Extraction and identification of phenolic compounds in ethanol extract of Protium javanicum leaves at different solvent concentrations

Abstract

Protium javanicum is an indigenous Indonesian plant belonging to the Burceraceae family, utilized in traditional medicine. The leaves possess bioactive constituents including phenolics, flavonoids, steroids, tannins, and terpenoids, which have possible antioxidant properties. The isolation of these phenolic compounds can be achieved through extraction using ethanol as a solvent. Phenolic compounds exhibit varying chemical characteristics and polarity. The polarity of the ethanol solvent significantly enhances the solubility of phenolic compounds. This study aimed to determine the ethanol concentration that produces Protium javanicum leaf extract with optimal antioxidant activity. This study utilized five distinct levels of solvent concentration: 90%, 80%, 70%, 60%, and 50%. The findings suggested that a 90% ethanol solvent yielded extracts exhibiting the maximum antioxidant activity (IC50 = 20.60 ppm), total phenolic concentration of 243.81 mg GAE/g, a yield of 21.90%, and total flavonoids of 33.02 mg QE/100g. The extract contains substances classified as flavonoids, terpenoids, and amino acids. This group of flavonoids exhibits potential as an antioxidant.