Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.

Sci (2014) 3(1): 395-406

ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 3 Number 1 (2014) pp. 395-406

http://www.ijcmas.com

Original Research Article

Phytochemical screening by FTIR spectroscopic analysis of leaf extracts
of selected Indian Medicinal plants

R.Ashokkumar* and M. Ramaswamy

Department of Zoology, Karpagam University, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India

*Corresponding author

ABSTRACT

The present study is aimed to analyse the petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate
Keywords and methanol extracts of leaves of 4 medicinal plants such as Phyllanthus amarus,
Senna auriculata, Phyllanthus maderaspatensis and Solanum torvum through FT-
Phyllanthus IR spectroscopy method. The FTIR spectroscopic studies revealed different
amarus; characteristic peak values with various functional compounds in the extracts. The
Senna FTIR analysis of methanol leaf extracts of Phyllanthus amarus, Senna auriculata,
auriculata; Phyllanthus maderaspatensis and Solanum torvum confirmed the presence of
Phyllanthus amide, alcohols, phenols, alkanes, carboxylic acids, aldehydes, ketones, alkenes,
maderaspatensis; primary amines, aromatics, esters, ethers, alkyl halides and aliphatic amines
Solanum torvum; compounds, which showed major peaks. The FTIR method was performed on a
FTIR; spectrophotometer system, which was used to detect the characteristic peak values
Spectroscopy; and their functional groups. The results of the present study generated the FTIR
Functional spectrum profile for the medicinally important plants of Phyllanthus amarus, Senna
groups. auriculata, Phyllanthus maderaspatensis and Solanum torvum can be used in the
aquaculture industry.

Introduction
A large number of medicinal plants are producing multi drug resistant bacteria,
used as alternate medicine for diseases of Iqbal Ahamad et al. (2006) detected major
man and other animals since most of them groups of compounds as the most active
are without side effects when compared fraction of four plants extracts by infrared
with synthetic drugs. Identification of the spectroscopy. Ramamoorthi and Kannan
chemical nature of phytochemical (2007) screened the bioactive group of
compounds present in the medicinal plants chemicals in the dry leaf powder of
will provide some information on the Calotropis gigantea by FTIR analysis.
different functional groups responsible for
their medicinal properties. While studying Kareru et al. (2008) detected saponins in
the in vitro efficacy of bioactive extracts crude dry powder of 11 plants using FTIR
of 15 medicinal plants against ES L- spectroscopy. Muruganantham et al.

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(2009) carried out the FTIR spectroscopic India) Identification of the plant species
analysis in the powder samples of leaf, was done with the help of Dr. R. Gopalan,
stem and root of Eclipta alba and Eclipta Professor of Botany, Karpagam University
prostrata. The FTIR analysis of aqueous (former Scientist, BSI, Coimbatore)
methanolic leaf extracts of Bauhinia Coimbatore.
racemosa for phytochemical compounds
was done by Gauravkumar et al. (2010). Preparation of leaf extract
Ragavendran et al. (2011) detected the
functional groups in various extracts of The shade dried leaves of each plant (at
Aerva lanata using spectroscopic method. 20 C) were powdered in mechanical
Thangarajan Starlin et al. (2012) detected grinder. 20 grams of leaf powder (of each
the elements and functional groups in the plant) was weighed, 150 ml of solvent was
ethanol extract of whole plant of added and kept for 3 days. The extract was
Ichnocarpus frutescens using FTIR filtered using Whatman No.1 filter paper
spectroscopic method. Paraj A.Pednekar and the supernatant was collected. The
and Bhanu Raman (2013) carried out the residue was again extracted two times
FTIR spectroscopic analysis of methanolic (with 3 days of interval for each
leaf extract of Ampelocissus latifolia for extraction) and supernatants were
antimicrobial compounds. A survey of collected. The supernatants were pooled
literature revealed that the FTIR analysis and evaporated (at room temperature, 28 ±
of functional groups was not done so far 1 C) until the volume was reduced to 150
with the medicinal plants such as ml. Extracts of the leaf powder of the four
Phyllanthus amarus, Senna auriculata plants with 4 different solvents such as
Phyllanthus maderaspatensis and Solanum petroleum ether (PE), chloroform (CF),
torvum. Hence, an attempt is made in the ethyl acetate (EA) and methanol (ME)
present study to analyse the functional were prepared and stored in air tight
groups of phytoactive compounds present bottles for further analysis
in the leaf extracts (in different solvents
such as petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl Fourier Transform Infrared
acetate and methanol) of the four Indian Spectrophotometer (FTIR)
medicinal plants, Phyllanthus amarus,
Senna auriculata, Phyllanthus Fourier Transform Infrared
maderaspatensis and Solanum torvum by Spectrophotometer (FTIR) is perhaps the
FTIR spectroscopic analysis. most powerful tool for identifying the
types of chemical bonds (functional
Materials and Methods groups) present in compounds. The
wavelength of light absorbed is
Collection of plant characteristic of the chemical bond as can
be seen in the annotated spectrum. By
Leaf samples of four medicinal plant interpreting the infrared absorption
species such as Phyllanthus amarus, spectrum, the chemical bonds in a
Phyllanthus maderaspatensis (Family: molecule can be determined.
Euphorbiaceae), Senna auriculata
(Family: Caesalpiniaceae), Solanum Dried powder of different solvent extracts
torvum (Family: Solanaceae) were of each plant materials were used for FTIR
collected from Kalingarayan canal bank at analysis. 10 mg of the dried extract
Bhavani (Erode District, Tamilnadu, powder was encapsulated in 100 mg of
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KBr pellet, in order to prepare translucent cm-1, for a carbonyl group (C=O).
sample discs. The powdered sample of
each plant specimen was loaded in FTIR Methanol (ME) extract:
spectroscope (Shimadzu, IR Affinity 1,
Japan), with a Scan range from 400 to The ME extract of P. amarus showed
4000 cm 1 with a resolution of 4 cm 1. characteristic absorption bands at 3385
cm-1 for a hydroxyl (-OH) group 2929
Results and Discussion cm-1, 2343 cm-1 (for C-H stretching), 1382
cm-1 (for C-H bending), and at 1622 cm-1
The FTIR spectrum of leaf extracts for C=C group.
(prepared in different solvents) of P.
amarus, S. auriculata, P. maderaspatensis Senna auriculata:
and S. torvum are given in Fig 1 to 16. The
data on the peak values and the probable Petroleum ether (PE) extract:
functional groups (obtained by FTIR
analysis) present in the leaf extracts The extract of S. auriculata exhibited a
(prepared in PE, CF, EA and ME) of P. characteristic band at 1724 cm-1
amarus, S. auriculata, P. maderaspatensis indicating the presence of a carbonyl
and S. torvum are presented in Tables 1 to (C=O) group and at 2926 cm-1 (for C-H
4. stretching) and 1454 cm-1 for (C-H
bending) for C-H group.
FTIR spectral data interpretation
Chloroform (CF) extract:
Phyllanthus amarus
The characteristic absorption bands were
Petroleum ether (PE) extract exhibited at 2927 cm-1, (for C-H
stretching), for C-H group and at 1718
P.E extract of P. amarus exhibited a cm-1for carbonyl group (C=O) were
characteristic band at 1734 cm-1 indicating exhibited by CF extract.
the presence of a pair of carbonyl (C=O)
group, and at 2920 cm-1 for C-H group. Ethyl acetate (EA) extract:
Chloroform (CF) extract The EA extract exhibited the characteristic
absorption bands were exhibited at 2922
The characteristic absorption band were cm-1, (for C-H stretching), 1612 cm-1 for
exhibited at 2912 cm-1 (for C-H C=C group 1452 cm-1 (for C-H bending)
stretching), 1492 cm-1 ( for C-H bending) for C-H group and at 1730 cm-1 for
for C-H group and at 1710 cm-1, 1718 cm- carbonyl group (C=O).
1
for carbonyl groups (C=O) were
exhibited by CF extract. Methanol (ME) extract:

Ethyl acetate (EA) extract The ME extract of S. auriculata showed

characteristic absorption bands at 3390
The EA extract showed the characteristic cm-1 and 1055 (C-O) for a hydroxyl (-OH)
absorption bands were observed at 2927 group 2929 cm-1 (for C-H stretching) and
cm-1 ( for C-H stretching), 1444 cm-1 (for at 1627 cm-1 for C=C group.
C-H bending) for C-H group and at 1714
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Table.1 FTIR spectral peak values and functional groups obtained for the leaf extract
(in different solvents) of Phyllanthus amarus

Extracts prepared in Peak values Functional groups

Petroleum ether (PE) 1734 C=O carbonyl group
2920 C-H group
Chloroform (CF) 1492 C-H bending
1710 C=O carbonyl group
1718 C=O carbonyl group
2915 C-H stretching
Ethyl acetate (EA) 1444 C-H bending
1714 C=O carbonyl group
2927 C-H stretching
Methanol (ME) 1382 C-H bending
1622 C=C group
2343 C-H stretching
2929 C-H stretching
3385 -OH group

Table.2 FTIR spectral peak values and functional groups obtained for the leaf extract
(in different solvents) of Senna auriculata

Extracts prepared in Peak values Functional groups

Petroleum ether (PE) 1454 C=O carbonyl group
1724 C-H stretching
2927 C-H stretching
Chloroform (CF) 1718 C=O carbonyl group
2927 C-H stretching
Ethyl acetate (EA) 1452 C-H bending
1612 C=O group
1730 C=O carbonyl group
2922 C-H stretching
Methanol (ME) 1055 C-O group
1627 C=C group
2929 C-H stretching
3390 -OH group

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Table.3 FTIR spectral peak values and functional groups obtained for the leaf extract
(in different solvents) of Phyllanthus maderaspatensis

Extracts prepared in Peak values Functional groups

Petroleum ether (PE) 1450 C-H bending
1720 C=O carbonyl group
2926 C-H stretching
Chloroform (CF) 1452 C-H group
1726 C=O carbonyl group
2926 C-H stretching
Ethyl acetate (EA) 1450 C-H group
1716 C-H bending
2864 C-H stretching
2927 C-H stretching
Methanol (ME) 1056 C-O group
1384 C-H bending
1622 C=C group
1707 C=O carbonyl group
2343 C-H stretching
2929 -OH group
3385 -OH group

Table.4 FTIR spectral peak values and functional groups obtained for the leaf extract
(in different solvents) of Solanum torvum

Extracts prepared in Peak values Functional groups

Petroleum ether (PE) 1722 C=O carbonyl group
2856 C-H stretching
2918 C-H stretching
Chloroform (CF) 1064 OH bending group
1423 C-H stretching
1703 C=O carbonyl group
2910 C-H stretching
3415 OH group
Ethyl acetate (EA) 1064 OH group
1377 C-H bending
1450 C-H bending
1724 C=O carbonyl group
2858 C-H stretching
2922 C-H stretching
Methanol (ME) 1056 C-O group
1381 C-H bending
1614 C=C group
1701 C=O carbonyl group
2860 C-H stretching
2926 C-H stretching
3387 OH group
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Fig.1 FTIR spectrum of PE extract of P. amarus Fig.2 FTIR spectrum of CF extract of P. amarus

Fig.3 FTIR spectrum of EA extract of P. amarus Fig.4 FTIR spectrum of ME extract of P. amarus

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Fig.5 FTIR spectrum of PE extract of S. auriculata Fig.6 FTIR spectrum of CF extract of S. auriculata

Fig.7 FTIR spectrum of EA extract of S. auriculata Fig.8 FTIR spectrum of ME extract of S. auriculata

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Fig.9 FTIR spectrum of PE extract of P. maderaspatensis Fig.10 FTIR spectrum of CF extract of P. maderaspatensis

Fig.11 FTIR spectrum of EA extract of P. maderaspatensis Fig.12 FTIR spectrum of ME extract of P. maderaspatensis

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Fig.13 FTIR spectrum of PE extract of S. torvum Fig.14 FTIR spectrum of CF extract of S. torvum

Fig.15 FTIR spectrum of EA extract of S. torvum Fig.16 FTIR spectrum of ME extract of S. torvum

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Phyllanthus maderaspatensis Chloroform (CF) extract

Petroleum ether (PE) extract The characteristic absorption bands were

exhibited at 2910 cm-1, (for C-H
PE extract of P. maderaspatensis exhibited stretching), and 1423 cm-1 for C-H group
a characteristic band at 1720 cm-1 and at 1703 cm-1 for carbonyl group
indicating the presence of a carbonyl (C=O). The absorption bands at 3415 cm-1
(C=O) group and at 2926 cm-1 (for C-H (OH) and 1064 cm-1 (O-H bending) are
stretching) and 1450 cm-1 for (C-H due to hydroxyl group.
bending) for C-H group.
Ethyl acetate (EA) extract
Chloroform (CF) extract
The EA extract of showed the
The characteristic absorption bands were characteristic absorption bands at 2922
exhibited at 2926 cm-1, (for C-H cm-1, 2850 cm-1, (for C-H stretching),
stretching), and 1452 cm-1 for C-H group 1377 cm-1 and 1450 cm-1 ( for C-H
and at 1726 cm-1 for carbonyl group bending) for C-H group and at 1724 cm-1
(C=O). for carbonyl group (C=O). The band at
1064 cm-1 is due to OH group.
Ethyl acetate (EA) extract
Methanol (ME) extract
The EA extract showed the characteristic
absorption bands at 2864 cm-1, 2927 cm-1, The ME extract of S. torvum showed
(for C-H stretching), 1450 cm-1 ( for C-H characteristic absorption bands at 3387
bending) for C-H group and at 1716 cm-1 cm-1 and 1056 cm-1 (C-O) for a hydroxyl
for carbonyl group (C=O). (-OH) group 2926 cm-1, 2860 cm-1 ( for C-
H stretching), 1381 cm-1 (for C-H
Methanol (ME) extract bending), 1701 cm-1 for carbonyl group
(C=O) and at 1614 cm-1 for C=C group.
The ME extract of P. maderaspatensis
showed characteristic absorption bands at Mueen Ahmed et al. (2005) showed that
3385 cm-1 and 1056 cm-1 (C-O) for a the leaves and latex of Calotropis gigantea
hydroxyl (-OH) group 2929 cm-1 ( for C- species were found to have cardiac
H stretching), 1384 cm-1 (for C-H glycosides. The cardiac glycosides were
bending), 1707 cm-1, for an carbonyl identified as calotropogenin and
group (C=O) and at 1622 cm-1 for C=C calotropin. Ramamurthy and Kannan
group. (2007) also confirmed that the leaf parts of
Caltrops gigantean species showed the
Sollanum torvum presence of cardiac glycosides such as
calotropogenin and calotropin besides
Petroleum ether (PE) extract: other organic compounds such as amino
acids, chlorophyll, amides, lignins,
PE extract of S. torvum exhibited a carbohydrates and starch pertaining to a
characteristic band at 1722 cm-1 healthy plant.
indicating the presence of a carbonyl
(C=O) group and at 2918 cm-1 and 2856 Kareru et al. (2008), carried the spectral
cm-1 (for C-H stretching) for C-H group. analysis for saponins in the crude dry
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powder of 11 plants and detected that hydrocarbons and halogens. Parag A

Albizia anthelmintica, Senna singueana, Pednekar and Bhanu Raman (2013)
Maytenus senegalensis, Senna analyzed the methanolic leaf extract of
didymomotrya, Terminalia brownii, and Ampelocissus latifolia by FTIR and
Prunus africana were likely to be reported that the transition metal carbonyl
bidesmosidic, oleanane-type triterpenoids, compounds and aliphatic fluoro
while those detected in Entada compounds were only present in the
leptostachya and Rapanea extract.
rhododendroides might be
monodesmosidic saponins. From the results obtained in the present
Muruganantham et al. (2009) carried out study, it could be concluded that the leaf
the FTIR and EDS spectral analysis of extracts (in different solvents) of
plant parts like leaf, stem, and root of the Phyllanthus amarus, Senna auriculata,
medicinal plants, Eclipta alba and Eclipta Phyllanthus maderaspatensis and Solanum
prostrate and reported the presence of torvum with their phytoconstituents may
characteristic functional groups of act as source of antibiotics. The various
carboxylic acids, amines, amides, sulphur functional groups observed in the different
derivatives, polysaccharides, nitrates, extracts probably indicate the presence of
chlorates, and carbohydrate that are carbohydrates, carotenoid, glycogen,
responsible for various medicinal amino acids, amides, starch, calotropin,
properties of both herbal plants. The calotropogenin, phosphates, lipids,
Eclipta alba contains a higher percentage glycogen and cellulose.
of useful elements like Na, Mg, K, Ca, Cu,
Zn, and Fe than Eclipta prostrata. In Among the functional groups observed in
addition, Eclipta prostrata contains more the extracts, OH group was found to be
of the toxic element Cd than Eclipta alba present uniformly only in the methanol
(Muruganantham et al., 2009). The FTIR extracts of all plants. As OH group has
analysis of methanolic and aqueous leaf got the ability of forming hydrogen
extracts of Bauhinia racemosa revealed bonding capacity, presence of OH group
the presence of protein, oil, fats, phenolic particularly in methanol extract of leaf of
compounds, flavonoids, saponins, tannins all the 4 plants probably indicates the
and carbohydrate as major functional higher potential of methanol extract
groups (Gaurav kumar et al. 2010). towards inhibitory activity against
microorganisms. Such a higher
Ragavendran et al. (2011) screened the antimicrobial activity of methanol extracts
functional groups of carboxylic acids, of leaf of all those four plants have been
amines, amides, sulphur derivatives, already demonstrated (Ashokkumar and
polysaccharides, organic hydrocarbons, Ramaswamy, 2013) together with low
halogens that are responsible for various IC50 value (Ashokkumar and
medicinal properties of Aerva lanata. Ramaswamy, 2013).
Thangarajan Starlin et al. (2012), while
analyzing the ethanolic extracts of Acknowledgement
Ichnocarpus frutescens, by FTIR, revealed
functional group components of amino The authors are thankful to the Chancellor,
acids, amides, amines, carboxylic acid, JMD, Chief Executive Officer, Vice
carbonyl compounds, organic Chancellor and Registrar of Karpagam

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University, Coimbatore for providing (Asclepediaceae). A comprehensive

laboratory facilities and encouragement to review. Pharmacognosy Magazine.
do this research work. 1(2): 48 52.
Muruganantham, S., Anbalagan, G., and
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