The effect of using different types of solvent towards the quality of Piper betel crude extract / Nur Farah Izzati Zikri

Piper betel or widely known as Daun Sireh has been widely used traditionally to treat various disease since ancient time. Its therapeutic properties such as antibacterial, anti- inflammatory and antioxidant activities was believed to be contributed by its bioactive compounds. The extracting solvent is crucial to extract its bioactive compound which contribute to its therapeutic activities. The effects of various solvents on the antioxidant and antibacterial activity of Piper Betel leaf extract have not been well studied. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the effect of using different types of solvents (acetone, n-hexane, ethyl acetate) towards the percentage of extraction yield and the amount of Gallic acid in Piper betel leaf crude extract. The extraction of Piper betel leaf was done by using Soxhlet extraction technique and the determination and quantification of Gallic acid was implemented by using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The result showed that the percentage of extraction yield was ranging from 1% - 58 %. The highest percentage extraction yield was exhibited by ethyl acetate with the value of 58%. Furthermore, all extracts showed the presence of Gallic acid with the range of 40.89ppm-58.85ppm. The highest value of Gallic acid was exhibited by the extraction using n-hexane as a solvent which is 58.85ppm. However, taking into consideration on the safety and environmental aspects, the extraction of Piper betel leaf using acetone was chosen as the best extracting solvents to extract Gallic acid and its extract has a potential to be developed as a future herbal-based products. In a nutshell, the extracting solvents which are acetone, n-hexane and ethyl acetate gives a significant effect on the percentages of extraction yield and the amount of Gallic acid presence in the Piper betel leaf crude extract.