Phytochemical Properties and Antimicrobial Activity of Natural Colorant Extracted from Mesocarp and Exocarp of Cocos nucifera

Abstract

Phytochemical analysis was carried out on the natural colorant extracted using the microwave-assisted extraction which performed at a microwave power of 300 watts for 2 minutes. The pigment compound was extracted from mesocarp and mesocarp of Cocos nucifera by using 0.1 M NaOH as extracting agent. The qualitative analysis that was carried out for these natural colorants confirmed that flavonoids, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides and phenol/tannins were present in both plant parts (mesocarp and exocarp) tested whereas alkaloids, saponins, steroids and anthraquinone were not detected. Quantitative analysis showed that tannin content was significantly (p < 0.05) higher (134.82 mg TAE/g) in the mesocarp extract compared to the exocarp extract (33.90 mg TAE/g). The amount of flavonoids was low in both extracts (mesocarp: 15.48 mg QE/g and exocarp: 28.45 mg QE/g, respectively). The antimicrobial study discovered that the mesocarp and the exocarp extract were not effective as antibacterial agents.