Introduction
Background of Study
Background of Study
Scarcity of information is not a hindrance to discover medicine to a disease.
Schistosomiasis (also known as bilharzia, bilharziosis or snail fever) is a parasitic diseasecaused by several species of tremotodes, a parasitic worm of the genus Schistosoma.( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schistosomiasis)
It is estimated that 200 million people worldwide are infected with the snail-transmitted, water-borne parasitic helminth, and that 20, 000 deaths are associated with the severe consequences of infection, including bladder cancer or renal failure (Schistosoma haematobium) and liver fibrosis and portal hypertension (S. mansoni). (http://www.who.int/vaccine_research/diseases/soa_parasitic/en/index5.html)
It penetrates the human skin after cercaria have attached to and explored the skin. The parasite secretes enzymes that break down the skin's protein to enable penetration of the cercarial head through the skin. As the cercaria penetrates the skin it transforms into a migrating schistosomulum stage. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schistosomiasis) The usual victims of this disease are residents of remote rice-farming villages of Sorsogon, Leyte, Samar, Bohol and Mindanao.
There are classifications of schistoma. The schistoma that can affect humans are: Schistoma mansoni and Schistosoma intercalatum that can cause intestinal schistosomiasis, Schistosoma haematobium causes urinary schistosomiasis and Schistosoma japonicum and Schistosoma mekongi can cause Asian intestinal schistosomiasis. The species of Schistosoma that can infect other animals. These are S. bovis normally infects cattle, sheep and goats in Africa, parts of Southern Europe and the Middle East S. mattheei normally infects cattle, sheep and goats in Central and Southern Africa S. margrebowiei normally infects antelope, buffalo and waterbuck in Southern and Central Africa S. curassoni normally infects domestic ruminants in West Africa and S. rodhaini normally infects rodents and carnivores in parts of Central Africa.( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schistosomiasis)
Taking oral doses of praziquantel is the primary treatment. But then it has side effects. Some of these are abdominal pains with or without nausea and vomiting, lower back pain and fever. It can also affect the Central Nervous System. Another treatment is taking metrifonate which is now not commercially available.
Guyabano, also known as Soursop, is a fruit from the Guyabano tree. It contains high amount of carbohydrates and considerable amounts of Vitamins C, B1, B2, Potassium, and dietary fiber. Studies have been conducted on the capability of Guyabano to prevent cancer. The decoction of Guyabano leaves is used to reduce fever. In older times, Guyabano fruit is used as antioxidant.
The minerals and vitamins present in the Guyabano fruit juice could help in eliminating the schistosoma eggs. Also, it has anthelmintic property. Thus, making the Guyabano fruit juice a potential medicine for this disease.
Research Objectives/Problems
This study seeks to find out the medical property of Guyabano fruit juice. Specifically, it aims to accomplish the following:
1. Test the effectiveness of samples fruit juice against Schistosomiasis
2. Find out the medical property of Guyabano fruit juice.
3. Seek the significant difference between the effects of the variables.
4. Determine the liters of Guyabano fruit juice to be used.
a. 1 liter
b. 1.5 liter
c. 2 liters
Null Hypotheses
The researcher formulated the following hypotheses as response to the research objectives:
1. There is no effectiveness of the samples’ fruit juice extracts against Schistosomiasis.
2. There is no medical property of Guyabano fruit juice.
3. There is no significant difference between the variables.
4. Objective 4 has equivalent hypothesis.
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