Development of a New Binary Solvent System Using Ionic Liquids as Additives to Improve Rotenone Extraction Yield from Malaysia Derris sp.

Abstract EN

Rotenone is one of the prominent insecticidal isoflavonoid compounds which can be isolated from the extract of Derris sp.

plant.

Despite being an effective compound in exterminating pests in a minute concentration, procuring a significant amount of rotenone in the extracts for commercialized biopesticides purposes is a challenge to be attained.

Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the best ionic liquid (IL) which gives the highest yield of rotenone.

The normal soaking extraction (NSE) method was carried out for 24 hrs using five different types of binary solvent systems comprising a combination of acetone and five respective ionic liquids (ILs) of (1) [BMIM] Cl; (2) [BMIM] OAc; (3) [BMIM] NTf2; (4) [BMIM] OTf; and (5) [BMPy] Cl.

Next, the yield of rotenone, % (w/w), and its concentration (mg/mL) in dried roots were quantitatively determined by means of RP-HPLC and TLC.

The results showed that a binary solvent system of [BMIM] OTf + acetone was the best solvent system combination as compared to other solvent systems (P<0.05).

It contributed to the highest rotenone content of 2.69 ± 0.21% (w/w) (4.04 ± 0.34 mg/mL) at 14 hrs of exhaustive extraction time.

In conclusion, a combination of the ILs with a selective organic solvent has been proven to increase a significant amount of bioactive constituents in the phytochemical extraction process.