Detection and quantification of Naringenin and kaempferol in Melastoma decemfidum extracts by GC-FID and GC-MS

Melastoma decemfidum is a plant species from the Melastomataceae family. The plant was reported to have bioactive flavonoids, which showed antioxidant and cytotoxic activities. Extracts from the leaves of 26 plants were made at room temperature with methanol. Detection and quantification of two of the flavonoids, namely naringenin and kaempferol, in the extracts were carried out by using gas chromatography-flame ion detection (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). By optimizing the key experimental parameters, a linear response for the individual target compounds was obtained in the concentration range LOQ from 3.44 to 8.26 g mL -1 (r2 = 0.9731–0.9772), with LODs from 1.13 up to 2.72 μg mL-1 per 1.0 g of crushed leaves, and with repeatability within the relative standard deviation (RSD) of 1.65–1.81%.