Effect of Solvent Polarity on the Selective Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Piper betle Leaves and Piper nigrum Seeds

A.P. Arunmathi; T. Sree Devi Kumari

doi:10.69980/redvet.v25i2.2160

A.P. Arunmathi
T. Sree Devi Kumari

DOI: https://doi.org/10.69980/redvet.v25i2.2160

Keywords: Solvent polarity, phytochemicals, phenolics, flavonoids, terpenes, Soxhlet extraction

Abstract

A comparative investigation was conducted to evaluate the phytochemical composition of Piper betle (betel) leaves and Piper nigrum (black pepper) seeds using solvents of varying polarity. Soxhlet extraction was performed with three solvent systems: hydroethanol (30% water: 70% ethanol), ethanol: hexane (30% ethanol: 70% hexane), and absolute methanol. The extracts were subjected to both qualitative phytochemical screening and quantitative estimation of total phenolic content (using the Folin–Ciocalteu method), flavonoid content (via the aluminium chloride assay), and terpene content (using the vanillin–sulphuric acid method). The qualitative analysis revealed the presence of phenols, flavonoids, and terpenes in all P. betle leaf extracts, regardless of the solvent system. In the case of P. nigrum seed extracts, hydroethanol and methanol successfully extracted all three phytochemicals, whereas the ethanol: hexane extract lacked detectable phenolic compounds. Quantitative results indicated that the hydroethanolic extract of P. betle (B1) exhibited the highest phenolic (787.08 ± 59.32 µg/mL) and flavonoid (576.04 ± 23.56 µg/mL) content. Conversely, the ethanol: hexane extract of P. nigrum yielded the highest terpene concentration (1027.69 ± 38.77 µg/mL).Overall, the study underscores the influence of both plant species and solvent polarity on phytochemical extraction efficiency. Piper betle leaf extracts, particularly those obtained with hydroethanol, were notably rich in phenolic and flavonoid compounds, while Piper nigrum seed extracts with ethanol: hexane exhibited enhanced terpene content.

Author Biographies

A.P. Arunmathi

Research Scholar, P.G and Research Department of Zoology, Vivekananda College, Agasteeswaram -629701. Affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, Tamilnadu, India.

T. Sree Devi Kumari

Assistant Professor, P.G and Research Department of Zoology, Vivekananda College, Agastheeeswaram-629701. Affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, Tamilnadu, India.

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