Identification of Active Compounds of Ethanol Extract of Citrus amblycarpa leaves by Analysis of Thin-layer Chromatography and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry as Bioinsecticide Candidates for Mosquitoes

BACKGROUND: The use of active compounds from plants becomes an alternative to control mosquitoes nowadays and in the future because they are environmentally-friendly and do not cause health problems. Citrus amblycarpa is a local orange of South Kalimantan potential as bioinsecticidal, which commonly used for controlling mosquitoes. Therefore, research needs to be done to find out the benefits of C. amblycarpa leaves as bioinsecticidal. AIM: The research aimed to identify active compounds contained in the extract ethanol of C. amblycarpa leaves as bioinsecticidal against mosquitoes. RESULTS: Based on thin-layer chromatography test, there were some secondary metabolite compounds found such as terpenoids/steroids, flavonoids, polyphenols, and saponins. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) test revealed that there were ten primary components of the fraction. The components were Maragenin I (18,82%), 1,3-benzenedicarboxamide (12.28%), 2,3,8-trioxocephalotaxane (10.39%), aristolone, 2H-cyclopropa[a] naphthalene-2-one, noruns-12-ene (7.46%), palmitic acid, n-hexadecanoic acid (7.21%), stigmasterol, demecolcine (7.03%), alpha-tocopherol (5.88%), 2,4,5-trimethylphenol, pseudocumenol (4.21%), germacrene-D (3.45%), and 9-octadecenoic acid (3.36%). CONCLUSION: These active compounds possess biological activity as bioinsecticidal. It was expected that those active compounds in C. amblycarpa leaves could be applied for controlling mosquitoes by replacing the use of resistant temephos.