The Formulation of whole banana cupcake fortified with garden-fresh

Moringa oleifera leaf

Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE

Rationale

Moringa oleifera, commonly known as malunggay, is a common green vegetable

that grows practically all soil types and weather conditions in the country. Known as the

“Miracle Vegetable” and “Nature Medicine Cabinet” by researchers and health

professionals around the world, moringa us a powerhouse of nutritional value (Senate

Bill No. 1400).

In the Philippines, moringa oleifera or malunggay is known for being a “miracle

vegetable”. Filipino use malunggay leaf for viand like tinolang manok, utan Bisaya – a

vegetable dish that is composed of a variety of veggies with soup, and malunggay soup.

It is intriguingly one of the healthiest parts of the favorite Filipino soup dishes. Only few

Filipino use it for frying or baking using Moringa oleifera leaf powder. Some others use

Moringa oleifera leaf powder for tea in replace for corn coffee and the typical tea. In

general, Filipino sees malunggay as vegetable and not a typical ingredient for baking.

This research focused on developing a cupcake which ingredients are easily

available in the locality and to produce a waste-free product. The goal is to use whole

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piece of ripe lakatan banana with its peel to encourage the recovery of food waste for

functional food preparation. Additionally, the banana peel can give additional nutrients to

its consumer and to use the garden-fresh Moringa oleifera leaf “malunggay leaf” to keep

most vitamins, minerals and its other nutritional composition. This study also aims to

teach the Grade 11 Bread and Pastry learners to use the ingredients which are easily

found in their locality and to teach them the concept of baking with innovation through

the use of fruits and vegetables in making their pastry production.

The mentioned toil above can be seen in an actual laboratory of the Grade 11

Bread and Pastry learners of Kansi National High School. Majority of the Senior High

School learners in our school were forced to enroll in the Technical-Vocational under

Home Economics ,just to graduate SHS, which among the three specialization offered is

Bread and Pastry Production and most of their perception, baking is expensive and they

are even agitated to do the production during the laboratory day since 95% of the Grade

11 haven’t tried baking ever since and majority of the learners cannot afford to

contribute much for the expenses of purchasing the needed ingredients. Moreover, the

common knowledge of learners is that baking should consist of artificial flavorings,

sugars and adding vegetable is only for cooking vegetable dishes. As an extra fact,

Kansi National High School is located in a mountainous far flung area, 17 kilometers

away from the town, according to the recent Learner’s Basic Health and Nutrition Report

(School Form 8) conducted by the Grade 11 adviser, 7.40% are severely wasted and

37.04% are wasted. In this result, majority of the learners need the most nutrients

needed in their teenage. The learners should equipped with proper nutrition may it be

with their viand and/or snacks to boost and gain on the desired nutrition their teen age

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must acquire. May it be happening in the long run, eating pastries should be tasteful not

only aesthetically but above all healthy, packed with nutrition. Because of this existing

occurrence, the researcher conducted a study on how to develop a product that could

help address the health needs of the Grade 11 Bread and Pastry Production learners of

Kansi National High School through developing a pastry loaded with nutrients which

they can make at home and share with their families.

Theoretical Background

This study premised on the following theory about the development of whole

banana cupcake fortified with garden-fresh Moringa oleifera leaf. Specifically, this study

is anchored in two legal basis, namely; The Triage Theory and Malthusian Theory

Philippine Constitution ,Article II, Section 15 of the 1987 Constitution states that “ The

State shall protect the right to health of the people and instill health conscious among

them”, Senate Bill No. 1400 which is introduced by Senator Imee R. Marcos which is the

“Moringa Development Act”, DepEd Memorandum No. 293, s. 2007 “Gulayan sa

Paaralan, DepEd Memorandum 223, s. 2016 “Implementation of the Gulayan sa

Paaralan Program (GPP) in Public and Secondary Schools Nationwide” , DepEd

Memorandum No. 234, s, 2008 “Planting of Malunggay Trees in Schools” as part of

Gulayan sa Paaralan program, and Republic Act No. 11037 on Child Nutrition.

According to Professor Bruce Ames, an inexpensive intervention could delay the

degenerative diseases accompanying aging, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease,

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cognitive decline, and immune dysfunction. Most of the world’s population, even in

developed countries, has inadequate intake of one or more micronutrients (~40 essential

vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and amino acids) that a varied and balanced diet should

provide. This triage theory (PNAS 103, 17589, 2006; AJCN 90, 889, 2009) posits that,

as a result of recurrent shortages of micronutrients during evolution, natural selection

developed a metabolic rebalancing response to shortage. The rebalancing favors

micronutrient-dependent proteins needed for short-term survival while starving those

only required for long-term health.

Triage theory predicts that the consequence of moderate shortages of even a

single micronutrient, though insufficient to cause overt clinical symptoms, will impair

functions essential for long-term health. This impairment will result in insidious damage

(e.g.: increased DNA damage) that, over time, leads to the acceleration of age-

associated diseases (e.g.: increased cancer). As people with modest deficiencies have

no overt clinical symptoms, there has been little incentive to correct these deficiencies,

though this could change if it can be shown that they are resulting in biochemical

changes (e.g.: chromosome breaks that are markers of increased risk of age-related

diseases, such as cancer).

Triage theory postulates that moderate micronutrient deficiencies can lead to

accelerated aging and age-related diseases. The Triage Theory explains why diseases

associated with aging (and the pace of aging itself) may be unintended consequences of

mechanisms developed during evolution to protect metabolic processes against episodic

vitamin/mineral/nutrient shortages. Ames pondered “why would nature allow so many

cancers and other diseases of aging to develop?” and reasoned that these mechanisms

4
are focused on preserving vitamin/mineral-dependent functions required for animals and

humans to survive for reproduction at the expense of other functions required to sustain

long-term health. As a result, Ames proposed that modest shortages in

vitamins/minerals (against which critical functions are protected) lead to insidious

metabolic damage (DNA damage, mitochondrial decay, and other pathologies) in less-

critical functions that, over time, accelerate aging and may lead to diseases of aging

such as cancer, heart disease, and dementia.

As people with modest deficiencies have no overt clinical symptoms, there has

been little incentive to correct these deficiencies, though this could change as the

evidence accumulates to show that there are resulting biochemical changes (e.g.:

chromosome breaks that are markers of increased risk of age-related diseases, such as

cancer, heart disease and dementia). Sophisticated supplementation to minimize

episodic or insidious dietary deficiencies is a primary recommendation of the Triage

Theory.

The Triage Theory has widespread implications for public health and anti-

aging/functional medicine because modest vitamin/mineral deficiencies are quite

common. It also suggests a new scientifically based and consistent strategy for

establishing optimal vitamin/mineral intake standards, and provides a research strategy

to uncover early biomarkers of pending diagnosis of chronic disease. RDAs

(Recommended [minimum] Daily Allowances [to avoid malnutrition disease]) and EARs

(Estimated Average Requirements) should be re-examined on the basis of triage theory,

which would put nutrition on a firm foundation.

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 Professor Ames suggests that evolutionary allocation of scarce micronutrients

by enzyme triage is an explanation of why DNA damage is commonly found on

micronutrient deficiency. His research team is developing sensitive assays for

measuring DNA damage in human blood so as to determine what level of each

micronutrient is optimum for keeping DNA damage to a minimum. The optimum intake of

micronutrients will vary among people due to polymorphisms.

Professor Ames hypothesized that a whole class of new vitamins and minerals

support longevity pathways. No one would have discovered them because the current

paradigm of the value/pathways of vitamins and minerals are based on short-term

effects viewable as overt clinical symptoms. He discussed longevity proteins versus

essential proteins and his recent research in selenium and vitamin K supporting long-

term proteins.

Three major assumptions provided the basis to Malthus' theory of population (as

cited by P C Dooley, 1998) : food is necessary to human existence; passion between

man and woman is necessary and will continue nearly in its present state; and the

power of population is indefinitely greater than the earth's power to produce subsistence

for humans. With this as his base, Malthus proposed the thesis that strong and constant

forces need to hold the superior power of population over subsistence in check. The

forces include both positive checks, e.g., infant mortality, and preventive checks, e.g.,

foregoing early marriage. Malthus evidently had a theory of long swings in mind because

he began his essay questioning whether humankind will experience unlimited

improvement or a state oscillating between happiness and misery. Waterman (1987)

offers a new interpretation of Malthus' theory of long swings, concluding that "the

6
Malthusian theory of oscillations' as sketched in the 'Essay on Population' may justly be

represented by a zig-zag path of real wages." 2 questions arise: does the text literally

mean what Waterman suggests; and is the text consistent with Malthus' general

position. The quotation offered by Wasserman focuses on a special case that illustrates

how oscillations might take place but fails to represent Malthus' general position. In any

society the population's response to wages determines the "level" of subsistence. Due to

the different living habits in each state, the subsistence level varies from state to state,

and Malthus devotes much of the 1st "Essay" to discussing what determines the living

habits and the subsistence level in different countries. In Malthus' theory of long swings,

real wages do not follow a "zig-zag" path. This is due to the fact that neither the

accumulation of capital nor the growth of population behaves as he proposes. Whenever

the rate of profit is sufficiently attractive, capital accumulates, and the response of

population to a change in wages depends on a complex of forces, termed by Malthus as

positive and preventive checks. Generally, the path of wages over time is dependent on

the prevailing conditions at a particular time and place.

According to the 2021 Global Nutrition Report, Malnutrition can take many forms

and such presents a large-scale and complex problem across the world. It affects most

of the global population, irrespective of location, age, wealth or gender. World Health

Organization (October, 2018) ”Recognized the value of moringa in its efforts against

malnutrition, promoting it as low-cost health enhancer in poor countries around the

world”. It simply connotes that malnutrition can be easily solve through the nutritional

benefit of moringa oleifera.

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 In fighting against malnutrition every nation and its community should be hand-in-

hand in dealing and solving. Through the following laws, bill proposed and the different

sectors of the Philippines such as the Department of Education are united to strengthen

the foundation to solve the malnutrition in the Philippines.

The Triage Theory
(Professor Bruce Ames)

Malthusian Theory
(Thomas Robert Malthus)

Bill No. 1400

( “Moringa Development Act”)
Republic Act No. 11037
(Child Nutrition)
DepEd Memorandum No. 293, s. 2007
DepEd Memorandum No. 234, s. 2008
DepEd Memorandum 223, s. 2016

Whole banana
Moringa olefeira (Malunggay)

FORMULATION: 4. Add the whole banana with

1. Blender malunggay and whole
banana with coconut milk
separately.
2. Pour flour, baking soda, refined
sugar, then mix altogether.
3. Add the blended malunggay and
an egg to the mixture.
coconut milk to the previous mixture
and mix altogether until no lumps
5. Grease the molder and pour the
batter to the molder.
6. Put in the steamer for 15 minutes.
7. Remove in the steamer if already
cooked, set aside for 20 minutes to
cool and serve.

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 Figure 1

Conceptual Framework

Article II, Section 15 of the Philippine Constitution states that “,The State shall

protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness

among them.”

Senate Bill 1400 an act Urging the comprehensive planning, development, and

export promotion of the Moringa (Moringa oleifera), locally known as “ Malunggay”, and

providing funds therefor this act is known as the “Moringa Development Act”. Upon

stating in its exploratory note introduced by Senator Imee R. Marcos,not only Moringa is

used as natural maternal and childcare food supplement, as well in the management of

different ailments such as diabetes, hypertension, aging issues, and other lifestyle

diseases but moringa tree can also help stabilize the soil reduce deforestation. As such

given the global potential of moringa, the country should enhance the promotion of

planting moringa.

DepEd Memorandum No. 293, s. 2007 known as “Gulayan sa Paaralan” ,

states that, hunger and malnutrition are two problems that affect 19.0% or 3,268,000

families out of the 17,400,000 families/households in the country due to lack of food to

eat or money to buy food. Children of poor parents fail to complete their education

because of hunger and malnutrition force them to drop out from school to as to help their

parents earn a living. To address this situation, the government has put in place hunger

9
and poverty alleviation schemes that will help promote food security and economic

stability for the affected families.

DepEd Memorandum No. 223, s. 2016 which strengthens the “Implementation

of the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program (GPP) in Public and Secondary Schools

Nationwide” through the Bureau of Learner Support Service – School Health Division

(BLSS-SHD) to address malnutrition, and to promote vegetable production and

consumption among school children. This memorandum is issued to sustain school

gardens, not only 63% sustainable garden at present, but also to establish gardens in all

schools nationwide.

According to the DepEd Memorandum 234, s. 2008 entitled “Planting Malunggay

Trees in Schools” which states that malunggay (Moringa Oleifera) is considered one of

the world’s most useful and nutritious plants and are propagated for human food,

livestock, medicine, dye and water treatment. It states that gram for gram of malunggay

leaves contain 7 times the vitamin C found in oranges, 4 times the calcium and 2 times

the protein found in milk, 4 times the vitamin A found in carrots and 3 times the

potassium found in bananas. No less than the President of the Department of

Agriculture advocate the planting of malunggay trees nationwide as an answer to

hunger, poverty, and malnutrition.

The Republic Act No. 11037 on Child Nutrition aims at institutionalizing a National

Feeding Programme for Undernourished Children in Public Day Care, Kindergarten and

Elementary Schools to combat Hunger and Undernutrition in Philippines. The state

recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote and protect

their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. In recognition of the

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demonstrated relationship between food and nutrition, and the capacity of students to

develop and learn, the State establishes a comprehensive national feeding programme

that will address the problem of undernutrition among Filipino children. The Programme

has the following components and coverage: a) Supplemental Feeding for Day Care

Children for undernourished children with ages three to five years; b) School-based

Feeding Programme for Undernourished public school children from kindergarten to

grade six; c) Milk Feeding Programme; d) Micronutrients Suppliments; e) Health

Examination, Vaccination and Deworming; f) Gulayan sa Paaralan encourages their

respective component units to devote a portion of their land or space for the cultivation

of vegetables; g) Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene; h) Integrated Nutritional Education,

Behavior Transformation, and Social Mobilization.

Dr. Marthony Basco, a pediatrician and health advocate , said researches and

studies around the world reveal that “malunggay contains seven times more vitamin C

than oranges and other vegetables. It has four times more vitamin A than carrots and

three times more potassium than bananas”.

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 THE PROBLEM

Statement of the Problem

The main thrust of this research is to evaluate the degree of efficiency of the

whole banana cupcake fortified with garden-fresh Moringa oleifera in Grade 11 Bread

and Pastry Production learners of Kansi National High School, Kansi, Tuburan, Cebu for

School Year 2023-2024 as basis for their learning development.

Specifically, this seeks to answer the question as follows:

1. What is the formulation of the product presented?

2. What is the level of acceptability of the product as evaluated by the learner-

respondent with respect to:

2.1 appearance, 2.4 taste, and

2.2 texture, 2.5 overall Acceptability

2.3 aroma,

3. Base on the evaluation of the group of panelist, what is the most preferred

formulation?

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 4. Are there significant differences among the perception of the experts and the

consumer panelist ?

5. What is the cost and analysis of the product?

6. Base on the finding, what proposed output can be developed?

Statement of Null Hypothesis

Ho: There is no significant relationship of the proposed output that can be developed

based from the finding.

Significance of the Study

This study’s results are considered beneficial to the following group of people.

Senior High School Learners. It can motivate them to make food which is good for the

health.

Elementary Teachers. The recipe can help them in their future feeding program for

their pupils.

Technology and Livelihood Education Teachers. They are the facilitators of change.

It enables them to challenge the learners for a healthy food experimentation in the class.

School. The school develops better understanding of the study. The school can offer

the “Gulayan sa Paaralan” harvest for the development of other nutritional baked goods

for the Grade 11 BPP learners.

13
Curriculum Developers. This serve as a helping tool for them to include the nutritional

baked recipes in the books as a kitchen laboratory for the Senior High School,

Technical-Vocational Livelihood -Home Economics.

Future Researchers. It will serve as a basis for exploring more options in food

technology.

Community. This helps them to have a growing number of nourished children in the

community.

14
Scope and Limitations

This study will be assessed the formulation of whole banana cupcake and the

sensory evaluation of Grade 11 Bread and Pastry Production learners of Kansi National

High School (KNHS) through the instrument of a questionnaire with the product testing

administered to all the grade 11 learners of Kansi National High School. The researcher

also provides questions on the sensory evaluation for the grade 11 learners as they

perceived by the product testing provided by the researcher. Out of the testing, the

grade 11 learners, shall be given the challenge as part of the question to provide

intercession on the whole banana used.

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Definition of Terms

The following terms are defined according to their operational meaning in the study.

Malnutrition – It refers to deficiencies excess or imbalance in a person’s intake of

energy and/or nutrients.

Moringa oleifera – It is the scientific name for “malunggay”.

Sensory Evaluation – Is a science that measures, analyzes, and interprets the

reactions of people to products as perceived by the senses.

Fortified (food fortification)- Is adding high energy food to meals to increase the

calories.

Garden-fresh (of produce) - Very fresh; just picked.

Food waste – Refers to food that is fit for consumption but consciously discarded

at the retail or consumption phases.

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 Chapter 2

Review of Related Literature

Moringa tree can be utilized in treating the malnutrition in a local and cost-effective

manner. Malnutrition causes a great deal of human suffering and is associated with

more than half of all deaths of children worldwide. Malnutrition severely affects the

socio-economic development of a nation because a work force that is stunted both

mentally and physically may have a reduced work capacity. Thus nutrition plays an

important role in the reproduction of poverty from one generation to the next.

The socioeconomic status has been changed a lot, so people are now more

concerned about their life style and health. They have knowledge about the detrimental

effects of synthetic products. That is why they are interested in natural products.

Utilization of natural products of plant origin having fewer side effects has gained

popularity over the years. There is immense scope for natural products that can intimate

health benefits beyond traditional nutrients. Moringa oleifera is one such tree having

tremendous nutritional and medicinal benefits. It is rich in macro- and micronutrients and

17
other bioactive compounds which are important for normal functioning of the body and

prevention of certain diseases. Leaves, flowers, seeds, and almost all parts of this tree

are edible and have immense therapeutic properties including antidiabetic, anticancer,

antiulcer, antimicrobial, and antioxidant. Most of the recent studies suggested that

Moringa should be used as a functional ingredient in food. The aim of this review is to

focus the use of Moringa oleifera as a potential ingredient in food products (as cited by

Yan 2011)

Moringa oleifera is a multi-purpose herbal plant used as human food and an

alternative for medicinal purposes worldwide. It has been identified by researchers as a

plant with numerous health benefits including nutritional and medicinal advantages.

Moringa oleifera contains essential amino acids, carotenoids in leaves, and components

with nutraceutical properties, supporting the idea of using this plant as a nutritional

supplement or constituent in food preparation. Some nutritional evaluation has been

carried out in leaves and stem. An important factor that accounts for the medicinal uses

of Moringa oleifera is its very wide range of vital antioxidants, antibiotics and nutrients

including vitamins and minerals. Almost all parts from Moringa can be used as a source

for nutrition with other useful values (as cited by Razis 2014).

Moringa oleifera plants have an extensive range of bioactive compounds

(carbohydrates, phenolic compounds, lipids and fatty acids, proteins and functional

peptides). These molecules may be included in several food matrices, such as bakery

products, to improve their nutritional values (Chinchilla et. Al 2020).

Moringa leaves are good food sources for those suffering from malnutrition due to the

high protein and fiber content. Leaves treat with fevers, bronchitis, eye and ear

18
infections, and inflammation of the mucus membrane. The iron content of the leaves is

high and they are reportedly prescribed for anemia is used in the treatment of scurvy

skin diseases. The leaves are the most nutritious part of the plant, being a significant

source B vitamins, vitamin C, provitamin A as beta-carotene, vitamin K, manganese,

and protein, among other essential nutrients Moringa are now so well known that there

seems to be little doubt of the substantial health benefit, to be realized by consumption

of Moringa leaf powder in situations where starvation is found. Leaves rubbed against

the temple can relieve headaches ( Abbas et. Al 2018).

In general, the incorporation of different parts of moringa into products, such as bread,

pastries, snacks and beverages, increases the nutritional profile of the product (proteins,

essential amino acids, minerals and fiber), the dried leaf powder representing an

alternative to milk and eggs and helping vegans/vegetarians to consume the same

protein content. In the case of dairy and meat products, the goal is to improve the

antioxidant and antimicrobial capacity. In every food product, adding high concentrations

of moringa leads to greenish colorations, herbal flavors and changes in the mechanical

properties (texture, hardness, chewiness, volume and sponginess), negatively impacting

the acceptance of the final product (Trigo et. al 2022).

Bananas belonging to the family Musaceae are one of the most important tropical fruits

in the world market. Significant quantities of banana peels, equivalent to 40% of the total

weight of fresh banana, are generated as a waste. Recently, researchers have found

Musa sapientum (Musaceae), drugs and the burden of healthcare costs are the main

possess a prominent antidiabetic , anti-ulcer agent obstacles for the cancer patients,

19
additional approach antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects (cited by Aboul-Enein,

A.M. et. al 2016).

The chemical composition of banana’s peel and pulp comprise mostly carotenoids,

phenolic compounds, and biogenic amines. The biological potential of those biomasses

is directly related to their chemical composition, particularly as pro-vitamin A

supplementation, as potential antioxidants attributed to their phenolic constituents, as

well as in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease considering their contents in L-dopa and

dopamine. For the development of a phytomedicine or even an allopathic medicine, e.g.,

banana fruit pulp and peel could be of interest as raw materials riches in beneficial

bioactive compounds (Pereira, A. et. al 2015).

References

Acevedo R., Calsa N., Lagura S., Montalban H., & Serrano H. (2019). Effectiveness of MALUNGGAY

(https://www.academia.edu/40629115/MALUNGGAY_moringga_oleifera_used_as_tea

Acevedo R., Calsa N., Lagura S., Montalban H., & Serrano H. (2019). Effectiveness of MALUNGGAY

Marcos I., (2020). Senate Bill 1400. Moringa Development Act

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Anonymous., Professor Bruce Ames Presents His Triage Theory of Aging at A4M, Rejuvenation Science,

Inc., https://www.rejuvenation-science.com/research-news/lifespan-1/bruceamesata4m

P C Dooley. Can J. Econ. (1998). Malthus on long swings: the general case.

Dhakar, Ram C and Maurya, Sheo Datta and Pooniya, Brijendra K. and Bairwa, Narendra and Gupta,

Manisha and Sanwarmal, ., Moringa: The Herbal Gold To Combat Malnutrition (2011). Chronicles of

Young Scientists, Vol. 2 Issue 3 Jul-Sep 2011, https://ssrn.com/abstract=3774645

Chinchilla, A. ,Rubio-Arraez ,S., Castelló, M., Ortolá, M.D. (2020) settingsOrder Enrichment of Protein and

Antioxidants of Cupcake with Moringa (Moringa oleifera) Leaf Powder and Sensorial Acceptability.

Presented at the 2nd International Conference of Ia ValSe-Food Network, 2020, 53(1), 8;

https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2020053008

Abbas RK, Elsharbasy FS, Fadlelmula AA (2018) Nutritional Values of Moringa oleifera, Total Protein,

Amino Acid, Vitamins, Minerals, Carbohydrates, Total Fat and Crude Fiber, under the Semi-Arid

Conditions of Sudan. J Microb Biochem Technol 10: 56-58. http://doi.org/10.4172/1948-5948.1000396

Trigo, C., Castelló, M.L. & Ortolá, M.D. Potentiality of Moringa oleifera as a Nutritive Ingredient in Different

Food Matrices. Plant Foods Hum Nutr (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-022-01023-9

Aboul-Enein, A.M., Salama, Z.A., Gaafar, A.A. , Aly, H.F., Elella, F.A., Ahmed, H.A. (2016) Identification

of phenolic compounds from banana peel (Musa paradaisica L.) as antioxidant and antimicrobial agents,

Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research, 2016, 8(4):46-55.

https://scholar.cu.edu.eg/sites/default/files/fatenabouelela/files/hbiba_paper_2016.pdf

Pereira, A.,Maraschin, M. (2015) Banana (Musa spp) from peel to pulp: Ethnopharmacology, source of

bioactive compounds and its relevance for human health. Journal of Ethnopharmacology

Volume 160, Pages 149-163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2014.11.008

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