Quantification of Four Phytochemical Parameters of Imperata cylindrica Leaves to Promote Its Use as A Medicinal Plant

Introduction: The benefits of Imperata cylindrica (I. cylindrica) leaves and their relationship to the content of phytochemical compounds have been widely studied. The aim of this study was to promote I. cylindrica leaves from Kertajati Subdistrict in Majalengka Regency in their use as a medicinal plant based on the four parameters, namely the content of total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, total tannin content, and antioxidant activity. The four parameters that become the basis for the benefits of the leaves were compared with the four parameters of the roots. Methods: Quantification of total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, total tannin content, and antioxidant activity used Folin-Ciocalteu, aluminium chloride, Fe(III) chloride and 1.10-Phenanthroline, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-pikrilhidrazil (DPPH) methods, respectively. All methods used visible spectrophotometric method. Results: The percentages of total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, total tannin content, and IC50 of antioxidant activity of I. cylindrica leaves extract were 9% (GAE), 2.1% (QE), 5.6% (TAE), and 100.5 ppm, respectively. Then, the percentages of I. cylindrica roots extract showed the percentages of total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, total tannin content, and IC50 of antioxidant activity were 5.8% (GAE), 0.64% (QE), 3% (TAE), and 241 ppm, respectively. Conclusion: The extract of I. cylindrica leaves contained the phenolic compound, namely flavonoids, tannins and other phenolic compounds, and had antioxidant activity. All parameters have been reported to have positive effect on health. Therefore, the leaves of I. cylindrica from Kertajati Subdistrict are discovered to have effects on health which are suitable to be promoted as a medicinal plant.