FTIR analysis of acetaminophen on dried Aquilaria malaccencis leaves: article / Nor Syaira Kamarulzaman

Aquilaria malaccencis leaves is a traditional herbal that has been long used for medicinal remedies. Its various health benefits have also been the main focus on many researches. Acetaminophen is a synthetic drug often used to treat fever and other illness and this compound can be found in Aquilaria malaccencis leaves. Currently, there are still lack of studies conducted on the presence of acetaminophen in A. malaccencis leaves. Meanwhile, vacuum far-infrared drying (VFIR) has been found to increase drying time and product quality in preservation of food and agricultural products. There are still little studies conducted on the effect of VFIR on Aquilaria malaccencis leaves. A study to determine the presence of acetaminophen was conducted by drying the leaves using VFIR dryer at temperature of 30°C, 40°C, 50°C, 60°C and 70°C. The dried leaves were extracted using hydrodistillation method. The presence of acetaminophen in the extracted sample is determined by using Fourier-transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy. FTIR has been widely used for characterisation of a compounds due to its relatively simple and it allows investigation of functional groups, bonding types, and molecular conformations; hence, providing molecular-level information. A peak from the spectral data was identified at 1640 cm-1 region for all three of the dried extracted sample. An extraction of fresh leaves of A. malaccencis leaves were carried out and analysed with FTIR in order to compare it with the extraction of dried A. malaccencis leaves. Two additional peaks can be observed and identified at 1498 cm-1 and 1542 cm-1 region. The infrared bands that can be identified from the spectral data belonging in the spectrum of acetaminophen are carbonyl vibration, NH bending and C-NH bending. This shows that there was presence of acetaminophen in Aquilaria malaccencis leaves.