Biochemical Study Of Tuba-Tuba (Jatropha curcas) Stem and Labuyo Chili (Capsicum

Frutescens) Mixed Extract as a Natural Insecticide for Rhinoceros Beetle (Oryctes

rhinoceros) In Coconut Trees

Davao City National High School

F. Torres St., Davao City
A Science Investigatory Project in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements in Research IV in
Grade 10 Level

Proponents:
Alvarez, Michael Benz B.
Dacut, Ivyrose C.
Ibañez, Justin Luis A.

Life Science-Team Category

Consultants:
Mr. James Ryan Edma
Mr. Julius Centina

August 2018

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 Biochemical Study Of Tuba-Tuba (Jatropha curcas) Leaves and Labuyo Chili (Capsicum
Frutescens) Mixed Extract as a Natural Insecticide for Rhinoceros Beetle (Oryctes
rhinoceros) In Coconut Trees

Alvarez, Michael Benz B.

Dacut, Ivyrose C.
Ibañez, Justin Luis A.
Davao City National High School
ABSTRACT

Rhinoceros beetles are pest species occurring throughout many tropical regions of the
world. Adult Oryctes rhinoceros cut through leaves and bore holes into palm crowns. Damage is
exacerbated by the tendency of the beetles to aggregate. In a study of the Bureau of Agricultural
Research (BAR), the damage caused by the pest “is almost incalculable.” The threat starts when
the beetle reaches two months and feeds on the palm shoot, leaving marks of damages to new
leaves. The beetle also attacks young palms in nurseries, according to BAR. These invasive pests
are one of the worst threats to the coconut industries that must be controlled and explored.
Tuba-tuba (Jatropha curcas) and Chili Labuyo (Capsicum frutescens) are local plants found in
tropical region that are known for essential uses in modern society.

The main objective of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of tuba-tuba (Jatropha
curcas) leaves and siling labuyo (Capsicum frutescens) against Rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes
rhinoceros) which is known to cause certain damage to coconut trees. Specifically, this study
centers on the said, biochemical properties, which will hypothetically control the rhinoceros
beetle population in causing damage within the coconut farms. The study will also provide
alternative solution to coconut business in controlling these pests in much more organic way. It
is expected that the important phytochemical properties recognized by our study in both plants
will be very useful in eliminating the Rhinoceros beetle.

Keywords: Rhinoceros beetle; Tuba-tuba; Siling Labuyo; Biochemical properties;

Phytochemicals

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Introduction The Tuba-tuba Plant (Jatropha
curcas) Jatropha is a drought resistant
The coconut gets to be the most
perennial shrub or small tree that produces
versatile tree among all trees. Every part of
seeds up to 35 years but can live up to 50
it has a use and has been used by different
years. Jatropha grows fast with little or no
countries in different ways. Hence, it is
maintenance and reaches the average height
known as the “Tree Of Life” (Ridgeway,
of about 3 meters but it can grow up to 8
2016).
meter
However, one of the agricultural
Most of the farmers are using
problems in the Philippines is the infestation
chemical pesticides or insecticides to kill
of Rhinoceros beetle on coconut crops.
Rhinoceros beetle, But these chemicals have
Rotten coconut trees serve as the beetle’s
hazardous substances that might cause
breeding ground. If blown away by a strong
abnormal growth to coconut and deadly to
wind, they usually attack remaining
human. In this study, we will use tuba-tuba
surviving trees. According to PCA Regional
bark extract and labuyo chili extract mixed
Manager Reynato Dubongco, “Cases are
with salt and water as a natural insecticide to
sporadic, but the number of affected trees is
kill Rhinoceros beetle.
more than a thousand. We have to act now
because the signs of infestations are already The statement of the problem is the
visible.” following: The significant difference in
terms of the length of time of the dead
Siling labuyo (Capsicum Frutescens)
rhinoceros beetle between the negative
is a variety of cayenne pepper commonly
control and the different treatment groups,
found in Southeast Asian Region. It is small
the extract that is most effective in killing
in size compared to its cousins from the west
rhinoceros beetle, the components of the
but this little chili pepper packs a lot more
treatments which cause the death of
pungent odor and taste. Siling labuyo is
rhinoceros beetle. The main objective of this
widely used in traditional herbal medicine to
study is to investigate the effectiveness of
alleviate pain and inflammation due to
tuba-tuba (Jatropha curcas) and siling
arthritis, gout and fibromyalgia.
labuyo (Capsicum frutescens) against
Rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros).

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which is known to cause certain damage to
coconut trees. Specifically, this study centers
on the said, biochemical properties, which
will hypothetically control the rhinoceros
beetle population in causing damage to
farms. The study will only focus on the
potential of tuba-tuba leaves and siling
labuyo in displaying an insecticidal
property. The result of this study will be
based on the observational data that will be
gathered from the specimens. This study will
be delimited due to financial capacities of
each proponent and will be conducted within
Davao City National High School.

This study will be beneficial to the

families, which can help secure themselves
against rhinoceros beetles that cause plague
to the plants and for them to have an
alternative way to eliminate it; to the
pesticidal processing companies, companies
that process pesticides will benefit from this
study because it might be used in a natural
way of killing rhinoceros beetle that is
cheaper compared to commercialized ones;
to the nation, this study will help the citizens
in the country to control and protect the
crops from rhinoceros beetle infestation; and
to the future researchers, for them to provide
future references in future studies related to
it.

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