Preliminary characterization of Methanolic and Ethanolic extract of banana (Musa acuminata x balbisiana Calla cv. Awak) leaves

Bananas are one of the world oldest crops belonging to the family Musaceae. Almost all parts of banana plants have medicinal application. Banana fruits are rich in potassium and fibers whereas the flowers are edible and often used to treat diabetes and anemia. This study was conducted to quantify the methanolic and ethanolic extract of Musa acuminata x balbisiana Colla cv. Awak leaves and to discover the chemical constituents of Musa acuminata x balbisiana Colla cv. Awak leaves through GC-MS analysis. The banana leaves was extracted by using two different solvents which are methanol and ethanol through Soxhlet extraction method. The extracts were analyzed by using several phytochemical tests and FTIR and GC-MS analysis. The result of this study shows methanolic extract has higher yield compared to ethanolic extract. The yield percentage of methanolic extract is 32.39% and ethanolic extract is 21.04%. Methanol extracted most of the phytochemical compounds namely saponins, flavonoids, steroids, alkaloids and terpenoids. Ethanol only extracts flavonoids and steroids. The presences of the phytochemical compounds are supported by FTIR and GC-MS analysis. In GC-MS analysis, 52 dissimilar compounds were recognized in which 34 compounds from methanolic extract and 18 compounds from ethanolic extract. In methanolic extract, the highest peak is at the minutes of 12.899 which belongs to cyclopentasiloxane, decamethyl compound. Whereas, the highest peak in ethanolic extract is at the minutes of 12.904 which belongs to cyclopentasiloxane, decamethyl compound.