MALUNGGAY VITA-CANDY:

UTILIZING THE NUTRITIONAL POTENTIAL

OF MORINGA OLEIFERA

A Capstone Project Presented to

The Senior High School Department

Gardner College Diliman

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the

Inquiries, Investigation, and Immersion

(Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)

Autor, Janah Paula

Beronilla, Rose Ann Z.

Dagan, Angelica

Evangelista, Cedric

Lainez, Niña Gwenn

Librado, Juan Paolo

Lozares, Jheyian

Moldez, Althea

Salvatierra, Reiven

March 7, 2024
 I. INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Moringa oleifera, commonly known as ‘Malunggay’ in the Philippines, is native to parts of

Africa and Asia. It is recognized for its slender, drumstick-shaped pods, vibrant green leaves, and

a wealth of essential nutrients that has earned its moniker as the 'miracle tree'. Moringa oleifera is

a multi-purpose herbal plant that is utilized as a portion of human food and a therapeutic

alternative all over the world. According to studies, it has been discovered as a plant with a wide

range of health benefits, including nutritional and medicinal characteristics. It can live on

nutrient-depleted soils and is drought-resistant, and it flourishes in wet tropics and scorching dry

regions. The tree's leaves, seeds, and pods are rich reservoirs of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants,

and bioactive compounds, contributing to its status as a nutritional powerhouse. However, this

research will mainly be focused on the tree's leaves, which possess multi-faceted vitamins that

are beneficial for people's nutrition. This research delves into the nutritional benefits of Moringa

oleifera's leaves to be utilized for the development of a multi-vitamin candy that is palatable for

anyone.

According to a study by Gopalakrishnan et al., the leaves of Moringa oleifera are rich in minerals

like calcium, potassium, zinc, magnesium, iron, and copper. Vitamins like beta-carotene from

vitamin A, vitamin B such as folic acid, pyridoxine, and nicotinic acid, and vitamins C, D, and E

are also present in Moringa oleifera. Furthermore, this plant has traditionally been used as a

remedy for conditions such as diabetes, long-lasting inflammation, joint pain, heart health,

cancer, and infections (Wiginton, 2023)

research team aims to deepen our knowledge of making this multi-vitamin candy's potential in

the willingness of consumers to take this multi-vitamin candy an alternative for regular candy

while contributing valuable insights into the potential and benefits of Moringa oleifera.

General Description

This project focuses on developing a new type of multi-vitamin candy made with malunggay (Moringa

oleifera), a nutrient-rich plant with immense health benefits. It also focuses on the statistics of consumer’s

delightness to take this multi-vitamin candy as a regular candy. Our Malunggay Vita-Candy aims to

provide a tasty and convenient way for people, to consume the essential vitamins and minerals found in

malunggay, particularly those who might not otherwise enjoy its strong flavor or have difficulty

incorporating it into their diet. Additionally, the development of Malunggay Vita-Candy is not just about

creating a tasty treat. We also aim to contribute to the growing body of research on malunggay and its

potential health benefits. By making malunggay more accessible and appealing, we hope to encourage

more people to incorporate it into their diet and experience its numerous health advantages. Furthermore,

the development of this paper will play an important role in the development of any sweets or candies

including an herbal plant.

Objectives:

This capstone project will assess the feasibility of the following objectives:

 To develop an herbal multi-vitamin candy with the ingredient Moringa Oleifera leaves that is

palatable for anyone and is an alternative for tea making.

 To investigate the nutritional potential of Moringa Oleifera through the development and

evaluation of a safe and effective organic multi-vitamin candy.

regular candy.

Research Problem and Hypothesis

Throughout the development of this project, the researchers aim to answer the following:

1. Is the Malunggay Vita-Candy effective in delivering essential nutrients?

2. Does the Malunggay Vita-Candy have a palatable taste that allows for its regular consumption as a

candy?

In line with this question, this study will also test whether the alternative hypothesis stated

below shall be accepted or rejected. Accepting the alternative hypothesis will reject the null.

Otherwise, the null hypothesis will be proven true, and the alternative hypothesis will be rejected.

1. H0 : There is no significant difference in the consumption preference or nutrient intake

between the malunggay vita-candy intake between the malunggay vita-candy.

1. Ha : The malunggay vita-candy will be significantly more preferred and lead to higher nutrient intake

compared to the control group.

2. H0: There is no significant difference in the willingness to consume a malunggay-based vita- candy

compared to a regular candy among the consumers.

2. Ha: There is a significant increase in the willingness to consume a malunggay-based vita-candy

compared to a regular candy among the consumers.

This study aims to develop a multi-vitamin candy that provides a convenient way to deliver essential

nutrients for individuals with specific taste preferences and dietary restrictions. The research will compare

the newly formulated candy to regular candy through a controlled group design. However, it's important

to acknowledge that the study will likely focus on a limited range of vitamins and minerals due to taste

considerations and may not involve extensive safety and efficacy testing or explore long-term health

benefits.

Additionally, the research may target a specific subset of the population and should consider factors like

appropriate dosage and potential interactions with existing medications for the chosen age group. By

clearly outlining the scope and delimitations, the research can ensure it remains focused, manageable, and

avoids misleading interpretations of the findings, setting realistic expectations and paving the way for

future investigations.

Review of Related Literatures

According to an article by Keri Wiginton, Moringa oleifera is a plant native to northern India that can also

grow in other tropical and sub-tropical places, like Asia and Africa. Folk medicine has used the leaves,

flowers, seeds, and roots of this plant for centuries. It has many important vitamins and minerals that can

help in various conditions.

A study by Islam et al., moringa oleifera is a prominent source of nutrients and antioxidants. Like other

vegetables such as spinach and fenugreek, Moringa leaves are not as popular all over the world, but

currently, it is used as substitutes in soups, lentils, and other preparations in Southeast Asia. Still there is a

knowledge gap in potential uses of Moringa as a food supplement and food fortification. Moringa has
enormous potential uses but is very less explored. It can be utilized to make foods that could be a step

towards curbing malnutrition.

Based on a study conducted by Kaur et al., moringa oleifera is a versatile herbal plant extensively used

globally for both nutritional and medicinal purposes. Despite nutritional claims, Moringa's abundance in

food-insecure regions positions it as a valuable nutrient source, especially in low- and middle-income

countries grappling with malnutrition. The nutritional composition of Moringa, characterized by higher

polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) compared to saturated fatty acids (SFAs), aligns with the growing

focus on diverse and quality diets in combating malnutrition.

According to the study of Thurber and Fahey on 2009, moringa oleifera is an excellent source of nutrition

and a natural energy booster. It is loaded with nutrients and vitamins and amino acids. Locally known as

Malunggay, its leaves are rich in protein and other nutrients, which can be used by doctors, nutritionists

and community health workers to treat undernutrition and a variety of illnessesmoringa olefeira is said to

be one of the world’s most useful plants. Almost all of its parts – leaves, fruits and roots have been used

for a variety of food and medicinal purposes (bar.gov.ph).

Research Method

In accordance with the study’s objectives, the proponents utilized experimental research

method wherein, according to Sirisilla (2023), it is a framework of protocols and procedures that

is created in order to conduct experimental research with a scientific approach using two sets of

variables. Moreover, it helps the researchers to execute their research objectives with more clarity and

transparency. Furthermore, This research will employ a survey methodology to test the hypotheses related

to the effectiveness and palatability of the Malunggay Vita-Candy and if the said candy will be approved

by the consumer's preference.

Figure 1. Moringa Oleifera Figure 2. Crystal Menthol

Figure 3. Final Product

The main ingredient in the product developed for this project will be malunggay (Moringa Oleifera)

extract, which will provide all the candy's minerals and vitamins. Aside from that, menthol crystal will be

utilized to provide a cooling sensation to the mouth and throat. In addition, we will combine honey, corn

syrup, and vanilla essence to give the candy a delicious flavor. The finished output will look like Figure 3.

A crystal-like candy that provides several nutritional benefits to consumers.

project creation, laboratory testing, and project presentation. The project creation stage consists of

multiple phases, including ingredient preparation, malunggay extraction, combining all components,

boiling till boiled, putting the mixture onto a pan, waiting for it to solidify, and breaking it into smaller

pieces. Once the product has been successfully made, it will be sent to the laboratory for testing of

malunggay nutritions. If it got approved, the product will undergo laboratory testing. If the defense

is rejected, the procedure returns to the project development step for more refining.