A Brief Experiment on Separation of Quercetin flavonoid from combination of different parts of Red Mangrove Plant

Abstract

Medicinal plants represent an invaluable natural resource in the prevention and treatment of long-standing and chronic disorders. Across different regions of the world, various medicinal plants are often employed to address the same health condition, and the preference for a particular plant is generally guided by cultural practices, ecological availability, and the prevalence of the disease in that locality. Rhizophora apiculata, a well-known Indian mangrove species belonging to the family Rhizophoraceae, is predominantly distributed in the coastal and estuarine zones where saline conditions favor its growth. This mangrove possesses a remarkably diverse profile of phytochemical constituents, which contribute to its wide spectrum of pharmacological and biological properties, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities. In the present investigation, the flavonoid quercetin was targeted for extraction by utilizing multiple parts of the plant, specifically the root, stem, and leaf, in order to maximize phytochemical recovery. The extraction methodology was further subjected to optimization, where different physicochemical parameters—such as solvent concentration, pH, particle size, and extraction duration—were systematically evaluated to determine their influence on the final yield of quercetin. The ideal way to extract quercetin from this plant mix was found to be using methanol as the solvent at 80% strength, keeping the extraction for 24 hrs at pH-6, and grinding the material to 100 mesh size. As a result, the quercetin amount in this extract was measured to be 40 µg/ml.