GC-MS Analysis of Active and Applicable Compounds in Methanol Extract of Sweet Star Fruit (Averrhoa carambola L.) Leaves

GC-MS Analysis of Active and Applicable Compounds in Methanol Extract of Sweet Star Fruit (Averrhoa carambola L.) LeavesNi Putu Adriani Astiti1, 2*, Yan Ramona1, 31School of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Science, Udayana University, Badung, Bali, Indonesia2Integrated Laboratory of Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics and Sciences, Udayana University, Badung, Bali, Indonesia3Integrated Laboratory of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Udayana University, Badung, Bali, Indonesia1. IntroductionSweet star fruits plants are fruiting all seasons for the whole year. The fruits of this plants contain high level of vitamin A and C and have potential as antioxidant properties. Leaves and fruits of this plant have been used emphirically to cure various diseases, such as skin diseases, worm infestations, diarrhea, vomiting, hemorrhoids, or intermittent fever. These were extensively reviewed by Dasgupta et al. (2013) and Muthu et al. (2016). In Bali, such plant leaves have also been used as raw material for lawar (a traditional Balinese food) making. Such traditional food is commonly served in any Balinese ceremonial evets, such as temple festivals or weding ceremony (Astiti et al. 2019).Herbal medicines developed worldwide have also been conducted by exploiting potential plant components. This indicates that people tend to be back to nature to achieve optimal healthiness or to cope with various diseases naturally. Radical-induced oxidative stress has been recognized to stimulate various degenerative related diseases, such as cancer, coronary heart attack or early aging (Phaniendra et al. 2014). Human body frequently needs additional antioxidant to fulfil the body need, and this can often be obtained from plant materials (Ping Xu et al. 2016). Chau et al. (2004) as reviewed by Saghir et al. (2013) found that insulable fiber-rich fractions of pomace of A. corembola effectively increase glucose absorption, retard glucose diffusion, delay the release of glucose from starch, and inhibit the activity of ?-amylase to different extents. These results in a decreased glucose level in blood of animals used in their experiment. In other words, the compounds of such plant have hypoglycemic effect on the animals.In our body, metabolic pathways of complex molecules often produce molecules with unpaired electron on their outermost orbit that make them very reactive. These molecules are known as free radicals (Phaniendra et al.2014). Such molecules tend to initiate chain reactions within human body and cause damages continuously (Butnariu and Samfira 2012). These free radicals have been reported to have adverse effect in many biological complex molecules, such as protein, lipid, as well as ABSTRACTThe leaves of star fruit plants (Averrhoa carambola) have been traditionally used to cure many diseases, such as hypertension and fever. Besides, the leaves of this plant have also widely been used as the main raw material in lawar (a Balinese traditional food) making. In this research, the methanol extract of this plant leaves was analyzed and identified for active compound contents. The main objective of this research was to investigate types of possible active and applicable compounds contained in such leaves, previously extracted/macerated in methanol solution. Analysis was conducted by applying GC-MS instrumentation using methanol solution. The results showed that 10 possible active and applicable compounds (Butane, 1,1-diethoxy-3 methyl-(CAS)1.1-DII, Dodecanoic acid, methyk ester(CAS) methyl, Dodecanoic acid, methyl ester (CAS) Ethyl Laun, Pentadecanoic acid ethyl ester, Hexadecanoic acid methyl ester (CAS) Methyl pa, OCTADECA 9.12 DIENOIC ACID METHYL, 9-Octadecenoic acid methyl ester (E)-(CAS), Octadecanoic acid methyl ester, and (E) 9-Octadecanoic acid ethyl ester) were identified in methanol extract of such leaves. Among those compounds, Butane, 1,1-diethoxy-3-methyl and Hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester was two most abundance constituents with percentage of peak areas of 35.67% and 26.93%, respectively