Effect of solvent polarity on phytochemicals detected in synsepalum dulcificum leaves extracts/ Siti Mazleena Mohamed ... [et al.]

Prioritizing medicinal plants with fewer side effects is of utmost importance for the human population to address a wide range of disorders, in contrast to recently created allopathic medications. Synsepalum dulcificum, also called miracle fruit, has unique characteristics of modifying sour flavours to sweet. This study investigated the qualitative analysis of the phytochemicals of S. dulcificum. leaves. The leaves were extracted with three different polarities of solvents (petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, and methanol). The phytochemicals studied were tannins, saponins, phenolic derivatives, flavonoids, and terpenoids. The result shows that methanol extract indicated the presence of all phytochemicals studied. Meanwhile, the result indicated the absence of all phytochemicals studied for petroleum ether extract. For ethyl acetate extract, the result showed the presence of phenolic derivatives, flavonoids, and tannins and the absence of saponin and terpenoids. In conclusion, the methanolic extract of S. dulcificum. is a potential source of phytochemicals that may be used for further research in bioactivity.