Potential Phytochemical Compounds in Massoi Bark Extracted Using the Soxhlet Method

Abstract The bark of the Massoia plant (Cryptocarya massoia) contains an essential oil with several applications in the cosmetic, perfume, pharmaceutical, and food industries. Research and information related to the utilisation of massoi oil are still limited. This research aims to collect data on the phytochemical compounds present in Massoi bark extract, as well as their potential as antioxidants and antimicrobials. The chemical compounds in the massoi bark were identified using GC-MS headspace analysis. The extract of Massoi bark was obtained through the Soxhlet extraction method using hexane as the solvent, followed by evaporation. The mass ratio of the material to the solvent is 1:7 and 1:10, with extraction times of 60, 90, 120, and 240 minutes. GC-MS analysis was conducted to determine the types of chemical compounds present in each type of extract. The antioxidant activity of the extracts is determined using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, while the antibacterial activity is assessed using the agar disc diffusion method. The results of the GC-MS headspace test show that the five chemical compounds with the highest percentages are nonadiene, camphene, α-pinene, 2-methyl-1-octen-3-yne, and massoia lactone. The compound 2H-Pyran-2-one, 5,6-dihydro-6-pentyl- or massoia lactone C-10 is the dominant compound found in every massoi extract. The percentage of activity in the antioxidant test ranges from 12.84% to 40.07%. The massoi bark extract, with a treatment ratio of 1:7 and an extraction time of 240 minutes, exhibits the highest inhibitory activity. The most potent growth inhibition against S. mutans (15.04 mm zone diameter) corresponds to the 1:10 dilution with a 90-minute extraction time. In general, the extraction method and synergistic compounds explain variation in chemical compounds and biological properties, including antioxidant and antimicrobial activity.