Cucumber Tree (averrhoa Bilimbi) Fruit as an Antibacterial Disinfectant

Introduction

Poverty is one of the world’s recurring and concerning issues which has affected countries, especially third-world countries, and this includes the Philippines. During the first half of 2014, 25.8% of the Philippine population suffered from poverty, which decreased to 21.6% in 2015, and then increased to 26.3% in the succeeding year (Philippine Statistics Authority, 2016). This means that every year, more than nineteen million Filipinos suffer from a lack of basic needs, such as food, shelter, and healthcare. Sanitation is required to promote health and to prevent the transmission of diseases, especially contagious ones that are transmitted through skin contact and fluids. Due to little to no access to sanitation, the impoverished population is commonly victimized by pandemics and outbreaks such as diarrhea. One way to counter this worldwide issue would be to stop the transmission through disinfectants; however, most of the poverty-stricken population cannot afford their costs. Because of this, they tend to rely on ethnomedicine. To do this, they find herbal and natural plants that can prevent the spread of infectious diseases, with the cucumber tree fruit being one of the plants used for this purpose, most likely due to its prevalence in the Philippines.

Cucumber Tree (Averrhoa Bilimbi) Fruit as an Antibacterial Disinfectant

Cucumber tree fruit, better known as kamias or bilimbi in the Tagalog language, is a yellowish-green and highly acidic fruit commonly found in Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. It is related to the star fruit, with the difference being its sour flavor. It is a natural source of vitamins B and C, iron, phosphorus, and antioxidants. Even if it is not as familiar as other tropical fruits, it has beneficial properties. According to a study related to the phytochemical properties of the cucumber tree fruit, its chloroform and methanol fruit extracts were active against different kinds of pathogenic bacteria (Ahmad, 2013). In another study, the oxalic acid of the cucumber tree fruit has an effect on particular species of bacteria such as S. aureus; however, another study found that an overdose of oxalic acid can cause acute kidney failure, caused by increased serum oxalate levels and accumulation of calcium oxalate crystals in renal tubules (Rahim et al., 2014). Research related to the antimicrobial properties of underutilized fruits of Malaysia (cucumber tree fruit being one of them) concluded that any part of the cucumber tree fruit has antimicrobial activity against a wide range of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, meaning that the extermination of most helpful bacteria can occur (Kadir et al., 2015). Overall, various studies have proven the cucumber tree fruit to be antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial. With the aforementioned properties of the cucumber tree fruit, along with its availability, it can be easily used for medicinal purposes. The antimicrobial properties of the cucumber tree fruit can be utilized in a disinfectant for the removal of pathogenic bacteria and the prevention of transmission of diseases, especially those that are transferred through physical contact.

Conclusion

The researchers’ purpose is to formulate an affordable disinfectant that can be purchased by anyone, even the poor, and to provide a substitute for household disinfectants, which can contain chemicals that could negatively affect a person’s health. By harnessing the natural properties of the cucumber tree fruit, communities can have access to a sustainable and cost-effective solution to improve sanitation and health outcomes. This not only addresses immediate health concerns but also contributes to long-term poverty alleviation by reducing healthcare costs and improving overall quality of life.

References

• Ahmad, N. (2013). Phytochemical properties of cucumber tree fruit. Journal of Natural Products, 76(4), 567-572.
• Kadir, H. A., et al. (2015). Antimicrobial properties of underutilized fruits of Malaysia. Food Chemistry, 173, 343-350.
• Philippine Statistics Authority. (2016). Poverty incidence among Filipinos registered at 26.3%, as of first semester 2015. Retrieved from http://www.psa.gov.ph
• Rahim, R., et al. (2014). Effects of oxalic acid from cucumber tree fruit on renal health. Journal of Medical Sciences, 8(2), 112-118.