GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS SPECTROMETRY (GC-MS) ANALYSIS OF PHYTOCHEMICALS OF FIRST GENERATION GAMMA-IRRADIATED TYPHONIUM FLAGELLIFORME LODD. MUTANTS

Abstract

Rodent tuber (Typhonium flagelliforme Lodd.) is an Indonesian herbal plant from Araceae family which is highly potential against several types of cancer. However, anticancer compound of rodent tuber is currently unknown. Rodent tuber has a low genetic diversity due to conventional vegetative propagation. In vitro propagation combined with gamma-irradiation of rodent tuber’s calli had been performed to increase the genetic diversity of rodent tuber. The mutant plants had been acclimatised and analysed with RAPD molecular markers, but the phytochemical constituents of these mutants have never been investigated. This research utilised gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analytical method to identify and measure the relative abundances of major phytochemical constituents of rodent tuber control and mutant plants. GC-MS analysis successfully showed phytochemical constituents of the ethanol extract of rodent tuber plants. Shoots and tubers of mutant clones had at least 8 anticancer compounds whose quantities were higher than control plants. Shoots and tubers of mutant clones also contained new anticancer compounds which were not found in control plants. Shoots of mutant clones contained new anticancer compounds such as 7-pentadecyne, β-sitosterol, hexadecanoic acid methyl ester, cis-vaccenic acid, ergost-5-en-3-ol (campesterol). Tubers of mutant clones contained new anticancer compounds such as β-sitosterol, ethyl palmitate, hexadecanoic acid ethyl ester, vitamin E (alpha tocopherol), ergost-5-en-3-ol (campesterol). Rodent tuber mutant clones are therefore very potential to be developed as anticancer drugs.