Secondary Metabolite Screening of Extracted Oil from Nypa fruticans Wurmb. (Nipa Palm)

Abstract

Nypa fruticans Wurmb. (Nipa palm) oil was extracted from its ripe, semi-matured, fruits. Nipa palm possesses a diverse array of biological characteristics that can be a huge advantage to many fields and industries. The objective of the study is to characterize nipa palm oil extract through physicochemical analysis and secondary metabolite screening. The physicochemical properties determined were density, pH level, viscosity, solubility, and rancidity. The secondary metabolites such as tannin, saponin, alkaloid, flavonoid, and glycoside were also determined. Characteristic data for physicochemical analysis of nipa palm oil extract exhibited the following; a density of 1.34g/mL, acidic (6 pH level), more viscous (3.16/second), immiscible to hexane at room temperature, miscible to ethanol, water-soluble, and not rancid. Qualitative data for secondary metabolites showed the presence of only saponin and alkaloids among the test used. Overall, nipa palm oil extract has superior characteristics and can be a potential source of therapeutically and industrially important compounds.