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COLEUS AROMATICUS BENTH (OREGANO) AND
COCOS NUCIFERA (COCONUT OIL) AS
ANTIBACTERIAL HAND SANITIZER
A Quantitative Research Presented to the Faculty of Senior High School
Manila Central University
Caloocan City
In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements in Practical Research 2
SUBMITTED BY:
CASIMIRO, Mharvina Jackie M.
CORLETO, Gellian
DELA CRUZ, Maria Elizabeth E.
DIEZ, Christine
FERRER, Maui Jermaine M.
(April 2020)
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APPROVAL SHEET
The undergraduate research paper entitled COLEUS AROMATICUS
BENTH (OREGANO) AND COCOS NUCIFERA (COCONUT OIL) AS ANTIBACTERIAL
HAND SANITIZER prepared and submitted by GROUP 3 FROM STEM 12-4
in partial requirements for PRACTICAL RESEARCH 2 had been reviewed by the
undersigned and ready for FINAL DEFENSE.
_____________________
Adviser
Approved by the Research Panel of Examiners with a grade of ___________________
_______________________
_____________________
Member
Member
_________________________
Chairman
Accepted and approved in partial fulfilment of the requirements for _________________
___________________________________________
Research Coordinator
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First and foremost, the researchers would like to express their deepest and
sincerest gratitude to Ms. Nerlyn Alperto for giving her continuous guidance, support,
useful critiques, and tremendous knowledge in making and completing this paper. Her
advice and assistance helped the researchers to keep on progress and finish every
chapter that has to be done in this paper.
Also, the researchers would like to thank all the people who had contributed
and shared their knowledge, ideas, guidance and support throughout the preparation to
completion of this paper as well as the researchers' group for their time, patience,
cooperation, and enthusiastic encouragement to each other for this to be successful.
They committedly lend their hand in this venture. Most importantly, the researchers
would not forget to remember to praise and convey their gratefulness to God Almighty
for lending good health and well-being that is essential to complete this paper.
The success of this paper required a lot of support and assistance and the
researchers were honored to have guidance all along the end. The researchers are
grateful enough for the encouragement, provision, and guidance from all persons who
helped
us
in
completing
this
paper.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page
i
Acknowledgement
ii
List of Tables
v
Chapter I: The Problem and Its Background
Background of the Study
1
Statement of the Problem
3
Hypothesis
4
Significance of the Study
4
Scope and Limitation of the Study
5
Theoretical Framework
5
Conceptual Framework
8
Definition of Terms
10
Chapter II: Review of Related Literature and Studies
Local Literature
11
Local Studies
14
Foreign Literature
16
Foreign Studies
20
Synthesis
23
Chapter III: Research Methodology
Research Design
13
Data Collection Procedure
13
Statistical Treatment of Data
14
Bibliography
31
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LIST OF TABLES
Table 1 Interpretation of Achievement Scores
Table 2 Experts’ Evaluation of the Parental Involvement
Table 3 Experts’ Evaluation of the Attitude Scale
Table 4 Interpretation of Attitude and Parental Evaluator Scale
Table 5 Performance of Students in Science Achievement
Table 6 Responses on the Attitude towards Science scale
Table 7
I. Involvement in School Work
Table 7.1 II. Involvement in Class Work
Table 7.2 III. Provision of Resource Materials Related to Science Learning
Table 7.3 IV. Parental Guidance and Support
Table 7.4 Degree of Parental Involvement
Table 8 Science Achievement and Parental Involvement Homogeneity of
Variance
Table 8.1 Differences between Science Achievement and Parental Involvement
Table 9 Science Achievement and Attitude towards Science Homogeneity of
Variance
Table 9.1 Differences between Science Achievement and Attitude towards
Science
Table 10 Correlation between Science Achievement and Relevant Variables
Table 10.1 Correlation between Parental Involvement and Relevant Variables
Table 11 Regression Summary: Science Achievement
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CHAPTER I
THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING
This chapter presents the background of the study, statement of the problem and
purpose conceptual framework, scope and limitations and definition of terminologies.
Background of the Study
Hands are essential for performing all of the tasks that must be completed
whether at home, at work, or at school. It is widely used in shaking hands, borrowing or
sharing items, food preparation, and covering one's mouth when sneezing. Therefore,
bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microorganisms are more likely to be found on hands
and may be spread to others (Sharma & Rahat, 2016).
“Over one third of schools worldwide and half of schools in the least developed
countries have no place for children to wash their hands at all. While, 16 percent of
healthcare facilities, or around 1 in 6, had no functional toilets or hand washing
facilities... People in Urban places are in a high risk due to exposure in markets, public
transport, public gatherings, and places of worship. The numbers of foodborne disease
outbreaks are also spread directly by contaminated hands” (UNICEF, 2020).
In addition, poor hand hygiene is a primary cause of Nosocomial infections
which intensifies morbidity, mortality, and health care costs globally (Jemal, 2018).
Respiratory infections such as adenovirus and hand-foot-mouth disease can
expansively develop in germs like Salmonella, E. coli O157 and Norovirus (which
causes Diarrhea). These germs are predominant and highly obtainable by hands in
human and animals' excrement after diaper replacement and toilet usage. Trillion of
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germs which is equivalent to a single gram of human or animal excrement can make
people sick through touching an object without washing out the germs onto their hands
(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2020).
According to Researchers in London if everyone routinely washed their hands,
a million deaths a year could be prevented. Hence, practicing hand hygiene is an
essential activity that has to be practiced to avoid transmitting germs or diseases from
items that may cause viruses, illnesses, or infectious ailments from one another.
However, if there is no available water and soap, The U. S Department of Health and
Human services suggests the use of Hand sanitizer to maintain their hand hygiene.
Hereby, the researcher’s main purpose is to prove whether the homemade
Coleus aromaticus benth (Oregano) and Cocos nucifera (Coconut Oil) are effective as
an Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer to be invented as the components of Oregano and
Coconut gives a moisturizing, fragrant, and antibacterial effect. The aim of this study is
to provide a cheaper product as an alternative hand hygiene for soap and water and let
it be accessible to be used by everyone wherever they might be.
The researchers propose that this study will be beneficial for everyone to
help them maintain their hand hygiene wherever they are once proven to be effective.
The researchers also believe that this sanitizer will make every individual feel safe as it
can kill germs that might adhere to their hands whenever they will eat and touch an
object. The fragrant smell will let them relax as well. Also, it will be beneficial to the skin
and will help people not to consume a large amount of money as it is cheaper than the
other products.
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Statement of the Problem
This study aims to identify the effectiveness of Coleus aromaticus benth (Oregano)
and Cocos nucifera (Coconut oil) as Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer and answer the
following questions:
1. Comparison on the growth of bacteria arise in the agar after using Homemade
Hand Herbal Sanitizer Gel in accordance with the formulations of Coleus
aromaticus benth (Oregano) and Cocos nucifera (Coconut) Oil:
a. 50g of Coleus aromaticus benth (Oregano) and 50g Cocos Nucifera
(Coconut) Oil
b. 60g of Coleus aromaticus benth (Oregano) and 40g Cocos Nucifera
(Coconut) Oil
2. What will be the measurement of herbal and homemade materials' influence in
producing antiviral ingredients?
3. How effective does Coleus aromaticus benth and Cocos nucifera as an
antibacterial hand sanitizer when:
a. 60g of Coleus aromaticus benth and 40g of Cocos nucifera
b. 40g of Coleus aromaticus benth and 60g of Cocos nucifera
c. 60g of Coleus aromaticus benth and Cocos nucifera
d. 40g of Coleus aromaticus benth and Cocos Nucifera
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Hypothesis
Null Hypothesis

After testing, there is no significant difference in the antimicrobial capabilities of
the Homemade Hand Herbal Sanitizer Gel.
Significance of the Study
The potential result of Coleus aromaticus benth (Oregano) and Cocos nucifera
(Coconut Oil) as Homemade Antibacterial Sanitizer will be significant and beneficial to
the following:
Consumers. To help consumers sanitize and moisturize their hands while experiencing
a relaxing feeling (due to its relaxing fragrant scent) in a safer and cheaper way.
Farmers. To help them grow their income as they will be the “supplier” of Coleus
aromaticus benth (Oregano) and Cocos nucifera (Coconut Oil).
Future Researchers. This study will serve as a reference and guide to future
researchers to give them an expansive idea and credible information for their study.
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Scope and Limitation of the Study
The research will only focus on the antimicrobial abilities of the herbal hand
sanitizer. The study is not going to cover the benefits and issues that it can do to the
human skin as it requires more time and resources. This research will be carried out
using the experimentation process, which involves manipulating variables. Due to the
limited time allotted in this study, it will only range throughout the research span.
Regarding the data collection, the researchers will conduct a quasi-experimental type of
research design since conducting a true experiment is impractical due to the community
quarantine that is in effect. For this reason, the researchers will not be able to observe
the
final
product
or
effect.
Theoretical Framework
As stated by Glasgow et al. (2019), the RE-AIM framework was invented to solve
the issue of slow progression of scientific findings into a real-world practice, specifically
in the topic of public health. RE-AIM balances the thought on internal over external
validity. This framework includes features that have different focuses on issues, topics,
dimensions, steps in the design, distribution, and implementation process that can help
or hinder a product's ability to have a large and equal population-based effect (p.1).
The RE-AIM model promotes the development of planning methods that can
reach the greatest number of people with health inequalities, easily achieve and
maintain positive health outcomes, be largely accepted by a variety of settings and
people, be reliably implemented at a low cost, and be maintained through a variety of
settings by staff with a variety of skills. From an evaluative viewpoint, the increased
emphasis on representativeness, maintenance, and organizational-level considerations
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allows one to include, but also step beyond, considering efficacy or effectiveness as the
sole measurement of intervention performance (Glasgow & Estabrooks, 2018).
The capabilities of the RE-AIM framework will help the researchers discover
the product’s effectiveness theoretically and in real-world application. The researchers
specifically chose this study because it focuses on the goals of their study, from
determining its reach to implementations. RE-AIM framework proves that the
researchers can achieve their goals through experimentation to determine the
effectiveness while also giving them the capability to plan its integration into the market
until it reaches the beneficiaries.
As various discrete studies regarding the effectuality of Oregano and Coconut
oil concluded the antibacterial potential of both essential oils, the researchers aim to test
the given products to have additional information to have further understanding.
However, the RE-AIM framework developed by Russ Glasgow, Shawn Boles, and Tom
Vogt in the 1990s is used to improve and pay more attention to the health programs and
research studies that can improve the sustainable implementation of effective, adoption,
generalizable evidenced-based interventions, and have a chance in applying it in realworld settings. The given framework was developed and used to organize the existing
literature in health promotion. The acronym stands for Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption,
Implementation, and Maintenance. Reach refers to the number of individuals that will be
the target population of the study. Effectiveness will be concluded and depends on the
outcome of the experiment. Adoption stands for the absolute number of individuals who
will initiate the program. Implementation includes the consistency of delivery, time, and
cost of the intervention applied in the real world. It also refers to the fidelity of the agents
to the elements of an intervention protocol. Lastly, maintenance refers to the long-term
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effects of the program on the outcome in 6 months after intervention contact. The value
of RE-AIM is to add information on issues that are not often considered, such as
outcomes involving representativeness and generalizability (Kwan et al., 2019) and is
also initially designed to balance the approach in internal and external validity of the
study. Relating the framework to the study, the researchers will have an experiment to
prove the potential of Oregano and Coconut oil as hand sanitizer and as the outcome
will be positive, it will be reported to the Manila Central University’s Administration to
have further researches to the given study. The framework will help the researchers to
promote the study regarding Oregano and Coconut oil as an alternative herbal hand
sanitizer.
EFFECTIVENESS:
Efficacy of the product.
(Positive or Negative)
ADOPTION:
Manila Central University
Administration.
MAINTENANCE:
The researchers will produce
a new research study after 5
years.
IMPLEMENTATION:
Standard protocol used with
fidelity.
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Conceptual Framework
As various discrete studies regarding the effectuality of Oregano and Coconut
oil concluded the antibacterial potential of both essential oils, the researchers aim to test
the given products to have additional information to have further understanding. The
RE-AIM framework, developed in the 1990s by Russ Glasgow, Shawn Boles, and Tom
Vogt, is used to improve and pay more attention to health programs and research
studies that can improve the sustainable implementation of effective, adoption,
generalizable evidence-based interventions and have a chance of being applied in realworld settings. The given framework was developed and used to organize the existing
literature on health promotion. The acronym stands for Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption,
Implementation, and Maintenance. Reach refers to the number of individuals that will be
the target population of the study. Effectiveness will be concluded and depends on the
outcome of the experiment. Adoption stands for the absolute number of individuals who
will initiate the program. Implementation includes the consistency of delivery, time, and
cost of the intervention applied in the real world. It also refers to the fidelity of the agents
to the elements of an intervention protocol. Lastly, maintenance refers to the long-term
effects of the program on the outcome in 6 months after intervention contact. The value
of RE-AIM is that it adds information on issues that are not often considered, such as
outcomes involving representativeness and generalizability (Kwan et al., 2019), and it is
also initially designed to balance the study's internal and external validity. Relating the
framework to the study, the researchers will have an experiment to prove the potential
of Oregano and Coconut oil as hand sanitizer and, as the outcome will be positive, it will
be reported to the Manila Central University’s Administration to conduct further research
into the given study. The framework will assist the researchers in publicizing their
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research on Oregano and Coconut oil as an alternative herbal hand sanitizer.
REACH:
Identify students with valid / reliable
data
MAINTENANCE:
Students self-monitor, teachers
and parents use system with
fidelity
EFFECTIVENESS:
Monitor progress and assess
outcomes.
IMPLEMENT:
Standardized protocol used with
fidelity.
ADOPT:
PD for staff, short term, integrate
into MTSS.
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Definition of Terms
Antimicrobial – any natural, semi-synthetic, or synthetic material that kills or inhibits
microorganism
growth
while
causing
little
or
no
harm
to
the
host.
Efficacy - the performance of a procedure under ideal and regulated conditions
Effectiveness
-
the
performance
of
a
procedure
in
real-life
situations.
External validity - refers to how easily a study's findings can be extended to other
contexts.
Internal validity – refers to the level of certainty that the causal relationship under
investigation
is
reliable
and
unaffected
by
other
factors.
Nosocomial infections - infection(s) acquired during the process of receiving health
care that was not present during the time of admission.
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CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF THE RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES
This chapter deals with a review of some related literature and studies relevant to
the study. This review of studies and literatures in both local and foreign opens an
avenue of deeper understanding and wide perspective to the researchers regarding the
relationship of the main variables in the research.
Local Literature
The use of hand sanitizers is popularly believed to protect consumers from
microorganisms. Hand sanitation is very crucial in the prevention of the spread of
infectious diseases. Hand sanitizers may help reduce the bioburden of microbes on the
skin. Although hand sanitizers have been shown to be as effective as hand washing in
reducing bacterial load, not all hand sanitizers have the same capability to kill or
eradicate the growth of different microorganisms (Sucgang, et al., 2020).
In collaboration by the University of the Philippines Population Institute (UPPI)
with the Demographic Research and Development Foundation (DRDF), both are
sharing results from the data of National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) in
2017, where they can observe the recommended hand hygiene practices of Filipino
households. Nearly all Filipino households (97%) have a place for handwashing, 84
percent have a fixed location while 13 percent do not have a fixed hand washing
location (e.g., the household members bring a basin and jug or a dipper of water, and
soap from inside the house to the outdoor yard to wash their hands). However, three
percent of the households nationwide have no place for hand washing in the dwelling
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unit. Applying this percentage to the projected number of households in 2020, this
translates to nearly 700,000 households who may be unable to practice hand washing
in their dwelling unit (Marquez, et. al., 2020).
As we all know, inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) represent an
important health burden in the Philippines. The burden imposed by WASH accounts
results to annual 15, 000 deaths in the Philippines with 26% of the population in 2010
had no access to improved sanitation facilities (urban 21%, rural 31%), while 8% had no
access to improved water sources (urban: 7%, rural 8%).
According to recent
estimates, in three out of the five regions of Mindanao, the second largest island of the
Philippines, more than 20% of children rely on unimproved sanitation (Pfadenhauer &
Rehfuess, 2015).
The application of traditional medicine has gained renewed attention for the use
of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine (TCAM) in the developing and
industrialized countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) has accounted about
60% of the world’s population relying on traditional medicine and 80% of the population
in developing countries depend almost entirely on traditional medical practices or
herbal remedies, for their primary health care. In the Philippines, more than 1500
medicinal plants used by traditional healers have been documented and 120 plants
have been scientifically validated for safety and efficacy. The Philippines is renowned as
one of the species-rich countries in the globe that may enforce proper utilization of their
plant resources (Dapar, Alejandro, Meve, & Schumann, 2020).
Many plants have been shown to have promising antimicrobial activities, and
among these is Coleus aromaticus benth, from the family commonly Lemiaceae,
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popularly known as oregano or suganda. Its other scientific names are Plecranthus
amboinicus and Coleus amboinicus. Its leaves prepared as a decoction or juice, have
been used as a remedy for throat infections, along with other economical and culinary
uses. In the Philippines apart from the traditional household preparation of the boiling of
oregano leaves as cure for nasal congestion, cough, throat infections, headache, colic
dyspepsia, flatulence, rheumatism, myalgia, otalgia, and burns. In 2009, the Bureau of
Agricultural Research of the Department of Agriculture funded a project to make a tea
from oregano as well as soaps, oregano wine, oregano juice, and even oregano
vinegar. Several previous studies appear to support these claims of tradition by
demonstrating various therapeutic properties of this plant, such as antimicrobial,
antiepileptic, and antioxidant. Concentrating on the antimicrobial effect of oregano has
been demonstrated against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Nosocomial
infections, among others. Demonstration of the antimicrobial property of Coleus
aromaticus benth extract against viruses and infections can help in the promotion of an
affordable herbal hand sanitizer composed with oregano extract as a promising source
of a novel alcohol-based hand sanitizer that may potentially be just as effective, less
toxic, and less expensive than the current standard hand sanitizers sold in the market.
(Manlubatan et. al., 2012).
In the past several decades, the Philippines used traditional medicines especially
in the rural areas of the country. Very popular is the use of Cocos nucifera or commonly
known as coconut. It is often called as the “tree of heaven” and “tree of life” that has
been ethnomedically used to treat arthritis and lower hypertension, as well as an antiinflammatory, antifungal, antimicrobial, among others. This are popularly used to be
drank by Maranao Muslims in the Philippines to induce urination in a person with a
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kidney infection. Concentrating into its antimicrobial factors, they also scraped off the
endosperm of the coconut fruit and fried it until the white flesh became brown and
produced oil. The oil was then applied directly on the skin to treat dermatitis or eczema.
Additionally, it was the major objective part of the study to evaluate the antimicrobial
and antioxidant properties of the extracts from Cocos nucifera with the use of ethanol as
a solvent. For the antimicrobial properties of the ethanolic extract, agar disk diffusion
test was used against the selected test microorganisms. The agar diffusion test was
used for its ability to detect antimicrobial activity of the isolates. (Uy, et. al., 2019).
Local Studies
Various civilizations have used essential oils for aromatherapy and food
preservation. Some studies have also shown that essential oils have antibacterial,
antifungal,
antiviral,
antioxidant,
antiparasitic,
and
anticancer
properties.
The
antibacterial properties of essential oils from aromatic plants grown locally in the
Philippines were studied in this research, and the key compounds most likely
contributing to this property were identified. The antibacterial activity of the essential oils
was assessed using the disc diffusion technique in accordance with the Clinical
Laboratory Science Institute's recommendations. The disc diffusion assay results show
that essential oils of… Plectranthus amboinicus or oregano have the best antibacterial
effect. The presence of monoterpenes such γ-terpinene, and β-cymene, carvacrol, and
sesquiterpene like caryophyllene, which comprise the majority of the essential oil
constituents, may be ascribed to the significant antibacterial properties of… P.
amboinicus. Gamma-terpinene, thymol, and carvacrol may cause leaks in cell
membrane proteins and lipids, resulting in cell death. This function is highly efficient in
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destroying the gram-positive cell wall's thick peptidoglycan layer and the gram-negative
bacterial cell wall's lipopolysaccharide outer membrane. In comparison to other
essential oil components like α-terpineol and eugenol, γ-terpinene has a greater ability
to kill bacterial cells. Thymol and carvacrol disrupt the pH gradient as well as electron
transport across the membrane, in addition to disrupting the bacterial cell wall. The
antibacterial effect of… P. amboinicus essential oils is most likely due to these
characteristics (Bugayong, Cruz, & Padilla, 2019).
Moreover, the presence of antibacterial properties in the root extract of cocos
nucifera or coconut as stated in a study can provide a scientific basis for its use in
traditional medicine. Concerning the reactions of the bacteria tested, the positive but
lower effects of the extracts against the bacterial species tested as compared to the
conventional antibiotic may be attributed to the bacteria's thick impermeable cell wall.
Their outer membrane is made up of enormous hydrophobic molecules, which may
explain why agents in extracts that can cross and impede growth enter slowly. Even
though the results showed a slow inhibition to 4 of the 6 bacterial and fungal
microorganisms, it is important to note that the coconut had inhibitory effects, which
may explain its use against infections such as K. pneumoniae, a lactose- fermenting
bacterium that may cause pneumonias, urinary tract infections, and liver abscesses, S.
aureus, a bacterial human pathogen that can cause bacteremia, skin diseases (cellulitis
and impetigo), urinary tract infections, gastroenteritis, and pneumonia, as well as B.
subtilis, an aerobic spore-forming rod bacterium that can cause endocarditis, meningitis,
osteomyelitis, and the fungus C. albicans, an opportunistic pathogenic yeast that can
cause problems in the skin, mouth, gastrointestinal tract, and reproductive tract (Uy et
al., 2019).
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Foreign Literature
The basis of infection prevention and control (IPC) is hand hygiene. Hand
hygiene, when it is done correctly can decrease the spread of healthcare-associated
infections (HAI), as well as the antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The total number and
standard of research about poor hand hygiene compliance had risen since it
continuously remain a problem for IPC professionals all around the word for the last two
decades (Pittet, 2017).
Hand hygiene is a broad term that refers to any hand cleansing action such as
handwashing or hand rubbing to remove and kill contaminating microorganisms from
the hands and regarded as being one of the most crucial infection control measures in
preventing the spread of germs and infections. It is stated in an article that
microorganisms mostly transmitted via hands through people, pets, inanimate objects,
and environments (Wilson et al., 2015) as well as during medical procedures.
Through proper hand hygiene, it can decrease the amount of microorganism on
hands primarily the transient flora which are the microorganisms that typically colonizes
a specific non-sterile body site that poses a higher chance of pathogen transmission
(Bush, 2020).
Centers for Disease Control (CCC) stated that hand sanitation includes the use
of water and soap, antiseptic hand washes, antiseptic hand rubs such as alcohol-based
hand sanitizers, foams, or gels, or and surgical hand antisepsis. Among of all the
methods of hand hygiene, hand sanitizers are becoming more popular as disinfectants
due to their ease of use, lack of water and time, and proven efficacy in lowering
bacteria. Hand sanitizers is “an alcohol-containing preparation (liquid, gel, or foam)
designed for application to the hands to inactivate microorganisms and/or temporarily
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suppress their growth,” as stated by the World Health Organization (WHO). These
preparations may contain one or more types of alcohol, as well as other active
ingredients, excipients, and humectants. Hand sanitizers may be alcohol-based or
alcohol-free….
Alcohol-free
products
have
disinfectant
properties,
such
as
benzalkonium chloride (BAC), or antimicrobial properties, such as triclosan, which are
immediate and deliberate (Singh et al., 2020).
On the other hand, plants were the primary remedy for treating various diseases
prior to the invention of modern medicine. For thousands of years, medicinal herbs have
been used to treat a variety of illnesses, and herbal medicines continue to be used by
80% of the global population today (Saldivar, 2017). Due to their usefulness, medicinal
plants high in essential oils can be a reliable source for the treatment of certain
illnesses.
Essential oils are natural volatile fractions derived from aromatic plants that
contain fatty acid esters, mono and sesquiterpenes, phenylpropanoids, aldehyde
alcohols, and, in some cases, aliphatic hydrocarbons, among other things. They are
aromatic oily solutions that are volatile, have a strong odor, are seldom colored, taking a
small part of a plant’s composition, and have a low density than water. All plant organs
(flowers, buds, seeds, leaves, twigs, bark, herbs, wood, fruits, and roots) can synthesize
them, so they are collected from these parts and stored in secretory cells, cavities,
canals, epidermic cells, or glandular trichomes (Mahfouf, 2017).
The chemical defenses that these essential oils offer an important plant
resistance against pathogens… (Oliveira et al., 2017). Essential oils from medicinal
herbs have a promising possibility being used as antibacterial agents, and their use as
remedies has long been recognized.
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Oregano is a plant that has been cultivated for centuries in the Mediterranean
region, though it is now found on most continents. There is more than one type of
oregano that can contribute to the medicine… purposes. Coleus aromaticus benth or
oregano belongs to the botanical family Lamiaceae (Labiatae) and the genus Coleus
(now known as Plectranthus). It is a large lush fragrant perennial herb that grows to a
height of 30–90 cm and has thick fleshy stems and leaves. A densely branched, fleshy,
highly fragrant pubescent herb with distinctively scented leaves (Wadikar & Patki,
2016).
The medicinal uses of oregano extend back to the ancient Greek and Roman
civilizations, when the leaves were used to treat ailments such as skin sores, relieve
aching muscles, and as an antiseptic. Oregano was also used in traditional system of
medicine conditions such as asthma, cramping, diarrhea, and indigestion. The herb has
been thoroughly researched and reported on in a variety of scientific areas. Oregano oil
has the potential to destroy bacteria that cause common diseases such as food
poisoning and the common cold. It possesses powerful antiviral, antifungal, and
antibacterial properties. These impressive characteristics make it an excellent choice for
replacing chemical-based industrial cleaning solutions (Off the Grid News, 2019).
Oregano oil has strong antibacterial properties. Oregano oil has been shown in
research to be efficient against five types of common bacteria, including those that
cause giardia, listeria, salmonella, and other common infections. Oregano oil also works
well against drug-resistant E. coli and Staphylococcus bacteria because of its high
amounts of carvacrol and thymol. They are two phenol chemicals that, more than any
other essential oil, have the capacity to cleanse and deeply reinvigorate any surface.
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Therefore, oregano is effective as a disinfectant, medicine, and dietary supplement (Off
the Grid News, 2019).
Cocos nucifera (L.) is a part of the Arecaceae (palm family) that is also known as
coconut, coco, coco-da-bahia, or coconut-of-the-beach. The plant is native to Southeast
Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines), as well as the islands between the
Indian and Pacific Oceans. The plant is an arborescent monocotyledonous tree with a
thick canopy that grows to about 25 m in height (giant coconut) The coconut system's
rhizome is fasciculate. The stem is unbranched, with a clump of leaves protecting a
single summit bud at its top. The feather-shaped pinnate leaves have a petiole, rachis,
and leaflets. Under ideal conditions, the giant adult coconut produces 12–14
inflorescence spikes each year, while the adult dwarf coconut produces 18 spikes in the
same time span. Female flowers are clustered in globular clusters on the axillary
inflorescence. The plant is monoecious which means that it has both male and female
reproductive organs on the same plant (Lima et al., 2015).
Coconut oil is a highly concentrated oil that is traditionally extracted by pressing
raw or dried coconut kernels. It has a high concentration of medium-chain fatty acids,
which are a type of saturated fat. Medium-chain fatty acids account for about 65% of its
total composition. Coconut oil contains the following fatty acids: Lauric acid accounts for
49%, myristic acid accounts for 18%, caprylic acid accounts for 8%, palmitic acid
accounts for 8%, capric acid accounts for 7%, oleic acid accounts for 6%, linoleic acid
accounts for 2%, and stearic acid accounts for 2% (Boateng et al., 2016).
Coconut oil can kill harmful germs and bacteria as its medium-chain fatty acids
have antibacterial properties that may help protect against dangerous bacteria. Coconut
oil applied directly to the skin can inhibit the development of these bacteria due to its
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lauric acid content that accounts for about half of the fatty acids in coconut oil and can
fight harmful bacteria. In a study, 30 different kinds of fatty acids were investigated for
antibacterial properties against 20 different species of bacteria. Lauric acid was found to
be the most effective in inhibiting bacterial growth (Links, 2017).
Foreign Studies
As stated in a study titled Hand Sanitizers: A Review on Formulation Aspects,
Adverse Effects, and Regulations (2020), the success of hand sanitization solely
depends on the use of effective hand disinfecting agents formulated in various types
and forms such as antimicrobial soaps, water-based or alcohol-based sanitizer, with the
latter being widely used in hospital settings.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), alcoholbased sanitizers are the most effective products and the preferred method for cleaning
hands when hands are not visibly dirty. On the other hand, the alcohol-free sanitizer
makes use of chemicals with antiseptic properties to exert the antimicrobial effects. As
they are non-flammable and often used at low concentration, they are relatively safer to
use among the children compared to alcohol-based hand sanitizers. An ABHS may
contain one or more types of alcohol, with or without other excipients and humectants,
to be applied on the hands to destroy microbes and temporarily suppress their growth.
As it can effectively and quickly reduce microbes covering a broad germicidal spectrum
without the need for water or drying with towels (Gold & Avva, 2018). However, the
alcohol-free hand sanitizer makes use of chemicals with antiseptic properties to exert
the antimicrobial effects. These chemicals have a different mode of action as they are
non-flammable and often used at low concentrations, hence, it is relatively safer to use
among children compared to ABHS that is available in different dosage forms, namely
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gel, liquid, and foam. The overall result showed that gels and foams are more widely
accepted compared to liquid, especially in term of handleability, though the latter left a
high clean feeling and took a shorter time to dry. CDC recommends handwashing with
soap ang water whenever possible as it remarkably reduces the amount of all types of
microbes and dirt on the skin surface (Ionidis, et. al., 2016). Both the soap and alcoholbased sanitizers resulted to work by dissolving the lipid membranes of microbes,
thereby inactivating them. Overall, the sanitizer serves as an alternative when the soap
and water are not readily available. Although hand sanitizers may be less effective than
soap in some situations, it is undeniable that they are the preferred form of hand
hygiene in healthcare workers. (Jing, et. al., 2020).
In line with the study of Kalaivani, Bakiyalakshmi, & Arulmozhi titled A Study on
Evaluation and Effectiveness of Herbal Hand Sanitizer and its Anti-Bacterial Activity
(2018). They formulated herbal hand wash using different alcoholic plant extracts that
holds antimicrobial potency and thereby formulating ready to use herbal hand sanitizer.
Using plant samples such as Trachyspermum copticum (omum seed), Coleus
aromaticus (karpooravalli), Acorus calamus (sweet flag; vasambu), Mentha piperita
(Peppermint), Piper nigram (milagu), Elatteria cardamomum (ellam) and Aloe
barbadensis (aloe), these samples were streaked omto nutrient agar. The inoculated
plates were incubated aerobically for 24 hours. The plates then observed the presence
of isolated colonies were again sub-cultured on nutrient agar to isolate pure cultures.
After isolating pure cultures, bacterial isolates were further identified and characterized
by Gram staining, and biochemical test. Identified based on the morphological,
physiological and the biocehemical characteristics presented in Bergy’s Manual of
Determination. The antimicrobial activity of herbal hand sanitizer against different
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pathogens was determined by Agar Well diffusion method. It was observed that the
alcohol-based herbal hand sanitizer (at concentration 400 mg/ml) showed greater
inhibition zones against bacterial species Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus aureus in comparison to commercially available
hand sanitizer (Thombare, et. al., 2015).
As reported by Kavateker et. al., (2012) pure herbal medicines were found to be
more effective in reducing the total microbial load. Alcohol rubs are approximately
against viruses than any form of hand washing. Sanitizers offer numerous advantages
over non-alcoholic hand disinfectants as, rubbing sanitizers onto both hands and until it
completely evaporates usually requires only 15 to 3o seconds. Whereas, vigorous
friction, rinsing with water, and drying with a towel are not needed like hand
disinfectants or soaps. (Moure, et. al., 2010). Coleus aromaticus benth or oregano has
been a volatile source of natural products for maintaining human health for a long period
of time, especially in the last decade, with more studies for natyral therapies (Force, et.
al., 2013). As stated in a study, the results pointed out that the incorporation of oregano
essential oil as a natural antibacterial agent has potential for using the developed film as
an active packaging. (Jouki, et. al., 2013).
As stated in a study, the Final Report on Safety Assesssment of Cocos Nucifera
(Coconut) Oil and Related Ingredients by Burnet, et. al., (2011). Coconut oil is used in
the manufacturing of soaps, edible fats, chocolate, candies, candles, and night lights. It
is also used in place of lard in baking, in cotton dyeing, and as a base for ointments and
suppositories where it is obtained from copra (the dried meat, or kernel, of the coconut),
and it is present in quantities of 60% to 70%. The expressed material has a water
content of 4% to 10%. They obtained crude coconut oil through mechanical expression
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of copra. The oil is then refined, bleached, and deodorized to remove free fatty acids,
phospholipids,
color,
odor,
flavor
components,
and
other
nonoil
materials.
Hydrogenated coconut oil is prepared by the hydrogenation of coconut oil. Coconut acid
is derived from coconut oil by hydrolysis and isolation of the fatty material, which is then
distilled. Hydrogenated coconut acid is prepared by the hydrogenation of coconut acid.
Various processing parameters in expressing coconut oil from dried coconut gratings
have been studied including pressing time, particle size, pressing pressure, moisture
content, and temperature. This study found that coconut oil expression efficiency was
significantly dependent on the moisture content of the coconut gratings.
Synthesis
The literatures and studies above emphasize the two main variables which are
the Coleus aromaticus benth (oregano) and Cocos nucifera (coconut). As mentioned by
the World Health Organization, hand sanitizers are “an alcohol-containing preparation
(liquid, gel, or foam) designed for application to the hands to inactivate microorganisms
and/or temporarily suppress their growth.” It can be an alcohol-free product that has
disinfectant properties such as antimicrobial properties and can accumulated from
medicinal herbs or herbal plants (Singh et al., 2020).
As medicinal plants were already being used before to treat various diseases and
infections, some of medicinal plants high in essential oils have shown a powerful
antimicrobial and antibacterial properties that can kill microorganisms and bacteria.
Among these are the Coleus Aromaticus Benth (Oregano), from the family commonly
Lemiaceae, popularly known as oregano or suganda. Concentrating on the antimicrobial
effect of oregano extract against infections can help in the promotion of an affordable
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herbal hand sanitizer composed with oregano extract as a promising source of a novel
alcohol-based hand sanitizer that may potentially be just as effective, less toxic, and
less expensive than the current standard hand sanitizers sold in the market.
(Manlubatan et. al., 2012).
In addition to that is the Cocos Nucifera commonly known as coconut which have
an attribute of anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antimicrobial, among others. Concentrating
into its antimicrobial factors, the coconut oil has lauric acid that inhibits the development
of bacteria after applying onto the skin (Links, 2017).
CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
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This chapter deals the research design, the participants of the study, sampling
technique, the research instruments, the data gathering procedure and statistical
analysis.
Research Design
Population and Sampling
Instrumentation
Data Collection Procedure
A. Preparation Stage
B. Administration Stage
Statistical Analysis
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