Fourier-transform infrared fingerprinting with chemometrics characterizes the anti-inflammatory activity of Rhizophora mucronata leaf fractions and profiles the active-fraction metabolites using liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry

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BSTRACT

The extract of Rhizophora mucronata leaves has demonstrated potential anti-inflammatory activity. Its fractions may exhibit enhanced activity due to the presence of more specific metabolites. This research was performed to determine the anti-inflammatory activity and characterize the R . mucronata leaf fractions using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy integrated with chemometric analysis. This was an experimental in vitro study evaluating the anti-inflammatory activity of R . mucronata leaf fractions and characterizing their chemical profiles using FTIR and liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). The ethanol extract was fractionated using vacuum liquid chromatography. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by measuring the inhibition of egg albumin denaturation in the sample. The fractions were characterized using FTIR spectroscopy combined with chemometrics. The secondary metabolite profile of the fraction with the highest anti-inflammatory activity was examined using LC-HRMS. The FTIR profile of R. mucronata leaves was analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis. Fraction N has the highest percentage of egg albumin denaturation inhibition activity. Naringin and ferulic acid were the most abundant flavonoid and phenolic compounds detected in fraction N. FTIR spectra indicated variations in chemical composition among fractions. In the PCA biplot, fraction N was closely aligned with the variable at 1376 cm ⁻¹ , indicating strong C-H bending of methyl groups. Fraction N demonstrated the ability to inhibit egg albumin denaturation. Nevertheless, further investigation is necessary to confirm these results.