Combining Natural Reaction Analogues and First Derivative Spectrophotometric Method to Enhance the Visible Spectra of a Non-Polar Crude Leaf Extract

Abstract

Aim: This study was aimed at using natural reaction analogues and first derivative spectrophotometry to enhance the visible range of the non polar leaf extract. Study Design: The leaf of Alchornea cordiflora was extracted so as to enrich the extract with chlorophyll holochromes and carotenoids. The ethanolic extract was designated as MX and used as the non polar leaf extract in the experiment. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry, University of Cape Coast, Ghana, between March 2011 and August 2011. Methodology: A non-polar crude leaf extract was treated with naturally occurring reaction analogues of acidification, alkalinisation, oxidation and reduction. The spectra of the resulting solutions were analyzed by difference and first derivative spectrophotometric methods.  Results: The treatment led to the enhancement of the chromophoric content and the general quality of the individual spectrum. The wavelength regions: 420-500, 440-500, 460-500, 500-600 nm of spectral improvement were selective to their respective analogue test substance and conditions used in a reaction Conclusion: The 500-600 nm range was better than the Soret and the red regions to monitor the copper complexation with acidic non-polar leaf extracts of Alchornea cordiflora. Alkalinization, oxidation and reduction conditions also resolved the multiple peaks of the Soret region into distinct peaks that can be useful for monitoring and quantification of bioinorganic preparations from the leaf extract of Alchornea cordiflora.