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Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING

Introduction

According to Herriman (2015), Cholera is an example product of these factors from

the year 2014, it hit seventy-five percent (75%) victims of its cases. Studies also states that

cockroaches even cause allergies, signs that you have a cockroach infestation include feces,

saliva, and parts of their bodies that they shed or that fall off. Similar to dust mites, these

parts of a cockroach contain specific protein or allergies that may cause allergies or can

even trigger asthma symptoms. In addition to these proteins that the cockroaches naturally

carry. There have been tests done on cockroaches that examine the pathogens in their

bodies (Flowers,2015).

Commonly, people around the globe are using commercial products to avoid being

infected of these epidemic disease commercial insecticides are great example of these

products. However, not all insecticide is affordable and cost-effective. In addition of these

facts, some portion of commercial insecticides are not environmental-friendly and is not

significantly effective through the study, the researchers aim to create an alternative

insecticide using welcome plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia). According to the University of

the Copenhagen, welcome plant has air purifying qualities for the indoor environment.

From the year 2014, the plant shows that is able to remove volatile organic compounds in

this order of effectiveness. These details only prove that welcome plants are capable of

making an environment-friendly insecticide. In this study, the researcher will focus in the

chemicals present in the welcome plant since this part of the archaea family which is well-

known for many poisonous general, such as Phildron, which contains calcium oxalate.
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Further information says that zamioculcas has the potential of reducing the concentration

of benzene, toulene, ethyl and xylene (BTEX) from contaminated indoor air, however, the

toxicity of BTEX on plant leave and roots was not round. Garlic, on the other hand, is one

of the most important vegetables for creating traditional medicines, can increase the

effectiveness of the insecticide, garlic (Allium sativum L.) essential oil had strong

insecticidal activity against overwintering pear psyllid adults, Cacopsylla chinensis

(Hemiptera: Psyllidae). Pear psyllid suck plant juices and produce honeydew, like aphids.

These pests can hinder plant growth and damage terminal buds. In addition, the honeydew

can encourage black sooty mold growth on the infested plant. Pear psyllid are also known

as 'jumping plant lice' (Zhao et al., 2013).

Plant derived essential oils are complex mixtures of 20-60 compounds of different

chemical nature in different concentrations. Each essential oil is characterized by a specific

essence due to two or three major compounds. The essential oil composition depends on

plant parts used for extraction, extraction method, plant phenological stage, harvesting

season, plant age, genotype of the plant, soil nature and environmental conditions. These

oils possess adulticidal, larvicidal and antifeedant activity, oviposition inhibitory activities,

capacity to delay development and adult emergence. This essential oil producing aromatic

plants belong to families like Alliaceae, Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Cupressaceae, Lamiaceae,

Lauraceae, Myrtaceae, Piperaceae, Poaceae, Rutaceae and Zingiberaceae. These essential

oils have commercial application in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries

(Chaubey, 2017).
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With respect to the data gathered, people should be aware of the disease carrying

factors such as mosquitoes, centipedes, cockroaches, since cockroaches are one of the

common diseases carries factors here in the Philippines, the researchers will use

cockroaches as test subject in the study.

Background of the Study

According to Herriman (2015), all people have a problem with cockroaches. These

are carrying a lot of disease like Salmonellosis, Typhoid Fever, Cholera, Gastroenteriostis,

Dysentery, Leprosy and Plague. This is the main reason why the researchers conduct the

study to kill or lessen the cockroaches. In connection, they use the welcome plant

(Zamioculcas zamiifolia) extract as insecticide. The welcome plant (Zamioculcas

zamiifolia) contain calcium oxalate crystal. This insecticide can help the community to

exterminate cockroaches that can cause such diseases. In addition, this study will focus on

epidemic diseases in community to ensure status security with their health. This study is

conducted to determine the insecticidal effect of welcome plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

ethanolic extract against cockroaches, these insects are identified by their long antennae

and legs. They kind of look like beetles and may come in a variety of shapes, sizes and

colors. There are thirty (30) different species of cockroaches, through only four (4) are

known to be pest. The welcome plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) is a genus of flowering

plant in the family of araceae, containing the single species Zamioculcas zamiifolia. It is

tropical perennial plant native to eastern Africa, from Kenya south to northeastern south

Africa. Dutch nurseries started wide-scale commercial propagation of the plant around

1996. This is the main reason why the researchers conduct the study to kill or lessen the

cockroaches. In connection, they will use ethanolic extract as insecticide.

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to determine the insecticidal effects of welcome plant (Zamioculcas

zamiifolia) aqueous extract against cockroaches (Blatta lateralis).

Specifically, this study aims to:

1. produce a welcome plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) with garlic (Allium sativum)

aqueous extract against cockroaches (Blatta lateralis).

2. determine the relationship between the amount of extract and the mortality rate

of cockroaches and;

3. provide an organic insecticide which is cost-effective and environmental-

friendly.

Significance of the Study

Household usually have problem with insects affecting their health. So, the

researchers decided to formulate a new way of creating insecticide. From the welcome

plant that very abundant here in the Philippines they decided to make an insecticide out of

this.

The researchers will conduct a study which can determine the significant effect of

the amount of ethanolic extract in the mortality rate of cockroaches. It will also help to

lessen the diseases carrying by the cockroaches such as Typhoid Fever, Salmonellosis,
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Gastroenteriosis, Listeriosis and Giardia. The extract of welcome plant is air purifier so

that it is an environmental-friendly.

This study proved that the ethanolic extract of welcome plant (Zamioculcas

zamiifolia) can be use as insecticide not only as aesthetic value for houses.

Time and Place of the Study

This study will be conducted at Romana Subdivision located at Brgy. San Antonio

Biñan City, Laguna, Region IV-A CALABARZON. The researchers choose this place to

complete the research in a time bound manner and it is because this place is near where the

researcher study named Jacobo Z. Gonzales Memorial National High School. It only takes

a few minutes walking to reach the school. This study will be conducted during the period

of June 2018 until March 2019.

Scope and Delimitations of the Study

The researchers will determine the effectiveness of welcome plant (Zamioculcas

zamiifolia) with garlic (Allium sativum) aqueous extract to the population of cockroaches.

The parameter of this study is the varying amount of welcome plant extract and garlic

extract as well as the number of cockroaches with the same amount of water in every

treatment. However, this product is only for cockroaches (Blatta lateralis). In the

experimentation, the only method to be used is spraying method. The only test subject in

the experiment is the cockroaches.