The Essential Oils Constituent of Etlingera flexuosa (Zingiberaceae), An Endemic Plant from Central Sulawesi

Abstract

Introduction:The essential oils from rhizomes, pseudostems, and leaves of Etlingera flexuosa, an endemic ginger species of Sulawesi, were studied. Methods: The essential oils were extracted using solvent extraction and hydrodistillation methods and analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results: The percentage yield of volatile compounds obtained from solvent extraction method was higher than hydrodistillation. By solvent extraction, sesquiterpenes were found abundantly in rhizomes, pseudostems, and leaves with the percentage of 34.16%, 35.20% and 32.70%, respectively. The rhizome and pseudostems were found to contain spathulanol with the high percentage of 3.91% and 3.46%. Meanwhile, by hydrodistillation, the compounds were dominated by fatty acid compunds with the percentage of 82.26%, 82.79% and 76.1% on rhizome, pseudostems and leaves. Glycerol tricaprylate has the high percentage of 66.76% and 82.12% on rhizome and pseudostems, while in leaves, fatty acids 1,2,3-propanetriyl ester-decanoic acid was the highest with the percentage of 61.81%. Sesquiterpenes was the second with the percentage of 10.36%, 11.15%, and 11.61% in rhizomes, pseudostems, and leaves, respectively. Conclusion: The most essential oils of E. flexuosa was obtained from the solvent extraction method.

Immunomodulatory and Acute Toxicity Tests of Rhizome Ethanol Extract of Etlingera Flexuosa Poulsen (Zingiberaceae) on Male Mice (Mus Musculus)

“…The rhizomes of the E. flexuosa plant were used in this experiment because it has been utilized empirically in medicine purpose. Besides, the rhizome contains secondary metabolites which are suspected to be immunomodulatory such as flavonoids and alkaloid compounds, both of which have immunomodulatory activity 11,8 and volatile compounds sesquiterpenes 12 .…”

“…Besides, E. flexuosa contains the essential oils such as ; monoterpenes, Diterpenes, triterpenes and sesquiterpenes. Pitopang et al 12 reported 76 and 39 essential oil compounds were analyzed using GC-Mass Spectrophotometer by extraction and hydro distillation method respectively. Essential oils (EOs) are a mixture of natural, volatile, and aromatic compounds obtained from plants that can be utilized as immunomodulatory activity 34,35 .…”

“…Conclusively, the extract of E. flexuosa could be used as inhibiting agent for the growth of Candida albicans yeast has ability can be used as antifungal 12 , antibacterial 13 . Besides, the ethanol extracts of the leaves, pseudostems, and rhizomes parts of the species has antiviral activity of HIV-infected MT-4 cells 14 .…”