DOI: https://doi.org/10.55373/mjchem.v27i6.136

Keywords: Daemonorops draco; antioxidant; free radical; DPPH; phenolic

Abstract

The growing demand for safer antioxidants has led to increasing interest in plant-derived bioactive compounds. Daemonorops draco (Willd.) Blume, locally known as Jernang in Indonesian, or Dragon’s blood, is a resin-producing fruit traditionally used in medicine and industry, yet its solvent-dependent antioxidant potential and chemical basis remain poorly characterised. This study established a systematic correlation between the solvent polarity, phenolic content, and antioxidant efficacy of D. draco resin extracts. Jernang resin extracts were obtained through sequential maceration using solvents of increasing polarity: n-hexane (hex), dichloromethane (DCM), and methanol (MeOH). The secondary metabolites of phenolic, flavonoid, tannin, and terpenoid groups were confirmed to be present in all extracts through phytochemical screening and FTIR analysis, with alkaloids detected only in the DCM fraction. The total phenolic content (TPC) was highest in the DCM extract followed by MeOH and hex, estimated at 532.9 ± 85.85 mg GAE/g, 462 ± 98.80 mg GAE/g, and 152.3 ± 135.2 mg GAE/g, respectively. Antioxidant activity, measured by DPPH radical scavenging assay, revealed a concentration-dependent inhibition with IC50 values of 2.94 ppm, 3.58 ppm, and 26.42 ppm for the DCM, MeOH, and hex extracts, respectively, compared to standard vitamin C (IC₅₀ = 0.85 ppm). GCMS profiling identified key bioactive constituents, including methoxylated flavonoids, chalcones, dracorhodin, and other semi-polar antioxidants. A strong negative correlation (r = –0.989) between TPC and IC₅₀ further supported the role of phenolic compounds in driving antioxidant activity. These results highlight DCM as the most effective solvent for extracting potent antioxidant compounds from D. draco resin, underscoring its potential as a valuable source for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical development. This work extends previous research by elucidating the solvent, composition, and activity relationships of D. draco resin.