Research Paper
Research Paper
Research Paper
Project Title: Analysing the Effects of Alpinia Elegans (Tagbak) as treatment for Skin Cancer
Project Duration:
SDADADD Machine
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from different organs or tissues in the body and can affect individuals of any age or gender.
(World Health Organization, 2022)
INTRODUCTION
RATIONALE/SIGNIFICANCE
There are many types of treatment for skin cancer the treatment option depends on
different things, how advanced it is, and where it is on the body. It is the most diagnosed cancer,
and it is also among the more preventable forms of cancer. Although Asians have inherent
photoprotection that reduces their risk, this benefit can be offset by cumulative exposure to
carcinogens like ultraviolet radiation. In the Philippines, more than 34% of Filipinos work
outdoors in agriculture, forestry, fishing, and construction. Miners and quarriers are exposed to
substances such as arsenic and coal. There are only 1275 board-certified dermatologists serving
109 million Filipinos in the Philippines. Over 50% of these dermatologists are concentrated in
the capital, while a region in Southern Philippines has only one dermatologist for every four
where misdiagnosis is common due to the relative rarity of cases and lack of experience in
assessing suspicious lesions. Public health campaigns are virtually non-existent, and preventive
skin examinations are rarely offered. With decentralized health services, inadequate early
detection methods, and fragmented referral systems, many Filipinos pass away without ever
being examined by a skin care physician. Filipinos often present with advanced stages of the
disease, characterized by infiltrative growth into the bones and even metastasis. What could
have been treated through simple excision becomes complicated by the need for specialized
in several provinces including Apayao, Ilocos Sur, Mountain Province, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya,
etc. It thrives in diverse habitats (Zingiberaceae Resource Centre, 2019). Locally, this species is
referred to as “Tagbak” in Mainit, Surigao Del Norte. As a lofty herb, it primarily grows in
forested areas. Its rhizomes possess fibrous characteristics, and some are cultivated for
ornamental purposes. The fruit is edible, and the seed oil possesses a distinct aroma. Alpinia
elegans is employed in the treatment of musculoskeletal ailments (Blasco et al., 2014). The juice
extracted from macerated young stems is used to alleviate urticaria, while pounded leaves mixed
2018). Traditionally, the local inhabitants of Antique employ Alpinia elegans to address
headaches, migraines, stomach aches, and as an anti-relapse measure for women (Dalisay et al.,
phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of the ethanolic extracts derived from the
However, there are various treatment options, but the treatments can have side effects and as
well as being expensive. We will be reaching to Philippine Cancer Society, Philippine Health
Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and Department of Health (DOH) we hope that they would
help us on this study make it successful and guide us on the proper procedures when it comes
to medical field of their expertise. At the same financially supporting us for this study.
This study, once taken into ample consideration, provides an innovative commodity that
helps resist or possibly cure skin cancer without causing any side effects to the consumer and
make it more comfortable to use. Sustainable Development Goal 3 of the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for people of all
ages. Health and Sustainable Development were also crucial aspects of the World Summit on
Sustainable Development, which this study correlates also one of the reasons why we
SCIENTIFIC BASIS
Ginger a close relative of Alpinia elegans, has been investigated for its anti-cancer
India, Ginger contains various bioactive compounds, including gingerols, shogaols, and
paradols, which have demonstrated potential anti-cancer effects in preclinical studies. These
properties, which may contribute to their ability to inhibit the growth of cancer cells and induce
It's important to note that while ginger and its constituents show promise in laboratory
studies, further research is needed to determine their effectiveness and safety in human clinical
trials. Moreover, it's unclear whether the same anti-cancer properties observed in ginger would
apply directly to Alpinia elegans or its specific compounds. That’s why we will first experiment
it to animals that have skin cancer like dogs, cats, pigs, and horse so that we can observe its
effect.
OBJECTIVES
The study generally will aim to utilize Alpinia Elegans Oil extract and process it into a lotion,
traditional chemotherapy treatment and assess the potential benefits and limitations of
for its antineoplastic properties and investigate their mechanisms of action in cancer
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
(3 to 6 feet). It features erect stems adorned with glossy, lance-shaped leaves that are deep
green in color. The leaves can grow up to lengths of approximately 30 to 60 centimeters (12 to
24 inches) (Mark en al., 2019). Alpinia elegans thrives in warm, tropical climates and prefers
partial shade or full sun. It requires well-draining soil that is consistently moist to grow and
fertilization can promote healthier growth. Alpinia elegans is a medicinal plant with known
folkloric uses such as rhizome decoction for hemoptysis, pounded leaves mixed with little salt
for paralyzed extremities, and juice from macerated young stems for urticaria. In addition to
its ornamental value, Alpinia elegans has culinary and medicinal applications in certain
regions. In certain Asian cuisines, the young shoots and rhizomes of the plant are consumed,
adding a subtle ginger flavor to dishes. Traditional medicine employs various parts of the plant
ethanol-based extract of Alpinia elegans leaves can significantly impede the growth and
movement of cells. However, this effect is observed only at high concentrations, and there is a
direct relationship between the concentration and the response. Furthermore, the study reveals
that the extract exhibits characteristics of both apoptosis and necrosis, which are mechanisms
behind its cytotoxic (cell-killing) activity at high concentrations. To confirm that this
cytotoxic activity specifically targets cancer cells, it is recommended to isolate the bioactive
compounds present in the leaf extract and investigate their effects on other cancer-related
Marketa et al (2017) in their study, it has been confirmed that the presence of vapor
can lead to false-positive results in bioassays conducted using nonsealed microtiter plates. The
arrangement of the plates and the duration of the assay were identified as critical factors that
determine the extent to which the results are affected by the vapors of volatile substances. In
some instances, when the plates were sealed, no antimicrobial activity was detected. However,
when the plates were left unsealed, a certain inhibitory effect on growth was observed. Similar
differences were also noted in the cytotoxicity assay, where the results varied significantly
between sealed and nonsealed plates. Additionally, we provided information on the biological
activities and chemical composition of essential oils derived from the seeds of A. elegans and
the leaves of X. verdugonianus. It is worth noting that these oils were analyzed for the first
that the ethanol extract of Alpinia elegans leaves exhibited antioxidant activity that was twenty
times weaker than standard ascorbic acid (vitamin C). This finding aligns with previous studies
conducted on four medicinal plants in the Philippines: Brucea javanica (L.) Merr. bark, Intsia
bijuga (Colebr.) Kuntze, Laportea meyeniana (Walp.) Warb., and Pipturus arborescens (Link)
C.B.Rob. leaves (Peteros & Uy, 2010). Similarly, ethanol extracts from the Philippine's
(Ridl.) R.M.Sm., and Hornstedtia conoidea Ridl., exhibited a comparably low level of
antioxidant activity compared to L-ascorbic acid (Barbosa et al., 2016). It is expected that the
plant extracts generally have lower activity when compared to the standard L-ascorbic acid
The global burden of cancer is estimated to have risen to 18.1 million new cases and 9.6
million deaths in 2018, with 48.4% of the new cases and 57.1% of cancer-related deaths
coming from Asia (International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2018). In the Philippines,
cancer is the third leading cause of mortality, with lung, liver, and colorectal cancer among the
most diagnosed and the leading cause of deaths due to cancer (Laudico et al., 2015). Cancer
cells start to form when genes, made up of DNA, experience certain changes (mutations) that
cause the cells to behave abnormally. These changes may be inherited or caused by external
factors, like smoking or exposure to ultraviolet rays. Mutations can also be completely random.
(Lynne, 2023)
METHODOLOGY
This study will use an experimental design to assess the effectiveness of Alpinia Elegans
as skin cancer treatment. We will also test its inflammation and anti-bacterial properties against
bacteria and fungi. The experiment will also include properties of the seeds and other parts of
There are various methods involved in extracting oil from plant leaves, such as steam
distillation, cold pressing, and supercritical fluid extraction. These techniques differ in their
application and the properties of the extracted oil. Steam distillation is commonly used for
obtaining essential oils. Cold pressing helps preserve the natural properties of the oil.
Supercritical fluid extraction utilizes CO2 as a solvent. Each method has its own advantages
and is selected based on the specific requirements of the oil extraction process.
The working principle of steam distillation revolves around the concept of boiling
points. Different compounds have different boiling points. By using steam as a carrier, we can
extract the volatile compounds without subjecting them to direct heat, which could degrade
their quality.
The cold pressing method operates based on the application of mechanical force to the
raw materials. This pressure causes the seeds or nuts' cellular structure to break down, enabling
the release of oil. The absence of heat during the process aids in preserving the oil's natural
The working principle of supercritical fluid extraction is based on the unique properties
of supercritical fluids. When a fluid is at or above its critical temperature and pressure, it enters
a supercritical state. In this state, the fluid exhibits properties of both a gas and a liquid,
including high diffusivity, low viscosity, and high solvating power. These characteristics allow
supercritical fluids to efficiently penetrate solid materials and dissolve target compounds,
We expect that Alpinia Elegans leaves oil extract is more effective than the
commonly treatment currently we have now. Also, have a lower risk of harming the health of
the user. It will help all the people that have this disease or even prevent them from having
skin cancer. Expecting that you only need to take up a small amount of it and show the
Social Impact
This study can reduce morbidity because skin cancer, can cause significant morbidity,
that can minimize the effect would alleviate these burdens, improving the quality of life for
individuals affected by the disease and allowing them to lead healthier and more fulfilling
lives.
This study can impact would give a significant improvement in survival rates for
individuals diagnosed with skin cancer. A cure or treatment that can give positive effects
would provide effective treatment options that can eradicate or control the cancer cells,
Economic Impact
This study can impact the public health, Skin cancer is one of the most common types
of cancer globally, and its incidence is increasing. It would have a significant public health
impact by reducing the overall burden of the disease on populations. It would lead to a
decrease in healthcare costs, improve healthcare resource allocation, and contribute to the
substantial economic burden on individuals, families, and healthcare systems. The costs
associated with diagnosis, treatment, follow-up care, and rehabilitation can be substantial. A
cure would reduce the financial burden on patients and healthcare systems, freeing up
resources for other healthcare needs and potentially leading to more cost-effective and
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Behavioral and olfactory responses of rice green leaf hopper, Nephottetix virescens
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Lintao, R. C., & Medina, P. M. B. (2021). Screening for Anticancer Activity of Leaf
Lintao, R. C., & Medina, P. M. B. (2021). Screening for Anticancer Activity of Leaf
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Free radical scavenging effects of the Philippine endemic medicinal plant Alpinia
Ingredient
Compare and
Analyze
Apply
We will try 3 different methods on extracting the oil from the ingredient and the
result will be compared to each then applying it to the animals. Then decide which of the
methods have better and effective way on extracting the properties from the ingredient based