Isolation of Bioactive Compounds of Flavonoid Group from Sumatran Frankincense (Styrax benzoin) Which Have Potential as Raw Material for Medicine
Manihar Situmorang1, Ruth Jessika Sinaga1, Isnaini Nurwahyuni2, Hendra Simanjuntak3, Marudut Sinaga1, Bajoka Nainggolan1 and Abd Hakim3

1) Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Medan, Medan, North Sumatera, INDONESIA, 20221
2) Departement of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Jl. Bioteknologi No.1 Padang Bulan, Medan, North Sumatera, INDONESIA, 20155
3) departmen of Chemistry, Universitas HKBP Nommensen Pematangsiantar, Jl. Sangnawaluh no 4 Pematang Siantar North Sumatera, INDONESIA, 78383
4) Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Medan, Medan, North Sumatera, INDONESIA, 20221

Abstract

Abstract: The Flavonoid group as natural polyphenolic compounds produced by plants that have medicinal properties needs to be explored. Sumatran Frankincense (Styrax benzoin) is known as a plant that produces incense resin which contains bioactive medicinal compounds which have been used in various traditional and modern medicines. The bioactive compounds of medicinal raw materials from Sumatran forest plants need to be revealed to increase the economic value of non-timber forests in Indonesia. The research problem is that the composition of the flavonoids contained in the frankincense sap is not yet known, resulting in the selling price of the frankincense sap being relatively low compared to its chemical compound content. The research aims to isolate flavonoid compounds from Frankincense resin as a strategy to confirm the potential of Sumatran Frankincense as a source of bioactive medicinal raw materials. The research stages include isolating, identifying and confirming flavonoid compounds with medicinal potential from the sap of Sumatran Frankincense. Flavonoid bioactive compounds have been successfully isolated from frankincense sap, which is a chemical compound in the form of a yellowish-white crystalline powder, accompanied by an aromatic odor. The chemical properties of one of the identified flavonoid compounds are soluble in alcohol solvents, soluble in hot water, and difficult to dissolve in cold water. while the physical properties have a boiling point of 285 oC and a melting point of 81 oC. Qualitative analysis confirmed the presence of flavonoids from the benzoin resin isolate. Screening using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy resulted in flavonoids suspected to be vanillin compounds. Testing of frankincense isolates using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy indicated that the functional groups of the flavonoid group were aldehydes, hydroxyls, and ethers as vanillin compounds. Vanillin compounds have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Further studies are still being carried out to reveal various types of flavonoid chemical compounds contained in frankincense sap to be used as raw materials for medicine.

Keywords: Flavonoid- Sumatran Frankincense- Styrax benzoin- Bioactive compounds- Medicinal raw materials

Topic: Sciences, Engineering and Material Science