The extraction and purification of squalene from Nyamplung (Calophyllum Inophyllum L) leaves

Squalene is a natural organic compound that is primarily found in shark liver oil. It can act as a skin moisturizing, anticancer, antivirus, and drug delivery agent. The advantages of people consuming healthy oil which contains squalene can lower the risk of heart disease. Due to the high market demand for squalene, it becomes a severe threat to shark existence. Therefore, investigation to find a new source of squalene is deemed necessary. Squalene is present in the leaves of nyamplung (Calophyllum inophyllum), a species of mangrove plant commonly found along Indonesia's coast. This study aims to extract and purify squalene from nyamplung leaves. First, nyamplung leaves were crushed and extracted with n-hexane. The extract was designated as a crude extract of nyamplung leaves. After that, squalene was purified from the crude extract by the multistage adsorption-desorption method at 3°C. The crude extract was dissolved in hexane, and silica gel was then added at 30 min. The mass ratios of silica gel to crude extract were varied at 1:1, 2:1 and 4:1 (g/g). N-hexane fraction was separated from silica gel by filtration paper. N-hexane fraction was designated as a non-polar fraction (NPF), while silica gel fraction was designated as a polar fraction (PF). The dark-colored of PF was employed for the desorption process using methanol until its color became colorless. Meanwhile, NPF was extracted with fresh silica gel until it reached the 10^th stage of extraction. NPF and PF were then quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed using TLC and GC, respectively. The best result was obtained from silica gel to crude extract mass ratio of 1:1 (g/g) at the 5th stage with squalene purity of 35.96% (45.82% recovery).