GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS SPECTROMETRY CHEMICAL PROFILING AND ANTIOXIDATION ACTIVITY OF THE THAI HERBAL FORMULA “PIKAD TRISUKKHATI SAMUTHARN” EXTRACT

Abstract

Pikad Trisukkhati Samutharn (PTS) is a medicinal formula used in Thai traditional medicine for treating severe fever, inflammation, and diarrhea, as well as for general health promotion. This herbal formula was made from the roots of three plants: Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz, Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Pers and Ficus racemosa L. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antioxidation activity and chemical profiling of PTS and its herbal components. The antioxidation activity of the extracts was determined using the DPPH free radical scavenging assay, as well as the Folin-Ciocalteu method, to investigate the total phenolic contents. The thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBAR) assay was used to test lipid peroxidation activity. The chemical profiling of PTS was demonstrated using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The results revealed that the total phenolic content of the ethanolic extract (79.57 ± 2.33 mg GAE/g extract) was greater than that of the aqueous extract (12.55 ± 2.83 mg GAE/g extract) of the PTS. The DPPH free radical scavenging activity of the PTS ethanolic extract (IC50 value 80.69 ± 0.40 mg/mL) was also stronger than that of the PTS aqueous extract (IC50 value 650.10 ± 98.20 mg/mL). Lipid peroxidation of the PTS ethanolic extract was moderate with 32.47 ± 0.71% inhibition. GC-MS revealed the presence of several phenolic compounds contained in the PTS ethanolic extract in which the identified compounds had previously been reported to have several pharmacological activities such as antioxidation, anti-inflammation, and antimicrobial. In conclusion, the antioxidation and chemical constituents of the PTS extract were demonstrated for the first time, and more pharmacological activities of PTS should be explored to confirm its traditional use.