Extraction, identification and quantitative HPLC analysis of flavonoids from sarang semut (Myrmecodia pendan)

The objective of this study was to extract and determine total contents of phenolic and flavonoid compounds as well as to identify and quantify some flavonoids from sarang semut (Myrmecodia pendan). Water bath extraction at 55 degrees C was employed for extracting flavonoids from sarang semut. The effects of parameters such as extraction time, composition of solvent mixture and solvent to sample ratio on extraction were investigated. From (3(3)) factorial design the optimum extracting parameters were determined as follows: extraction time, 4h; ethanol/water composition, 80%; and solvent to sample ratio, 50 ml/g. Under these optimal conditions, a yield of 13.82% was obtained. The free radical scavenging activity (antioxidant activity) of the extract was evaluated using DPPH radical and it was found that the IC50 occurred at 96.21 +/- 9.03 mu g/ml of extract. The total phenol and flavonoid contents were determined using designed methods and found to be 330.61 +/- 2.13 mg GAE/g and 63.28 +/- 1.75 mg QE/g of dry extract, respectively. The extract obtained under optimum conditions was analyzed by HPLC and five flavonoid compounds were identified and quantified; they are kaempferol (13.767 mg/g), luteoline (0.005 mg/g), rutine (0.003 mg/g). quercetin (0.030 mg/g) and apigenin (4.700 mg/g) of dry extract. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.