title: Direct detection of saponins in crude extracts of soapnuts by FTIR.
abstract: Direct detection of saponins in soapnuts (Sapindus mukorossi) using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is investigated in this project. Potassium bromide powder was mixed with extracted powder of soapnuts and compressed to a thin pellet for examination process. The outcome of the FTIR spectra of saponin demonstrated characteristic triterpenoid saponin absorptions of OH, C = O, C-H, and C = C, while the glycoside linkages to the sapogenins were indicated by the absorptions of C-O. The significance of this study is that saponin absorption peaks are directly detectable in crude aqueous and 95% ethanol extracts of soapnuts powder using FTIR spectroscopy, thereby eliminating the need of further expensive and exhaustive purification steps. The extracts of soapnuts were screened for saponins along with controls by phytochemical tests, and advanced spectroscopic techniques such as ultra fast liquid chromatography and ultra performance liquid chromatography quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry were also implemented to validate the saponins.
authors.affiliation: a School of Civil Engineering & Surveying, University of Portsmouth , Portland Building, Portland Street, Portsmouth PO1 3AH , UK.
authors.forename: Meshari Saad
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Almutairi
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ali
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry*; D032127:Sapindus / Q000737:chemistry*; D012503:Saponins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D012503:Saponins
keywords: FTIR; extraction; phytochemical; saponin; soapnuts