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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 13 No. 3 (2026)

Phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of four naturally growing Aquilaria species from North Padang Lawas, Indonesia

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.13656
Submitted
13 January 2026
Published
30-09-2026 — Updated on 01-10-2026
Versions

Abstract

Agarwood-producing species of the genus Aquilaria occur naturally in Sumatra, including North Padang Lawas Regency, Indonesia. Leaves of Aquilaria are increasingly explored as raw material for herbal tea due to their bioactive compounds. This research aims to assess the phytochemical composition, tannin levels and antioxidant potential of four agarwood species that grow naturally in North Padang Lawas, Indonesia. Fresh agarwood leaves were powdered and extracted using a 96 % ethanol solution for further testing. The phytochemical analysis indicated the presence of various bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, saponins and triterpenoids, which are recognized for their biological functions. The evaluation of antioxidant capacity was conducted using the DPPH radical scavenging assay. In addition, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis detected a variety of chemical compounds, including phenolic compounds and particular fatty acids, which may be linked to the antioxidant effects noted. Both dried leaf material and ethanol extracts contained similar classes of secondary metabolites, although the presence of specific compounds varied among species. All four species were classified in the “very strong” category of antioxidant activity with IC50 values below 40 μg/mL. GC-MS analysis revealed dominant compounds in each species, including Nortopsentin B in A. microcarpa (13.46 %), Propanamide in A. beccariana (14.66 %), Acetaldehyde in A. malaccensis (26.39 %) and 2′-oxa-3′-adeninylyl-4′,5′-dihydroxycyclopentyl in A. hirta (14.43 %). Overall, the findings support the traditional use of agarwood leaves as a healthful tea and warrant further development as an alternative raw material for functional food or pharmaceutical applications.

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