Characterization of Simplicia and Ethanol Extracts of Bark of Asam Kandis (Garcinia cowa Roxb)

Characterization of simplicia and ethanol extract from bark of Garcinia cowa Roxb has been done on plants taken from three different regions: Solok, Padang, and Padang Pariaman. Characteristics are tested according to the procedures listed in Pharmacopoeia Herbal Indonesia. The purpose of this study was to look at the characteristics of each sample taken from different regions. The results showed that the simplicia of Garcinia cowa Roxb stem bark was a rather coarse powder, dark brown, distinctive smell, and biting taste. The simplicia microscopic test shows that there are fragments of simplicia, i.e. calcium oxalate crystals of rosette form, cork tissue, sclerenchyma fibres. The physicochemical parameter of simplicia shows that drying drift is not more than 10%, total ash content not more than 6.66%, acid soluble ash content not more than 0.21%, water soluble extract not less than 11.71%, soluble extract in ethanol not less than 16.5%. Chemical content test showed that chromatogram pattern with chloroform-ethyl acetate eluate (9: 1) yielded Rf values of each region were 0.39, 0.39, and 0.38. The total phenolic content in the simplicia of each region was 11.44%, 9.75%, and 9.78%. The α-mangostin levels in the simplicia of each region were 0.06%, 0.05%, and 0.04%. The ethanol extract from Garcinia cowa Roxb stem bark is a thick, dark red extract, distinctive smell and bitter taste. The yield of the extract is not less than 31.5%, the water content is not more than 13.93%, the total ash content is not more than 2.49% and the acid soluble ash content is not more than 0.19%. Test of chemical content of ethanol extract from the simplicia showed that chromatogram pattern with chloroform-ethyl acetate eluate (9: 1) showed Rf value 0.35, 0.39, and 0.36, for each region. The total phenolic content of ethanol extracts were 24.41%, 24.05% and 22.12%, respectively. The levels of α-mangostin in the ethanol extract of each region were 0.57%, 0.40%, and 0.25%.