Phytochemical investigations of salacia macrophylla / Mohammad Shah Rizal Ahmad Shahari Budin

Salacia macrophylla or Ajisamat, is a plant that is used traditionally by aborigines and rural malays for wellness, enhancing stamina and ergogenic effect. However, there is no study regarding the phytochemistry of Salacia macrophylla and that's why this plant was a good candidate for this research. Methods were developed in order to identify the chemical constituents of the plant. Firstly, fractionation of ethyl acetate extract of the root of the plant was done by column chromatography. Then, detection of compounds of different fraction was done using UV light at 254 nm and 365 nm and spraying with anisaldehyde. Out of eight fractions, fraction number 8 was chosen for purification due to the presence of a major compound. Isolation and purification was done using preparative TLC technique. The purified compound was then sent for NMR analysis consisting of 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and 20 techniques. However, the data obtain was not helpful for us to elucidate an exact structure of the compound. We can only give a tentative structure of the compound. Further analysis need to be done in order to elucidate the structure of the purified compound.