Perbandingan Pelbagai Kaedah Pengekstrakan Air Labisia pumila var. alata

The water decoction of Labisia pumila var. alata is used traditionally in childbirth, as well as for the treatment offlatulence, dysentery, dysmenorrhoea and joint pains. This study was carried out to determine the best method and optimum parameters ofaqueous extraction ofthe leaves and roots ofthis species. The laboratory methods used were maceration, decoction, reflux and Soxhlet, whereas the parameters studied were temperature, duration and pH of extraction. The yields and thin layer chromatographic profiles of the freeze dried extracts were analysed. The study showed that in general the percentage yields ofthe water soluble extracts were higher for the roots than the leaves, as well as the extracts obtained from heating than those obtained at room temperature. The most effective extraction paramete rs for L. pumila var. alata were as follows: maceration (25°C, at least 6 hr), decoction (60°C, not exceeding 10 min) and reflux (100°C, not exceeding 4 hr). Soxhlet method was found to be the least effective. The pH analysis had shown the possibility ofdegradation ofsome ofthe phytochemicals at extreme pH values of 1, 2 and 14.