Sixteen-year-old Maria Isabel Layson – student of the Iloilo National High School – recently competed at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) held in Phoenix, Arizona from May 12 to 17 as one of the 12 candidates sent to represent the Philippines. This is one of the biggest world pre-university science competition (1,800 student scientists from over 80 countries were competing).
For this competition she submitted her research on the antidiabetic properties of aratiles (Jamaican cherry in English). This is a plant found in tropical countries such as Mexico, Bolivia, and the Philippines. Aratiles trees grow in her own backyard at home.
Several of her family members succumbed to diabetes, so this was the starting point for Maria’s research. She discovered that this plant has been studied for 22 years, however the plant’s full potential as a medicinal resource is yet to be exploited.
In an interview with RMN Iloilo, Maria revealed:
I studied the Aratiles fruit or Sarisa to address diabetes. The conclusion of this study is that, all of the plant parts of the Sarisa fruit contains anti-oxidants, which could help because of its anti-diabetic properties.
This means that the Aratiles fruit may be one of the cheapest remedies for diabetes available. It grows abundantly in the Philippines and most of its components are also edible. Its branches and leaves, its flowers – all contain the necessary antioxidants to treat diabetes.
Layson is part of the group of students to be awarded the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation Young Scientist Award. GBF, in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) sponsored the Filipino delegation to attend the 2019 ISEF. Maria also won Best Individual Research in Life Science at the 2019 National Science and Technology Fair hosted by DepEd.
Take a look at the work of this young scientist we expect great things from:
Source: Gokongwei Brothers Foundation YouTube Channel
