VII.

FINDINGS OF THE STUDY

The purpose of the study was to extract flavonoid compounds from the seeds

of Artocarpus heterophyllus. The second objective of the researchers was to

determine the presence of flavonoids in the extract. Lastly, the researchers check the

possible solvents that can be used for extraction of flavonoids. The researchers

performed three tests to determine the presence of flavonoid compounds in the

extract. These tests are Shinodas test, Alkaline Reagent test, and Ferric chloride test.

As stated in the review of related literature, the tests conducted by the researchers will

qualitatively identify the presence of flavonoid from the extract.

Shinoda Test Results

The Shinoda test showed negative results for all of the solvent used. Shinoda

test is a test for the presence of flavones. If flavones are present in the extract, then

flavones are reduced to anthocyanidins under the Shinoda reaction conditions. The

conjugation in flavonoid compounds produces a yellow color, while the extended

conjugation in the resultant anthocyanidin shifts the color further out to the red region

of the visible spectrum. The Shinoda reaction condition is shown below as a reference

of the reduction of flavones to anthocynidin during the test.

The researchers noticed no color red formation after performing the Shinoda test, thus

ruling the result as negative of flavones. This test is limited to determining the

presence of flavones in the extract. The following pictures will show the actual results

of the Shinoda test.

Figure 1. Shinoda Test Results (Left to right: Methanol, Ethanol, Distilled Water)

Alkaline Reagent Test results

The second test performed by the researchers showed positive results for the

presence of flavonoid. All of the solvents used showed the same result. This test

though is not a test for a specific flavonoid compound. Flavonoids being tested in

extract contain polyphenolic molecules which are weakly acidic. When phenol is

reacted with aqueous NaOH, it gives a colorless solution which contains sodium

phenoxide. Since aqueous solution of NaOH is strongly alkaline, sodium cation is

attracted by the oxygen of phenoxide ion.

After performing the test, all of the test showed positive result. Yet the color

of the extract after performing the test varied. The extract with the solvent methanol

showed a yellow result. The shade of yellow of this result was not as bright as the

yellow produced by the extract which utilized the solvent ethanol. For the extract

which used distilled water as solvent, the color of the extract after the test was coffee-

color. The photos below will summarize the variations of color of the results of

Alkaline Reagent Test.

 Figure 2. Alkaline Reagent Test Results (Left to right: Methanol, Ethanol, Distilled

Water)

Ferric Chloride test Results

Ferric Chloride test was the last test performed by the researchers. The results of the

test were also positive. After performing the test, instantaneously definite shade of

yellow color was produced. But minutes after, the yellow color of the extract was not

visible anymore. According to Sharma etal (2008), the yellow color of the solution in

this test is not permanent bur transient only. The photos below will show the yellow

shade of the resulting liquid after the test.

Figure 5. Ferric Chloride Test (Left to right: Methanol, Ethanol, Distilled Water
The table below summarizes the results of the tests performed. The result with a

positive (+) sign shows that the test performed detected the presence of flavonoid

compounds in the extract. A negative (-) sign in the result means that the test

performed cannot detect flavonoid compounds. Table 1 summarizes the test results of

the tests that the researchers performed.

Table 1. Determination of flavonoid compounds

Methanolic Ethanolic Distilled

Extract Extract Water Extract
Shinoda's Test
Trial 1 - - -
Trial 2 - - -
Trial 3 - - -
Alkali Reagent Test
Trial 1 + + +
Trial 2 + + +
Trial 3 + + +
Ferric Chloride Test
Trial 1 + + +
Trial 2 + + +
Trial 3 + + +