Introduction

How did we end up on having a state of calamity over our peaceful and lovely

province of Cavite? How did we end up having multiple casualties on the disease called

dengue? Many problems arose when a single carrier mosquito bite and transfer the

decease to a child. Dengue prove itself to the local government that it is a formidable

decease especially towards children that didn’t have that strong immune system.

Children most especially, are vulnerable to dengue because of their weak nature.

For the past 6 months, the local government of Cavite struggles to fight this

decease but to no avail. Most cases of dengue are directly affecting the children under

10 years old. So far, dengue have no vaccine because the recently “discovered”

vaccine Dengvaxia are being sanction by the National Government because of the

cases of deaths to the patient that have been injected by the vaccine stated. Because of

this, the public developed a panic that they refuse their own kids to be vaccinated even

other proven and tested vaccines like the Anti-Polio vaccine. When the dengue became

more viral because of the allegedly Dengvaxia vaccine, the public quickly pointed the

blame to the National Government.

1
 Is Euphorbia-hirta ( Tawa-Tawa )

Beneficial to the patients that was affected

By the Dengue outbreak.

Research of STEM students A.Y. 2019

i
Research Problem

Firstly, this research wants to solve the long-time argument towards the herbal

plant Euphorbia-hirta or Tawa-Tawa if it is a treatment or just an supplement for the

patients of Dengue for them to recover the lost Platelets due to Dengue. This research

also wants to know how many Dengue patients had relied to the promise of herbal

plants such as the Euphorbia-hirta for their recovery or healing. This research also want

to gather the data of how many cases of Dengue have been recorded in Paliparan III

and the age, gender, and lifestyle of the said cases and the density of the cases. For

example, in a certain area – how many cases have been recorded towards that are

which indicates that it was a Dengue hotspot.

Ii
Conclusion

In this research, the researchers are able discover that Euphoria-hirta of Tawa-

Tawa as a herbal plant is capable to aid or help to Dengue patients for the recovery of

their lost of Platelets. But, the researchers also been able to discover that the Euphoria-

hirta or tawa-tawa despite of their herbal nature are unable to really replace proper

medication and treatment from professional doctors but it can compensate temporarily

and be a food supplement in addition for Healthy diet of the patient that experienced

dengue and the lost of platelets. The Euphoria-hirta also shows in the result that the

person that recently been affected by dengue are relying on this herbal plant for their

recovery and even for treatment while in hospital. Some of the patients also takes this

plant in addition to their medication given by their doctor. But, some patients solely

takes Euphoria-hirta for the recovery of their lost platelets and energy. The patients that

experience dengue suffers from the lost of platelet count form the normal 150 platelet

count towards the jaw dropping 80 which occurs on some of the subjects of this

research. The Euphoria-hirta became the last resort of the parents of these patients out

of desperation and their hope towards natural and free ways to treat their love-ones.
Nature of Euphorbia-hirta (tawa-tawa)

Euphorbia-hirta seen almost in everyplace refer as a stray plant. In the

Philippines it is widely known as a folkloric cure for dengue. Euphorbia-hirta is use for

antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-asthmatic, and anti-diarrheal. Euphorbia-hirta is a

pantropical weed that is possibly native to India. Euphorbia-hirta also known as tawa-

tawa in the Philippines is a green-leafed plant that have a red-colored flower, it also has

a hairy stem for protection. Euphorbia-hirta is well associated with its effects to increase

our platelets, this is the cause for the debate in which is the real effect of tawa-tawa in

our body.

Significance of the Euphorbia-hirta

The finding of this study will enlighten the society about the important use of it as a

better alternative treatment for Dengue as it increase the platelet counts which can be

also done using a blood transfusion which takes a lot of time to process unlike the tawa-

tawa, that could extract the important property of it very easily by boiling it in the water,

this type of treatment can save a lot of Dengue patient that has a dangerously low

number of platelets. Even though Tawa-Tawa can’t cure the Dengue itself, the extract

from plant that has Antithrombocytopenic property are mostly known for saving an

almost critically condition Dengue patient and lowering a risk of making everything

worse. The Tawa-Tawa plant has always been neglected in the past, but now, it is

gaining a lot of recognitions in some local areas that has a lot of Dengue cases as a

“better and free alternatives” to fight Dengue fever.

Definition of Terms

Euphorbia-hirta – Plant that is seen everywhere, debated to whether it is used as

a cure for dengue.

Dengue – Disease that is transmitted by mosquito that makes an individual lose

a lot of platelets

Dengvaxia – The controversial vaccine that has killed a lot of children because of

the unfinished research of the medicine,

Platelet – The part of our blood plasma that is used for the clotting of our blood

for its healing.

16
Chart Title
15 15 15

14

12

10

8
7
6
6

4 4
4
3
2
2

0
Age 6-9 Age 10-13 Age 14-17

Number of Patients Usage Recovery Days

Tawa-Tawa contains active ingredients that ma help dengue hemorrphic fever

(DHF) patients – study by Philippine Council for Research and Development

Tawa-tawa ( Euphorbia-hirta ), also known as “gatas-gatas”, is a hairy herb grown in

open grasslands, roadsides and pathways. This indigenous plant is considered as one

of the most popular folkloric treatment for dengue in the Philippines.

Intent on finding out the truth behind tawa-tawa’s curative properties, students of the

university of Sto. Tomas (UST) – Faculty of Pharmacy conducted a study entitled

“Investigation of the anti-thrombocytopenic property of euphorbia-hirta linn (tawa-tawa)

decoction in rat models. The study aimed to verify the effects of tawa-tawa decoction to

a dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) patient showing a symptom of thrombocytopenia

(low platelet count due to excessive bleeding).

In the study, the students used chloramphenicol, ethanol and herapin to induce

thrombocytopenia on rat models, mimicking dengue hemorrhagic fever. They

administered tawa-tawa decoction to the sample groups and collected blood samples to

check for platelet count, bleeding time (duration of bleeding), and blood clotting times in

several stages of the experiment.

Results showed that platelet count increased by 47% depending on the drug used to

induce thrombocytopenia. Bleeding time was reduced up to 62% while blooding clotting

time decreased to 58% compared to the control groups.

Based on the results, students concluded that administering tawa-tawa decoction to

animal models help improve their healing mechanism. Tawa-tawa was able to promote

cell production, and prevents platelet destruction. Likewise, the improvement in the cell

bleeding time and clotting time provided evidence that the indigenous plant can

preserve and promote the hemostatic function of platelets.

The students also discovered phenolic compounds in tawa-tawa, active ingredients

suspected to be responsible in the increased platelets counts of tested animals. In an

interview, Mr. Ryan Justin Raynes, one of the student researchers said that through a

phenolic determination assay, they were able to identify ‘minute’ phenolic compound in

tawa-tawa samples. “Although there were small amount of phenolic compound in tawa-

tawa, this was sufficient to exert effect promoting quality and quantity of platelets,” Mr.

Reyes said.

Because of the study’s significant findings, it won the first prize in the PCHRD – Gruppo

Medica Award held during the 6th Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS)

week held at Sofitel Manila last 10 August 2012, PCHRD – Gruppo Medica Award is

given to undergraduate students engaged in herbal medicine research that have

potential for practical or commercial applications.