Phytochemical characterization and analysis of Coffea arabica

Tade, Shanon Lee; Boado, Patricia Anne L.; Garabiles, Sophia Francheska; Novencido, Ma.
Delfin L.; Ydeo, Revenne

Introduction

Coffee is one of the most popular and widely consumed beverages all around the world
due to its pleasant taste and aroma and also for its healthy benefits to the body. There are more
than 80 species of the genus Coffea L. known today and one of the most important species is
Coffea arabiaca, which accounts for about 75% of coffee production throughout the world
(Hamid et.al., 2017). Coffee consumption is associated with lower incidences of obesity and type
2 diabetes and has been observed in epidemiologic surveys that it comes with great benefits.
(Rajpathak et. al., 2006; Van Dam, 2002). Recent studies have also shown that coffee
consumption also lowers incidences of nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases (Molloy, 2012). There
are different and varied studies that have shown the therapeutic effects of coffee. Keeping in
view the significance of coffee, this paper aims to present the phytochemical analysis results of
Coffea arabica leaf extract.

Material and metods

Location/Site

The plant sample was collected at Brgy. Happy Homes, Magsaysay Ave., Baguio City.
The plant sample was dried and extracted at Saint Louis University. The phytochemical analysis
of Coffea arabicA was also conducted in the same University.

Preparation of Extract

The leaf of the plants sample was extracted in two methods: percolation and maceration.

A percolation set-up was made through grinding of the dried plant sample with mortar
and pestle then passing it through a sieve plate, moistened with alcohol for it to expand and left
for 15 minutes, then packed into the percolator and added about 100 mL of alcohol. The plant
sample was covered and left for 48 hours to macerate and was eft for another 24 hours in the
refrigerator. The extract was collected and concentrated to about 20-25 mL using a steam bath.

Another portion of the plant sample extract was collected through the maceration method.
The plant sample was grinded and was placed in an Erlenmeyer flask and poured 100 mL of
alcohol. The plant sample extract was covered and left for 48 hours before decanting and was left
for another 24 hours in the refrigerator. The extract was collected and concentrated to about
20-25 mL using a steam bath.

The 20-25 mL extract was dissolved in 100 mL of distilled water and was used for the
tests.

Phytochemical Analysis results

Secondary Test Expected Actual result (with

Interpretation
metabollite positive result photodicumentation)

The yellow-red
solution indicates
Alkaline Yellow-red
there is presence of
Reagent Test solution
xanthones and/or
flavones

The yellow
Lead acetate Yellow colored precipitate confirms
Flavonoids
test precipitate the presence of
flavonoids
 There is no color
change indicating
Red colored there is no presence
Shinoda Test
solution of aurones and
chalcones in the
plant sample.

The bluish black

colored solution
Bluish black confirms the
colored presence of
Ferric chloride
Poyphenols solution or hydrolysable
test
blue-green tannins which are
colored soution hydrolysed by acids
to gallic acid and
ellagic acid.

Glycosides

There is no color
Pink/red/violet
change indicating
color in the
Borntrager’s that the plant
alkaline phase
test sample is negative
or red colored
for quinones and
solution
anthraquinones

- Quinones
and
anthraqui
 and
anthraqui
nones

There is no color
change indicating
Sulfuric acid Red colored that there are no
test solution present anthrone
derivatives in the
plant sample.

Blue-green
color at the
middle layer or The blue-greem
Liebermann-
pink/red/ color indicates the
Burchard test
magenta/violet presence of sterols.
colored
solution

- Cardiac

There is no color
Reddish-brown change and it
Keller-Killani
color at the indicates there is the
test
junction absence of
deoxysugars.

The formation of
1 cm layer of the 1 cm foam
Froth test
foam indicates the
presence of saponin.
 The foam
Foam that
persistence
- Saponin Foam test persists for 10
indicates there is the
mins
presence of saponin

The deep yellow

Sulfuric acid Deep yellow colored solution
test color confirms the
presence of saponin

There is no
formation of red
Dragendorff’s
Red precipitate precipitate thus
test
indicating the
absence of alkaloid

Alkaloids

The formation of
yellow precipitate
Yellow
Mayer’s test confirms the
precipitate
presence of
alkaloids.
 The emerald-green
Copper acetate Emerald-green color confirms the
test color presence of
diterpenoids.

Diterpenoids and
Triterpenoids

The golden-yellow
Salkowski’s Golden-yellow color confirms the
test color presence of
terpenoids.

Conclusion

The phytochemical analysis of the ethanolic extract of the leaves of Coffea arabica had a
positive result for flavonoids, polyphenols, glycosides, alkaloids, and diterpenoids and
triterpenoids. According to the study done by Hamid et. al. in 2017, the coffee seed of Coffea
arabica and other genotypes were positive for the above tests. Due to the presence of saponins
and showing positive results in the plant which presumed that the cytotoxic effects may also be
positive which mean that it has some effects on human body due to the presence of saponins. As
concerned for researches carried out previously, it can only be used for externally rather
internally e.g. the saponins presence in the tea seeds had very toxic effects when it was used in
animalia kingdom (Waheed et. al., 2014) while the presence of alkaloids showed that plant has
analgesic, antispasmodic and bacterial properties of saponins. It has been showed antibacterial
properties of the plant as the results are at par with (Chung et al., 1998). Tannins was found
positive on the plant sample. Tannins inhibit the growth of many fungi, bacteria and viruses
(Chung et al., 1998).

Glycosides and carotenoids were found positive. Whereas it has been reported by David,
(1983) Glycosides have the ability to increase the efficiency of heart beat and impulses. It means
that it has a very good effects of glycosides which not only increase the heart beat but also stable
the functioning of heart to normalize accordingly.

HOW DO I FUCKING END THIS? GRRR

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