Phytochemical Screening Extracted From Five Fingers

(Schefflera odorata) Leaves

BY:

STEPHANIE JOY A. ESCALA

IV – FERN

A Research Paper

Presented to the Faculty of

Regional Science High School, Region X

In Partial Fulfillment of the

Requirements for Research 2

Submitted to:

Mrs. ERMA P. DAPIN

Adviser

March 2014

APPROVAL SHEET

The researcher paper here to attached, entitle “Phytochemical

Screening Extracted From Five Fingers (Schefflera Odorata)

Leaves” prepared and submitted by STEPHANIE JOY A. ESCALA in

partial fulfillment of the requirements for Research 2 is hereby

accepted.

ERMA S. DAPIN

Adviser

Date signed

Accepted with a rating of %

Accepted and approved as a partial fulfillment of the

Requirements in Research 2.

MYRNA L. MANDAWE

Principal II

GUSA Regional Science High School Region X

Gusa, Cagayan de Oro City

DATE SIGNED

ii

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

The researcher, Stephanie Joy A. Escala was born on

September 17, 1997. She was the eldest daughter of Mr. Apolinario

Escala and Mrs. Guillerma Escala. She is currently living at

Purok 13, Mindanawan St., Baloy, Cagayan de Oro City.

The researcher finished her elementary days in Del Mar S.D.A

Elementary School and graduated as a gold medalist. She was

enrolled at Gusa Regional Science High School in her secondary

education.

The researcher likes to surf the internet, watch movies,

read novels and eat different foods. She is also a talkative

person.

At her future college, she wants to accomplish any of the

courses that she will choose. She wants to be a successful

person.

iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The researcher wish to extend her sincerest gratitude and

appreciation to the following; for his assistance, help, moral,

and invaluable support.

To her parents, Mr. And Mrs. Apolinario Escala for extending

their great financial and moral support.

Mrs. Myrna L. Mandawe, the principal of Gusa Regional

Science High School, for her moral support.

Mrs. Erma S. Dapin, their research adviser, for giving her

full support and guidance in the proper conduct of the study and

for the help in editing her study to come up with a good result.

To her very dear classmates, for their help, consideration

and encouragement.

Above all, to our Almighty God, the merciful and the

passionate, for providing me the opportunity to step in the

excellent world of science. Without Him, this work will never be

done.

iv

ABSTRACT

Schefflera odorata is a species of genus Schefflera. It

is a famous indoor plant. The crude ethanol extract of five

fingers leaves was tested for treat of coughs and antiscorbutic.

The materials were gathered. The Five Fingers leaves was cut

into small pieces. The leaves weighed 23.8 g. It was air dried

for 5 days. Only 7.3 g were then left. The percent water

evaporated was 31%. After

it was air dried, it was soaked with 50 mL of 98% of ethanol for

5 days. After the five fingers leaves were soaked, it was sent

for phytochemical screening. In the

phytochemical screening, it was found out that five fingers

leaves extract contains steroids and tannins which are to treat

inflammatory conditions such as systemic vasculitis (inflammation

of blood vessels), myositis (inflammation of muscle), rheumatoid

arthritis, lupus and Sjögren's syndrome(or gout), antiviral,

antibacterial and antiparasitic.

v

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page No.

TITLE PAGE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i

APPROVAL SHEET. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii

BIOGRSPHICAL SKETC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .iv

ABSTRACT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v

TABLE OF CONTENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .vi

LIST OF TABLES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii

LIST OF FIGURES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .viii

INTRODUCTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Statement of the problem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Statement of the hypothesis. . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Significance of the study. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Scopes and limitation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Definition of terms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

REVIEW OF RELATEED LITERATURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6

Schematic Diagram. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

METHODOLOGY

Materials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Procedure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Flow chart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Pictorials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-12

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

BIBLIOGRAPHY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

JOURNAL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

vi

LIST OF TABLES

Page No.

Table 1: Weight of the fresh samples

before and after drying. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Table 2: The percent of water

evaporated from the sample . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Table 3:

Phytochemical Screening . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

vii

LIST OF FIGURES

Page No.

Schematic diagram. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Flow

chart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

viii

INTRODUCTION

Schefflera odorata is a species of genus Schefflera. It

is a famous indoor plant. The scientific name for the plant

commonly used is Schefflera odorata. The herb is also

referred to as Five Fingers or in Philippines, lima-lima.

Five Finger belongs to the same scientific genus, Schefflera

odorata. The origin of this plant's scientific name epithet

(odorata) means 'fragrant'.

Lima – lima is a smooth vine, 2 to 6 meters high.

Petioles are longer than the leaflets. Leaves are

palmately compound leaves, with 5 to 6 leaflets. Leaflets

are smooth and shining, leathery, elliptic to broadly

ovate, of different sizes in the same leaf, 10 to 24

centimeters in length, 3 to 8 centimeters wide, with

pointed tips. Flowers are greenish, 6-parted, 2 to 3

millimeters in diameter, borne on terminal, lax panicles

10 to 20 centimeters long. Fruit is globose and fleshy

when fresh, 4 to 5 millimeters long with 6 prominent

angles when dry.

1

Statement of the Problem

1. Is there any chemical components found in five fingers

leaves extract?

2. Is there any medical usage from five fingers leaves

extract?

Statement of the hypothesis

The researcher was guided by the hypothesis that was stated

in null and alternative forms.

Null Hypothesis

Ho1. There are no chemical components found in five fingers

leaves extract.

Ho2. There is no medical usage found in five fingers leaves

extract.

Alternative Hypothesis

Ha1. There are chemical components found in five fingers

leaves extract.

Ha2. There is medical usage found from five fingers leaves

extract.

2

Significance of the Study

Nowadays, medicines’ price is increasing. People are buying

the cheap ones even though they are less effective. Because of

this, the researcher decided to find ways to solve this problem.

She used the leaves of five fingers and its extract undergo

phytochemical screening. The study aims to find out the medical

components of five fingers leaves that can cure disease. It aims

to discover a medicine that is much cheaper but more effective.

Scope and Limitation

The research only limits to look the effectiveness of five

fingers leaves extract as medicine.

The research study was started last June 2013 and was

conducted in Regional Science High School research laboratory

room. This study is limited only for the usage of five fingers

leaves for the study.

3

Definition of terms

Tannins - any of various soluble astringent complex phenolic

substances of plant origin used especially in tanning leather and

dyeing fabric, manufacturing ink, clarifying wine and beer, and

in medicine.

Alkanoids - are a group of naturally occurring chemical

compounds that contain mostly basic nitrogen atoms.

Steroids – any of a large group of fat soluble organic compounds,

as the sterols, bile acids, and sex hormones, most which have

specific physiological action.

Phytochemical Analysis - Phytochemical screening is the study of

plants to discover medicinal benefits.

4

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Schefflera odorata Blanco, commonly known as “five fingers”

is a famous indoor plant. The biological activities of the plant

include treatment of asthma, liver diseases, rheumatism,

arthritis, sprains, fracture, stomach pain, antipyretic, anti-

inflammatory, analgesic, migraine, and general tonic (Quisumbing

1978). A saponin was reported to be potential modulator of the

cell-signalling pathway (De Castro-Bernas & ramos 2001).

Although there is only one reported study on S. odorata, a number

of studies have been reported on the congener of the plant. A

betulinic acid glycoside was isolated from S. Venulosa. Oleanolic

acid, a bidesmosidic triterpene saponin, and a trisaccharide were

isolated from S. octophylla. S. Lucantha afforded triterpenoid

glycosides (Pancharoen et al. 1994). The aerial parts of S.

divaricata produced triterpenoid saponins. Triterpenoid

saponins, along with oleanolic acid and a new triterpene

(Shrivastava 1992) were obtained from S. impressa. The leaves of

S. Bodinieri afforded triterpenoids and a triterpene glycoside

(Zho et al. 1996), while the roots of the plant afforded

triterpene glycosides. We now report the isolation, and full

structure elucidation by 1D and 2D NMr spectroscopy of oleanolic

acid (1) from S. odorata. Lutein

5

(2), fatty alcohols, and hydrocarbons were also obtained from the

dichloromethane extract of the air-dried leaves of the plant.

6

SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM

Independent Variables Dependent Variables

Extraneous Variables

The schematic diagram showing the relationship between the

independent, dependent and the extraneous variables.

7

METHODOLOGY

Five Fingers (Schefflera odorata) leaves extract

Phytochemical Screening

Temperature , type of extract

This chapter represents materials, procedure and statistical

tool used in the study.

MATERIALS

The materials that were used during the experiment are the

following: 23.8 g of five fingers leaves 50 mL of ethanol,

beaker, scissors and electronic beam balance.

PROCEDURE

Gathered all the naterials needed for the experiment. 23.8 g

of five fingers leaves were prepared. The leaves were cut into

small pieces. The leaves were then air dried for 5 days to get

the moisture content. Only 7.3 g of five fingers leaves were

left. Then the extract was soaked with 50 mL of 98% ethanol for 5

days. Then the crude extract were sent for phytochemical

analysis.

8

FLOW CHART

sss

9

RESULTS and DISCUSSION

Gathering of all materials

Cutting the leaves for air drying

Weighing of the air dried leaves

Soaking the air dried leaves to ethanol

Phytochemical Screening to leaves and ethanol solution extract

Table 1: weight in grams of fresh samples before and after drying

Sample Weight of Five

Fingers leaves

before drying

(g)

Weight of Five

Fingers leaves

after drying

(g)

1 23.8 7.3

Total 23.8 7.3

Table 1 shows that the small pieces of five fingers leaves

were air dried. A total of 23.8 of five fingers leaves yielded

only 7.3 g after air drying for 5 days.

Table 2: the % of water evaporated from the sample after 5 days

of air drying.

Sample Initial

Weight

(g)

Final Weight

(g)

Water

Evaporated

(%)

1 23.8 7.3 31

Total 23.8 7.3 31

11

Table 2 shows the percent of water evaporated.

To find the percentage of water evaporated, use the formula

below:

% water = weigh t of sampleafter dryingweigh t of sample beforedrying

x 100

Table 3: Phytochemical Screening

Sample Code Alkaloids Tannins Steroids

Five Fingers

leaves

++ ++ +++

The table shows that the five fingers leaves contains

chemical constituents: alkaloids, tannins and steroids.

12

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

Conclusion

In the phytochemical screening test, it was found out that

five fingers leaves contains a highly positive Steroids which are

used for medicine that can treat inflammatory conditions such as

systemic vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels), myositis

(inflammation of muscle), rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and

Sjögren's syndrome(or gout).

Recommendation

The researcher recommends that the study be improved. It is

also recommended to find its significant effects compared to the

commercial ones.

13

BIBLIOGRAPHY

http://stuartxchange.com/Lima-lima.html

http://www.medicinenet.com/steroids_to_treat_arthritis/page2.html

http://philjournalsci.dost.gov.ph/vol134no1/PDFs/secondary

%20metabolites%20from%20Schefflera%20odorata%20Blanco.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tannin

http://www.cabdirect.org/abstracts/

20013102504.html;jsessionid=D8E13703F52ED1337BAF32CD5E222D55

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steroid

14