Chemistry Profile and Biological Activity of Campnosperma auriculatum Extracts

As our ongoing investigation for bioactive natural products from tropical plant, we performed preliminary study on one of important tropical plants in West Kalimantan, Terentang putih, Campnosperma auriculatum. The aims were to determine effective solvent used for extraction, chemistry profile, total phenolic content, free-radical scavenging, cytotoxicity, and anti-termite activities of leaves, stems, and roots extracts of C. auriculatum. Variation of solvent for extraction was selected based on its polarisation, namely, ethanol, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane. The effectiveness of solvent was determined by observing the rendemen of each extract, where amount of sample and solvent volume, duration of extraction, temperature, and maceration technique were controled. Determination of total phenolic content was performed using Folin-Ciocalteu method. IC50 value for free-radical scavenging activity was calculated by plotting standard concentration and absorption data observed through DPPH method. Cytotoxicity evaluation was performed to each ethanolic extract against 4T1 cancer cell line using MTT assay. Anti-termite activity was conducted against Coptotermes curvignathus by calculating percentage of termite mortality and paper weight loss. This research showed that ethanol solvent was the most effective extraction solvent giving the highest yield in each part of plant. Phytochemically, all extracts showed that they contain phenolics and alkaloids. Ethanolic extract of stems showed the highest total phenolic content with 737.6 ± 0.56 ppm (GAE) and the most active as free-radical scavenger with IC50 value of 135.51 ± 0.91 ppm. Meanwhile, the roots extract exhibited pronounce cytotoxicity toward 4T1 cancer cell line with IC50 value of 1.55 ± 3.29 µg/ml and high selectivity index. Furthermore, the roots extract displayed most active as anti-termite as well as antifeedant. Hitherto, this study is the first report on phytochemistry and biological activity from leaves, stems, and roots of C. auriculatum. Moreover, this plant can be explored further for its potential on medicinal and agricultural industries.