Red Chili Peppers (Capsicum annuum) as an Anti-Hyperglycemia Property as a Replacement Insulin Chapter 1

Caloocan City Science High School
10th Avenue cor. P. Sevilla St., Grace Park, Caloocan City

Red Chili Peppers (Capsicum annuum) as an Anti-Hyperglycemia Property as a Replacement Insulin

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements in Research

Submitted By:
Erika Mei Asia
Marvin Julius Dente
Mary Amiabelle Limjoco

Submitted To:
Mr. Aaron Bren E. Julaton
July 2013

Introduction Diabetes can often be detected by carrying out a urine test, which determines whether excess glucose is present in your body. This normally is backed up by a blood test, which measures blood glucose. Once detected, people tend to resolve the problem early by asking for professional help or doing the natural way of curing diabetes. One popular way of treating diabetes is injecting insulin to your body but many of us do not have the budget to have the medication in a regular basis. Insulin is a hormone. It makes our body's cells absorb glucose from the blood and stops the body from using fat as a source of energy. When there is little insulin or none at all in your body, it starts to use fat and muscles as a source of energy that causes weight loss. When this continues, it may lead to coma or death. Insulin can be extracted to animals, but their insulin varies through the level of strength. Porcine insulin, insulin from a pig, is the most similar to human insulin. However due to the advancement of technology, genetic engineering allowed us to synthetically produce “human” insulin. On the other hand, Capsicum annuum is a shrubby plant that is distributed throughout the globe commercially and domestically. It is proven that they have medicinal properties; they found out that chili peppers have a compound called capsaicin. Due to the interest of scientist and researchers to the plant, they found out that chili peppers may have the possibility to cure diabetes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimation of 347 million people worldwide has diabetes and in 2004, approximately 3.4 million died from consequences of high fasting blood sugar. More than 80% of diabetes deaths came from low- and middle-income countries including the Philippines. There are 4.1% Filipinos who have diabetes. At the current estimate of the population, this means 2.5 million Filipinos with diabetes, with perhaps an equal number which remain undiagnosed. Seeing this condition, the researchers came up with the study that primarily aims to make insulin out of Capsicum annuum and decrease the population of diabetes people. The study is pursued in order for the researchers to determine if the phytochemicals present on Chili peppers is possible to be a good insulin and then, examine if the end product can really lower the level of glucose in a certain body. A. Background of the Study Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar. Hyperglycaemia, or raised blood sugar, is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes and over time leads to serious damage to many of the body's systems, especially the nerves and blood vessels. There are three types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes (previously known as insulin-dependent, juvenile or childhood-onset) is characterized by deficient insulin production and requires daily administration of insulin. Type 2 diabetes (formerly called non-insulin-dependent or adult-onset) results from the body’s ineffective use of insulin. Gestational diabetes is hyperglycaemia with onset or first recognition during pregnancy. Many people are experiencing this disease, in order to lessen the number of diabetic people; the researchers are going to make an effective insulin that might help our fellowmen especially on the middle- and low- countries. This formulation is all natural and safe for our health. Through the experiment, families that are affected with this disease concerns can be addressed not as luxury but as necessity. Nowadays, most diabetic people tend to cure themselves in the natural way because injecting insulin through their body is too luxurious. One of which is eating nutritious food or regular exercise. Both elements can help, but only temporarily. Making insulin out of the natural, with the most affordable price can help thousands of people all over the globe. Diabetes may be inherited or having a sweet diet as a lifestyle. Diabetes can cause multiple complications like heart disease, kidney disease and many more. Everyone is prone to this chronic disease. Many findings and researches had discovered that natural products might be possible insulin. The use of herbal products is one of the best alternatives for medication of diabetic species. The search for natural products preparations that do not produce any adverse effects in the disease and are easily biodegradable remains a top research issue for scientists associated with alternative treatment.

B. Statement of the Problem The study deals with the determination of the anti- hyperglycemia property of the red chili pepper (Capsicum annuum). Specially the study aims to answer these following questions based on its effectivity and characteristics for being a component in making an insulin. 1. Is it possible to lower blood glucose level using Capsicum annuum extract? 2. How do we compare the rate of change in blood glucose level for different concentrations? 3. What component of the extract affects the sugar levels of Rattus (common rat)?

C. Significance of the Study The core principle of this study is to determine the effectiveness of Capsicum annuum extract as replacement insulin. The following are the importance of the study:

This study may help economically in through the medical industry. This can aid the recent studies for new formulation of insulin. Through this, they can develop better and cheaper insulin out of the extract so that the consumers will spend less and many people can afford it. It could be more beneficial for them now that there is another possible use of this plant aside from culinary purposes. According to Ray Sahelian, M.D., Cayenne pepper, and chili, has antioxidant properties. Regular consumption of chili increases the resistance of blood lipids to oxidation and may slightly decrease insulin levels after a meal. Red pepper may help burn calories and curb appetite. A study found that about half a teaspoon of red pepper either mixed in food or swallowed in a capsule helped normal-weight young adults burn about 10 more calories over a four-hour period, compared to eating the same meal but without it and also helped decrease appetite. This study was partly supported by the National Institutes of Health and the McCormick Spice Company. Physiology & Behavior, March 2011. Due to the mentioned information below, specifically, if ever this study will be successful of producing an alternative insulin, it would greatly help for people in curing diabetes in a natural way without causing any harm to their environment and at the same time having a healthy lifestyle with more extra benefits of the intake of red chili peppers as insulin. Injecting insulin periodically is highly immense in price. Not all citizens, especially those ill-fated ones can afford it. The core principle of this study is to determine if the determine the effectiveness of Capsicum annuum extract as replacement insulin. The researchers would like to inform the Filipinos that there is an alternative in making insulin that is cheaper and more affordable yet effective. This provides them with the ideas and guidelines in conducting other studies related to this, letting them explore the anti-hyperglycemia property present in the plant. Also, this will give them a chance to improve the end product.

D. Scopes and Limitation The study, "Red chili peppers (Capsicum annuum) as an anti-hyperglycemia property as a replacement insulin" focused specifically on the production of alternative medication for Diabetes. It will include the extraction of the whole plant itself; and verification of its anti hyperglycemia property. The study shall not encompass other properties of the said extract. This is suitable for people who are exploring ideas to come out with an alternative solution in making insulins. This study is limited in determining how the Red Chili Peppers extracts will affect the rate of blood sugar of a diabetic specimen specifically the Rattus. The said species of rat is the only species that will be used in conducting this experiment. In addition, the adult stage of the said specimen is used in conducting this study. All throughout the research, different amount of dosage were used. The study is limited the only to those mentioned above and shall not go further from the purpose of the study.

E. Definition of Terms
The following unfamiliar terms used in this study were defined for clarification.
Diabetes
A condition in which the body does not make enough insulin or the body cells cannot use insulin properly.
Insulin
A hormone that helps the body use glucose (sugar) for energy. Without insulin, glucose (the body's main energy source) builds up in the blood, resulting in high blood sugar.

Extract
To obtain from a substance by chemical or mechanical action, as by pressure, distillation, or evaporation.
Anti-hyperglycemic
Pertaining to a substance or therapy that counteracts high levels of glucose in the blood.
Red Chili Pepper
Is the fruit of plants from the genus Capsicum, members of the nightshade family, Solanaceae.
Capsaicin
A colorless, pungent, crystalline compound, C18H27NO3, that is derived from capsicum and is a strong irritant to skin and mucous membranes.