Filipino researchers have discovered that non-edible parts of plants, such as roots and stems, need not be put to waste because they may be used for producing natural-based cosmetics, medicines, and pesticides, according to the Department of Science and Technology (DoST).

In a study entitled, "Investigation of Selected Agricultural Products and Wastes in Region III (Central Luzon) as Source of Natural Products and Pulp," a team of researchers at the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) led by Lilia Torres found ways of utilizing waste materials from plants.

The project, monitored by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD-DoST), revealed that crop wastes such as stems, leaves, roots, and other plant refuse contain phytochemicals or bioactive substances such as alkaloids, flavonoids and saponins that are essential in producing natural-based consmetics, medicines and pesticides.

Some vegetable crops like ampalaya, singkamas, tomato, bataw, saluyot, eggplant, garlic, onion and sitaw contain these phytochemicals and also possess medicinal, antipyretic, analgesic and cytotoxic or pesticidal properties, the study revealed.

Extracts from the leaves, stems and roots of the native tomato variety, for instance, contain saponins which have antibacterial action against Escherichia coli or E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

Garlic extracts also have the same analgesic properties, while bataw seeds were found to contain saponins and alkaloids with anti-tumor agent.

Ampalaya seeds, on the other hand, were found to have insecticidal property against fruitfly.

Aside from analgesic, medicinal, cosmetic, and pesticidal properties, the study also revealed that crop wastes such as ampalaya vines and rice straw are a potential sources of pulp for papermaking.

Rice straw from identified varities were found to produce thick and good quality paper, resistant to ink and water penetration.

It may be recalled that some parts of the country, including Baguio City, have been experiencing garbage woes due to the big bulk of trash that need to be disposed of everyday.

Garbage that clog waterways have also led to flooding during the rainy season, and the alternative use of watse materials for commercial products would help in reducing the volume of garbage produced in the country daily, the DoST said.

DoST to bestow Career Scientist awards this year

The Department of Science and Technology (DoST) will award the rank and title of Career Scientist to at least three more government scientists and researchers this year, the department said yesterday.

DoST Assistant Secretary Ma. Lourdes Orijola told the Manila Bulletin that aside from the three government scientists who were conferred the rank and title of Career Scientist earlier this year, they aim to bestow the same honor to least three more before the year ends.

"We want to get at least six this year," Orijola said. "We’d like to have as many but it’s not that easy."

Conferment of the rank and title Scientist is part of the Scientific Career System (SCS) to entice researchers in government to stay on in research and development (R & D) work instead of seeking administrative positions.

"Nawawalan kasi tayo ng very capable people (in R & D)," Orijola lamented.

A Career Scientist rank would enable Filipino scientists to have a position similar to or higher than those with administrative ranks and still pursue research works, Orijola said.

"There’d be no need to leave their career path as scientists," she added.

The SCS is a project of the DoST and the Civil Service Commission (CSC) that started on March 17, 1982. Under the program, a Scientist I gets a salary grade (SG) of 26, comparable to a provincial director; Scientist II (SG 27) comparable to an assistant director; Scientist III (SG 28) to a director; Scientist IV (SG 29) to an assistant secretary; and Scientist V (SG 30) comparable to an Undersecretary.

To date, a total of 105 government personnel in R & D institutions have already been conferred with an SCS rank.