1N. E. S. Science College, Nanded
2Vidarbha College of Art's, Commerce and Science Jiwati Dist. Chandrapur
3Shri Guru Buddhiswami Mahavidhylaya Purna Dist. Nanded (MS), India.
Corresponding email: ssshinde493@gmail.com
Background: Cyperus rotundus L. (commonly known as nut grass or motha) is a medicinally important plant widely recognized for its antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiamoebic and cytotoxic properties. The present study aimed to comparatively characterize the functional groups present in leaf and rhizome extracts of C. rotundus obtained using solvents of different polarities, including ethanol, methanol, ethyl acetate, and chloroform, through Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.
Methods: Dried plant materials were extracted separately using solvent extraction and the resulting extracts were analyzed within the spectral range of 4000–400 cm⁻¹. The FTIR spectra revealed several characteristic absorption bands corresponding to important functional groups such as hydroxyl (O–H), aliphatic C–H, carbonyl (C=O), aromatic C=C and C–O stretching vibrations, indicating the presence of diverse classes of phytochemicals. Extracts obtained with polar solvents exhibited stronger hydroxyl and carbonyl absorption bands, suggesting efficient extraction of phenolic and flavonoid compounds. In contrast, moderately polar and non-polar solvents demonstrated relatively pronounced aliphatic and aromatic bands, indicating the presence of terpenoids and other hydrophobic constituents.
Results: Comparative spectral evaluation between plant parts revealed noticeable qualitative variations in the distribution of functional groups, with rhizome extracts displaying relatively greater functional group diversity than leaf extracts. These observations suggest that rhizomes may possess a richer phytochemical composition compared to aerial tissues.
Conclusion: The findings highlight solvent polarity as an important factor influencing phytochemical extraction efficiency and confirm the usefulness of FTIR spectroscopy as a rapid and reliable analytical tool for preliminary phytochemical profiling and functional group identification in C. rotundus. The study also provides a basis for further chromatographic and bioactivity-guided investigations aimed at isolating and characterizing bioactive compounds from this medicinal plant.
Keywords: Cyperus rotundus, FTIR spectroscopy, phytochemical profiling, solvent extraction, functional groups, medicinal plant.
How to cite this article: Alure M. D., Shinde S S, Dalvi S M, Rapid FTIR Screening and Solvent-Dependent Phytochemical Characterization of Cyperus rotundus L. (Nut Grass) Extracts. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(12s): 530-536. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.12s.64.
Source of support: Nil
Conflict of interest: None