Preliminary studies on the analysis of fatty acids, essential oils and flavonoids in Acalypha indica L.

R. Suri*, H. Abu Bakar*, A. Noor Rehan*, O. Rosnah* and A. Normah*

Abstract

The fatty acids and volatile oil in ‘kucing galak’ (Acalypha indica) plant were analysed using GCMS whereas flavonoids were identified using HPLC. Whole plant was extracted and fractionated using column chromatography using methanol. Among the fatty acids found in the 12th fraction were eicosatrienoic acid methyl ester (35.47 ± 2.40%), hexatriacontane (9.56 ± 0.71%), 2,6,10 trimethyl undecatriene (8.69 ± 0.59%) and trifluoroacetic acid, n-heptadecyl ester (8.92 ± 0.52%). Volatile essential oil was extracted using the modified Licken and Nickerson apparatus. The highest volatile component was phytol (38.85%). Among the flavonoids identified in A. indica leaf were naringin, quercitrin, hesperitin dan kaempferol. The highest flavonoid compound was naringin, which accounted for 234.21 ± 24.5 μg/g dwt. According to literature, most of the identified components in A. indica plant have their own medicinal properties.

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