Analysis of piperine content in cabe jawa extracts (Piper retrofractum Vahl) using UV spectrophotometry and HPLC

Abstract

Cabe Jawa (Piper retrofractum Vahl) is an important commodity for herbal industries in Indonesia. One of the bioactive compounds in this herb is piperine. In this study, concentration of piperine in Cabe Jawa was analysed using HPLC and UV spectrophotometry methods. Cabe Jawa samples were prepared using two different methods. The first sample (S1) was dried from fresh Piper retrofractum, while the second sample (S2) was dried from boiled Piper retrofractum. Both samples were extracted using Soxhlet, followed by solvent evaporation to obtain the concentrated extract. Piperine concentration was measured using UV spectrophotometry and HPLC via internal standard method. The yields of extract of S1 and S2 were 23.0% and 22.1%, respectively. Piperine UV spectrophotometry standard curve equation was y = 0.1107*(X)-0.1578, R2 = 0.9999, whereas HPLC standard curve equation was y = 105916*(X) + 28100.9, R2 = 0.9978. Piperine concentration in S1 and S2 extracts quantified using UV spectrophotometry were 19.0% and 18.1%., respectively. The values for S were much higher compared to values obtained by HPLC, which were 6.8% (S1) and 7.3% (S2). Therefore, the use of UV spectrophotometry for analysis of piperine is not recommended due to the interference of other compounds, which are absorbed at the same wavelength.