Phytochemical Content and Antioxidant Activity of Forest Honje Leaf (Etlingera Hemisphaerica (Blume) R.M. Sm)

Abstract

The forest honje (Etlingera hemisphaerica (Blume) R.M.Sm) belongs to the Zingiberaceae family, and its leaves are green on top and red on the bottom. The goal of this research was to investigate the phytochemical content of forest honje leaves' crude medicine, the antioxidant activity of various extracts using the DPPH method, and the levels of flavonoids and polyphenols in forest honje leaves using AlCl3 and the Folin Ciocalteu reagent. Extraction utilizing a reflux graded technique with n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol as subsequent solvents. The antioxidant activity of each extract was determined using the reagent 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Flavonoids, polyphenols, tannins, quinones, monoterpenes-sesquiterpenoids, and steroids/triterpenoids were found in the phytochemical screening of forest honje leaf crude medicine. The antioxidant activity of n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol extracts was measured in IC50 values of 637.92 ± 0.2 µg/mL, 80.55 ± 0.2 µg/mL, and 49.37 ± 0.5 µg/mL, respectively, while quercetin had an IC50 value of 7.47 ± 0.2 µg/mL. Forest honje leaves crude drug had a flavonoid content of 67.85 ± 0.5 mg QE/g crude drug and a polyphenol content of 96.0 3± 0.6 GAE/g crude drug.