified formulation. Output is the level of

effectiveness of Vernonia Cinerea Leaf cream for scabies.

Statement of the Problem

The main problem of the study is to formulate Vernonia

Cinerea Leaf Cream for scabies.

Specifically, this study aims to answer the following

questions:

1. Matured leaves Vernonia Cinerea be used to formulate

50%, 75% and 100% formulation of herbal cream?

2. What is the profile of respondents in terms of:

a.) age

b.) gender

c.) duration of healing

3. What is the level of effectiveness of 50%, 75%, and

100% Vernonia Cinerea leaf cream against the

commercial drug (Betadine) on scabies between the

experimental and control group?

4. Are there significant differences between the

Experimental Groups (T1, T2, T3) and the Control

Group (T4) in terms of duration of healing?

5. Which of the formulated creams is the best as

alternative treatment for scabies?

The Problem and its Background | 8

Hypothesis

The following premises were derived by the researchers

in this study.

1. Vernonia Cinerea leaf cream can not be formulated.

2. Vernonia Cinerea creams (50%, 75%, 100%) not

effective treatment of scabies.

3. There are no significant differences between the

three formulations (50%, 75%, 100%) of Vernonia

Cinerea in terms duration of healing.

4. There is not best alternative treatment the three

formulation (50%, 75%, 100%).

Assumptions

The following assumptions are derived based from the

hypothesis of the study.

1. Vernonia Cinerea leaf cream can be formulated.

2. The three formulation (50%, 75%, 100%) are

effective alternative treatment for scabies.

3. There are significant differences between the

different formulation and the control group of

Vernoni Cinerea in terms of duration of healing.

The Problem and its Background | 9

4. Any of the formulated creams are good alternative

treatments of scabies.

Scope and Limitation

This study focused on the formulation of three Vernonia

Cinerea leaf creams (50%, 75%, 100%) for scabies as

treatment for scabies.

The researchers conduct experimentation for three

weeks (21 days).

Significance of the Study

Below are the perceived importances of this project.

To the Pharmacy Students. This study gives additional

knowledge to pharmacy students who want to learn more about

Vernonia Cinerea, its formulation and application. It also

helps them know more the importance of medicinal plants

today and for the coming years.

To the Community. It also enlightens the community on

the importance of medicinal plants and helps them to fight

diseases for free or for low prices.

To the Researchers. The study helped the researchers in

studying various fields of Vernonia Cinerea, its

constituents and components, and its ability in curing

The Problem and its Background | 10

scabies and other skin diseases. It also helped them know

more on extracting and formulating creams from herbal

plants.

To other Researchers. This study is also important to

other people who are interested in knowing more about

Vernonia Cinerea. Giving them knowledge on how important

medicinal plants found in our surroundings that they tend

seeing no importance at all.

Definition of Terms

The following terms were used significantly in this

study, thereby needed to be defined:

Age. Refers to the length of time of clients which

measured by years from birth that considerably existed.

Betadine. A solution used in treatment for various skin

diseases.

Cream. Yellow-tinged white: an off-white color with a

yellow tinge

Effectiveness. The level of average healing duration of

the scabies using the scale 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. It is the quality

or aspect of something causing a result, especially the

desired or intended result.

The Problem and its Background | 11

Extract. Obtain something from source: to obtain

something from the Vernonia Cinerea, usually by separating

it out from other material producing a cream type substance.

Formulation. Devise something: to draw something up

carefully and in detail by using different levels.

Ointment. Greasy soothing or softening substance: a

smooth greasy substance used on the skin to soothe soreness

or itchiness, help wounds heal, or make the skin softer

Papules. Small bump on skin: a small hard round

protuberance on the skin.

Paraffin Wax. A white waxy solid mixture of

hydrocarbons. Source: petroleum. Use: in making candles,

pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, as a sealing agent.

Petroleum Jelly. greasy substance: a greasy gelatinous

substance. Source: petroleum. Use: ointment base, lubricant,

protective covering.

Scabies. A common skin infection that causes small

itchy bumps and blisters due to tiny mites that burrows into

the top layer of human skin to lay their eggs.

Treatment. Refers to the frequency and amount of

applying the herbal cream and the commercial drug to the

affected area morning and evening.

The Problem and its Background | 12

Vernonia Cinerea. This is known as the Tagulinai plant

in the Philippines used in the formulation of the 50%, 75%,

and 100% herbal cream for scabies using its matured leaves.