Phytochemical Screening, Thin Layer Chromatography and Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy Analysis of Eleutherine Bulbous (Mill.) Urb Bulb Extract

Abstract

Background: Many traditional medicinal plants were studied for their phytochemical components. Dayak onions (Eleutherine bulbous (Mill.) Urb) is one of traditional medicinal plant in Indonesia. Analysis of the phytochemical compounds in the extract of the plant would help in determining various biological activities of the plant. Objective: This study was primarily aimed to identify the phytochemical profile of Dayak onions extract and its fractions. Methods: The Dayak onion bulbs were collected from Pancur Batu District, North Sumatra Province, Indonesia. Multiple solvents used to for extraction and analysis of phytochemical compound by chemical reactions, thin layer chromatography (TLC) profiling, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer (FTIR) profiling. Results: The phytochemical screening of Dayak onions ethanol extract showed it contained alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, and triterpenes/ steroids. The n-hexane fraction contained flavonoids and triterpenes/steroids, while the ethyl acetate fraction contains flavonoids and glycosides. The water fraction contained alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides and tannins. By TLC profiling, the bioactive compounds in ethanol extract of the Dayak onion contain steroids, tannins, flavonoids and alkaloids. The bioactive compound in ethyl acetate fraction contains steroids, tannins, triterpenes, flavonoids and glycosides. The bioactive compound in n-hexan fraction contains steroids. The bioactive compound in water fraction fraction contains steroids and tannins. The FTIR demonstrated the presence of C-H alkanes, =C-H alkenes (aliphatic), C-O alcohol, ether, esters and carboxy acid in the ethanol extract, en-hexan fractions and ethyl acetate fractions. Conclusion: The phytochemical qualitative profiling showed that Dayak onion bulb as a rich source of bioactive compounds and have medicinal potential as therapeutic agent. A higher content of bioactive compounds of Dayak onion bulbs found in the ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts. The FTIR demonstrated the presence of C-H alkanes, =C-H alkenes (aliphatic), C-O alcohol, ether, esters and carboxy acid in the ethanol extract, enhexan fractions and ethyl acetate fractions.