Second metabolites from Musa paradisiaca blossoms extracts and their biological activities / Aina Zalikha Zulkipi

Musa paradisiaca, locally known as "Pisang sekaki", belongs to the Musa family. Previous research revealed many ethnomedical uses for the Musa paradisiaca blossoms. However, due to a lack of exposure and knowledge, the blossoms are only used as organic fertilisers on the plantation and are not used for medicinal benefits. There needs to be more research on Musaceae species, particularly Musa paradisiaca blossoms, in biological and chemical evaluations. As such, this study aims to establish the chemical and biological activities of M. paradisiaca blossom from Sarawak to prove the medicinal claims of the old folks. The isolation and identification of the chemical compounds of M. paradisiaca blossoms extract were carried out based on various chromatographic and spectroscopic methods. Then, the pure compound will determine its structure using spectroscopic techniques: Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometry (NMR), and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). In addition, the antioxidant assay of the pure compound isolated from M. paradisiaca blossoms was performed by using radical scavenging assay 2,2-diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and the results exhibited strong activity with 0.376 µg mL¯¹. The antimicrobial activity of the pure compound exhibited strong activities with MIC and MBC values against four bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus (SA), Streptococcus pyogenes (SP), Escherichia coli (EC), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) which ranged from 225 to 450 µg/mL. Meanwhile, anticancer activity, which was performed by using an MTT assay, showed that the ethyl acetate pure compound of M. paradisiaca was reported to be selectively cytotoxic in vitro to DU-145, HeLa, and HaCat cell lines, with IC₅₀ values of 1170 µg/mL, 1040 µg/mL, and 1270 µg/mL, respectively. Yet, compared to fluorouracil, a positive control chemotherapeutic medication, to pure compound was more potent than fluorouracil, a positive control chemotherapeutic medication the pure blossoms compound had stronger action. The data from this finding provides further knowledge to the local community and serve as new scientific evidence for further drug development. Furthermore, the data acquired will aid in increasing the crop's commercialisation values, enhancing farmers' income and the future development of the technology-based agro-food sector, and indirectly contributing to the country's economic growth.