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

 The Problem and its Background | 2

too 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

Vernonia Cinerea Hot Oil Extraction VERNONIA CINEREA

Process CREAM FOR SCABIES
Healthy

Matured leaves Formulation of

Vernonia Cinerea
Vegetable oil
cream
Paraffin Wax
50g leaves + jelly
50% concentration
grated candle
Grated white
candle
75g leaves + jelly
57% concentration
grated candle
Petroleum jelly
100g leaves + jelly
Standard Kitchen
50g 100% concentration
grated candle
Waves

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%.

 The Problem and its Background | 6

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

Profile of 36 Respondents Survey of Respondents

a.) age with Scabies
b.) gender
c.) duration of healing Level of
Effectiveness
Vernonia Cinerea cream
of
Experimental Groups
Vernonia
Respondents Treatment 1 Cinerea
(9) Experimental Group
Cream
treated with 50%
Vernonia Cinerea cream for
Scabies
Respondents Treatment 2
(9) Experimental Group Against
treated with 75%
the
Vernonia Cinerea cream

Respondents Treatment 3
(9) Experimental Group
treated with 100%
Vernonia Cinerea cream

Control Group Treatment 4 Commercial Drug

(9) Control Group
(Betadine)
treated with commercial
drug

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

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with scabies 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?

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5. Which of the formulated creams is the best as

alternative treatment for scabies?

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.

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3. There are significant differences between the

different formulation and the control group of

Vernoni Cinerea in terms of duration of healing.

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.

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To the Researchers. The study helped the researchers

in studying various fields of Vernonia Cinerea, its

constituents and components, and its ability in curing

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

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quality or aspect of something causing a result, especially

the desired or intended result.

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.

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Treatment. Refers to the frequency and amount of

applying the herbal cream and the commercial drug to the

affected area morning and evening.

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.