CHALCONE CONTENT IN THE ETHANOL EXTRACT OF Angelica keiskei LEAVES BY SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC METHOD

Abstract

Angelica keiskei Koidzumi, known as ashitaba or Japanese celery, has been the focus of interest in Asia. This
plant has been reported to possess antituberculosis activity against Mtb H37Rv and antioxidant activity equals to
vitamin E. It was predicted that those activities were caused by the plant’s secondary metabolites, e.g.
flavonoids and polyphenols. Xanthoangelol (XAG) and 4-hydroxyderricin (4-HD), two chalcones or
chalconoids (flavonoids with an open C-ring), are contained in the stems of A. keiskei. This work was aimed to
determine the chalcone level, calculated as XAG, in the leaves of A. keiskei planted in Mount Rinjani, Lombok
island, Indonesia. The plant was taxonomically identified at Herbarium Bandungense, Bandung Institute of
Technology, Indonesia. The leaves were extracted using ethanol 70% and were screened for its phytochemical
contents. The determination of the chalcones was carried out by employing standard addition UV
spectrophotometric method. Results indicated that phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins and saponins were
contained in both the dried leaves and the leaves extract. The chalcones, calculated as XAG, were 1.959% w/w.