Abstract:
Direct detection of saponins in medicinal plants using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is
reported in this paper. Crude dry plant powders were mixed with potassium bromide (KBr) powder and
compressed to a thin pellet for infrared examination. FTIR spectra of the test samples showed –OH, -C=O, C-H, and
C=C absorptions characteristic of oleanane triterpenoid saponins. The C-O-C absorptions indicated glycoside
linkages to the sapogenins. Phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of saponins in the tested specimens.
Entada leptostachya was used as a reference sample. Dry plant powder was extracted sequentially with hexane,
dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and methanol. FTIR spectra of the reference sample powder and its organic solvent
extracts showed characteristic saponin absorption peaks. These results indicated that direct detection of saponins in
medicinal plants was possible by infrared analysis. Lengthy exhaustive chemical analyses necessary for detection of
saponins could be avoided.
