Phytochemical Screening, Toxicity Activity and Antioxidant Capacity of Ethanolic Extract of Etlingera alba Rhizome.

Background and Objective: Etlingera alba (Blume) A.D. Poulsen is one of the plants of the genus Etlingera which is commonly found in Southeast Sulawesi. The research is still lacking, thus, we assumed other species related to E. alba, specifically from the genus Etlingera that provides antioxidant and radical scavenging activity, namely Etlingera elatior (Jack) R.M. Smith. Thus, this study aimed to assess the antioxidant and toxicity activity as well as its secondary metabolites. Materials and Methods: Etlingera alba rhizome was extracted with 96% ethanol. The radical scavenging activity was assayed with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and antioxidant activity was assayed with 2,2'-azino-bis-[3-ethylbenzothiazoline sulphonate (ABTS) assay for radical cation decolourization in vitro. Both Ascorbic Acid (AA) and Trolox were used as positive control. The secondary metabolites were identified by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and LSMS/MS analyzed the difference between compounds. According to results performed with TLC and LCMS/MS. Results: The extract exhibited antioxidant properties using both DPPH and ABTS method. The LC50 of the extract was 608.42±18.31 mg L1. Etlingera alba rhizome extract contains alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids and steroids. The compounds detected in the extract were E-p-Coumaric acid aschantin, 2-Methoxyanofinic acid, Chavicol-β-D-glucoside, Myristicanol B, ent-16α,17-Hydroxy-19-kaurenoic acid, 5-Hydroxy-7,8,2'-trimethoxyflavone, Methyl ursolate and Spinasterol. Conclusion: Etlingera alba rhizome contains several compounds that might be responsible for antioxidant activity and the extract itself classified as medium toxic.