EFFECT OF ETHANOLIC SOLVENT POLARITY ON THE PHYSIOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF Graptophyllum Pictum. L

Abstract

This study aims to compare the total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) of Graptophyllum pictum (L.) Griff or G. pictum (L). The leaves of G. pictum (L) were dried under 50ºC in a drying oven for 24 hours and then were ground by using a grinder until a uniform fine powder was obtained. Sample extraction was done by maceration technique for 7 days with three different ethanolic percentages, 50%, 70%, and 80% to be then concentrated with a rotary evaporator under 45 ºC. Qualitative analysis of G. pictum (L) extracts was done by two tests, the Ferric Chloride test for phenolics and the Shinoda test for flavonoids. Ethanol was used as the negative control while gallic acid as the positive control for TPC and quercetin for TFC. G. pictum (L) extracts were found to have the presence of both phenolics and the flavonoids compound by the formation of bluish-black colour for the ferric chloride test and the formation of pink scarlet colour for the Shinoda test. Standard calibration curves of gallic acid and quercetin were prepared. The quantitative analysis was carried out with a phytochemical screening of G. pictum (L) extracts using a standard procedure revealing the absorbance value of TPC and TFC. Folin Ciocalteu’s method was done to identify the absorbance of TPC while the aluminum chloride method was done for determining the absorbance of TFC through a UV-VIS spectrophotometer. 50% ethanolic solvent yielded the highest TPC and TFC (84.24 ± 0.09 mg GAE/g and 19.824 ± 0.08 mg QE/g respectively). Statistical analysis was done for all results obtained through ANOVA. There is no significant difference in absorbance TPC and TFC value between the ethanolic percentages. Despite that, in conclusion, 50% ethanolic solvent came out the best in extracting the phytochemicals. G. pictum (L) has the potential to be a useful resource in the development of a drug for the treatment of PCOS.