Determination of acetaminophen compound from aquilaria sp. leaves by hydrodistillation and its antimicrobial activity on e. coli / Siti Khairun Nissa' Afiffudden

Aquilaria sp. is known for its valuable agarwood. Determination of acetaminophen compound from Aquilaria leaves would increases the potential of an alternative drug to replace the synthetic drugs as the leaves become waste although the trees rich in medicinal benefits. Aquilaria malaccencis, Aquilaria subintegra and Aquilaria crassna were chosen as the subject. The objectives of this study are to study the chemical structure in the leaves extract of each species by using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR.) and to determine highest acetaminophen compound within a range of drying temperature (30, 40, 50, 60, 70 °C) through hydrodistiUation in the leaves by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Besides that, the antimicrobial activity of acetaminophen extracted towards E.coli is also being studied. In the characterization study, the similar compounds found in both synthetic acetaminophen and in the leaves extract. Drying at 60 °C promotes the highest extraction of acetaminophen for each three species. Meanwhile, the highest acetaminophen extracted were from Aquilaria crassna leaves with 81.36 ug/g of acetaminophen whereas 44.15 and 24.64 ug/g were extracted from Aquilaria subintegra and Aquilaria malaccencis respectively. The leaves extract with the highest acetaminophen concentration for each species involved in antimicrobial activity. Aquilaria crassna leaves extract showed a significant inhibition by agar spreading method at dilution of 109 cfu/mL. The numbers of colonies significantly reduced to 81 cfu/mL. Therefore, all three species of Aquilaria leaves extract contained acetaminophen compound, which deliberately may contribute to antipyretic activity and has inhibition effect in growth of E.coli.