OPTIMATION OF ETHANOL CONCENTRATION IN EXTRACTION OF EUGENOL FROM GALANGAL RHIZOME

   Objective: The main objective of this study was to determine the optimal ethanol concentration as solvent for extracting eugenol from galangal.Methods: Galangal rhizome extraction was conducted with kinetic maceration at 50°C with various ethanol concentration as solvent (0%, 30%, 50%, 70%, and 96%). A 1:10 ratio of rhizome and ethanol was applied. The extract was obtained, then its eugenol concentration was analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively by thin-layer chromatography-densitometer with n-hexane:ethyl acetate (4:1) by using mobile phase and silica gel 60 F254 as stationary phase and applying a wavelength of 283 nm.Results: The result of qualitative analysis showed that extract of 70% and 96% ethanol had a spot with Rf value 0.63, which was equal to the Rf value of standard eugenol. Standard curve equation for the 70% ethanol extract was y=89318x+656.07 (r=0.9993) and for the 96% ethanol extract was y=8658x+1743 (r=0.9999). The result of the quantitative analysis showed that the 70% and 96% ethanol extract contained 4.85% and 4.79% eugenol, respectively.Conclusion: Extraction of galangal rhizome in 70% and 96% ethanol was positively containing eugenol. Highest eugenol concentration (4.85%) was obtained from galangal rhizome extraction in 70% ethanol