*Co esponding au ho : Madhu a Mukadam
Copy igh © 2025 Au ho (s) e ain he copy igh o his a icle. This a icle is published unde he e ms o he C ea i e Commons A ibu ion Liscense 4.0.
Func ional g oup p o iling o medicinal plan s using FTIR spec oscopy
Mayu esh De and Madhu a Mukadam *
Depa men o Zoology, Goga e Jogaleka College, Ra nagi i-415612, Maha ash a. India.
Wo ld Jou nal o Biology Pha macy and Heal h Sciences, 2025, 21(01), 243-249
Publica ion his o y: Recei ed on 30 No embe 2024; e ised on 08 Janua y 2025; accep ed on 10 Janua y 2025
A icle DOI: h ps://doi.o g/10.30574/wjbphs.2025.21.1.0039
Abs ac
The chemical di e si y o plan s unde pins hei ex ensi e use in medicine, cosme ics, and indus y. This s udy u ilizes
Fou ie T ans o m In a ed (FTIR) spec oscopy o iden i y and cha ac e ize he unc ional g oups p esen in i e
medicinal plan s: Cu cuma longa ( u me ic), Men ha pipe i a (peppe min ), Aegice as co nicula um (mang o e),
Zingibe o icinale (ginge ), and Pipe nig um (black peppe ). FTIR spec oscopy is a non-des uc i e, apid echnique
ha iden i ies molecula ib a ions associa ed wi h unc ional g oups such as O-H, C-H, C=O, and N-H, acili a ing he
cha ac e iza ion o bo h o ganic and ino ganic compounds. The plan s analyzed a e known o hei he apeu ic
p ope ies, including an ioxidan , an imic obial, an i-in lamma o y, and an icance e ec s. The FTIR spec a e ealed
he p esence o a ious unc ional g oups, including hyd oxyl, ca bonyl, alipha ic C-H, and a oma ic g oups. The
inge p in egion (600–1500 cm⁻¹) exhibi ed complex abso p ion bands speci ic o each plan , e lec ing he molecula
s uc u e and chemical composi ion o hei bioac i e compounds. Unique spec al ea u es such as me al-ligand
ib a ions in Aegice as co nicula um highligh he di e se phy ochemical p o ile o his plan s. This s udy unde sco es
he po en ial o FTIR spec oscopy in iden i ying bioac i e compounds, acili a ing hei applica ions in pha maceu ical
and nu aceu ical de elopmen , and con ibu ing o he g owing da abase o FTIR spec al signa u es o medicinal
plan s.
Keywo ds: FTIR spec oscopy; Func ional g oups; Medicinal plan s; Bioac i e compounds
1. In oduc ion
Plan s a e a ich sou ce o bioac i e compounds, which a e widely u ilized in medicine, cosme ics, and indus y. The
iden i ica ion o unc ional g oups in plan ex ac s p o ides insigh in o hei bioac i e compounds, which play c i ical
oles in he apeu ic ac i i ies such as an ioxidan , an imic obial, and an i-in lamma o y e ec s (Kuma & Pandey, 2015).
Fou ie T ans o m In a ed (FTIR) spec oscopy is a powe ul, non-des uc i e analy ical echnique ha iden i ies
molecula ib a ions associa ed wi h bonds like O-H, C-H, C=O, and N-H, enabling he cha ac e iza ion o o ganic and
ino ganic compounds (S ua , 2004).
FTIR spec oscopy is pa icula ly use ul in plan science o de ec ing seconda y me aboli es such as alkaloids,
la onoids, e penes, and phenols, which a e esponsible o plan s' pha macological p ope ies (Coa es, 2000). Fo
ins ance, phenolic compounds exhibi s ong hyd oxyl (O-H) s e ching bands, while ca bonyl (C=O) s e ching is
cha ac e is ic o es e s, aldehydes, and ke ones (Smi h, 2011). By analyzing he FTIR spec a o plan s, esea che s can
ob ain a molecula inge p in o hei chemical composi ion, acili a ing he iden i ica ion o unc ional g oups ha
con ibu e o i s biological ac i i ies (Sel a aju e al., 2021).
The plan s analyzed in his s udy—Cu cuma longa, Men ha pipe i a, Aegice as co nicula um, Zingibe o icinale, and Pipe
nig um—a e known o hei medicinal p ope ies. Fo example, Cu cuma longa ( u me ic) con ains cu cuminoids,
known o hei an i-in lamma o y and an ioxidan ac i i ies (Agga wal e al., 2007). Men ha pipe i a (peppe min ) is
Wo ld Jou nal o Biology Pha macy and Heal h Sciences, 2025, 21(01), 243-249
244
ich in essen ial oils wi h an imic obial and ca mina i e p ope ies (McKay & Blumbe g, 2006). Aegice as co nicula um
is a mang o e plan wi h phy ochemicals showing an i-in lamma o y and an i ungal p ope ies (Banda anayake, 2002).
Zingibe o icinale (ginge ) is widely used in adi ional medicine o i s an i-nausea, an i-in lamma o y, and an icance
p ope ies (Ali e al., 2008). Las ly, Pipe nig um (black peppe ) con ains pipe ine, which has an ioxidan , an i-
in lamma o y, and bioa ailabili y-enhancing p ope ies (S ini asan, 2009).
This s udy employs FTIR spec oscopy o sys ema ically analyze he unc ional g oups p esen in hese plan s. By
co ela ing FTIR peaks o unc ional g oups, he esea ch highligh s hei chemical di e si y and po en ial applica ions
in pha maceu icals and nu aceu icals.
2. Ma e ials and Me hods
2.1. Plan Ma e ials
Plan ma e ials we e collec ed om Ra nagi i, a coas al ci y loca ed a 16.9954° N la i ude and 73.3120° E longi ude in
he wes e n pa o Maha ash a, India, along he A abian Sea. The samples included he hizome o Zingibe o icinale,
lea es o Cu cuma longa, Men ha pipe i a, and Aegice as co nicula um, as well as seeds o Pipe nig um. A e ha es ing,
he ma e ials we e ho oughly washed wi h wa e and s o ed in d y bags. The collec ed samples we e anspo ed o
he Depa men o Zoology labo a o y a Goga e Jogaleka College, Ra nagi i, o u he p ocessing.
2.2. Sample P epa a ion
The plan pa s we e chopped in o small pieces and ai -d ied in he shade wi hin he labo a o y p emises. Once
comple ely d ied, he ma e ials we e g ound in o a ine powde using a g inde . The esul ing powde was s o ed in
clean, ai igh poly hene bags o p ese e i s quali y. Fo FTIR analysis, 10 mg o he d ied powde was mixed wi h 100
mg o po assium b omide (KB ) o o m pelle s.
2.3. FTIR Spec oscopy
FTIR spec a we e eco ded in he ange o 500-4000 cm⁻¹ using a spec ome e . T ansmi ance was measu ed o
iden i y he abso p ion peaks co esponding o a ious molecula ib a ions.
3. Resul s and Discussion
The FTIR spec a o he plan samples e ealed di e se unc ional g oups associa ed wi h hei chemical composi ion.
Key esul s included he iden i ica ion o hyd oxyl (-OH), ca bonyl (C=O), alipha ic C-H, and a oma ic g oups, among
o he s. Each plan sample exhibi ed unique spec al cha ac e is ics ha co ela e wi h i s phy ochemical composi ion
and po en ial bioac i e compounds.
Figu e 1 FTIR Spec um o Cu cuma longa
Figu e 2 FTIR Spec um o Men ha pipe i a
Wo ld Jou nal o Biology Pha macy and Heal h Sciences, 2025, 21(01), 243-249
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Figu e 3 FTIR Spec um o Aegice as co nicula um
Figu e 4 FTIR Spec um o Zingibe o icinale
Figu e 5 FTIR Spec um o Pipe nig um
Table 1 FTIR Peaks wi h Func ional G oup: Cu cuma longa
Peak (cm⁻¹)
Func ional G oup
In e p e a ion
3710.07
S ong O-H s e ching (hyd oxyl g oups)
P esence o alcohols o wa e
3356.41
O-H s e ching
Hyd ogen bonding, ypical in
alcohols o phenols
2919.71
C-H s e ching (alipha ic hyd oca bons)
P esence o alkanes o a y acids
2854.42
C-H s e ching (me hyl and me hylene
g oups)
Fu he suppo s alipha ic
compounds
2205.86, 2115.83
C≡C s e ching (alkynes) o C≡N
s e ching (ni iles)
Unsa u a ed hyd oca bons o
ni iles
1945.85
May co espond o C=O s e ching in
ke ones/aldehydes
Po en ial ca bonyl compounds
1728.74
S ong C=O s e ching (ca bonyl g oup)
Es e s, ke ones, o aldehydes
1620.96
C=C s e ching (a oma ic compounds)
P esence o a oma ic ings
1417.28, 1314.92
C-H bending ib a ions
Alipha ic o a oma ic hyd oca bons
1244.15, 1150.24
C-O s e ching (alcohols, e he s, es e s)
Alcohols o es e s
1026.99
C-O s e ching
Fu he indica es alcohols o e he s
891.84 and below (775.29,
661.95, 606.95, 500)
Ou -o -plane bending ib a ions
Va ies based on sample con ex
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Table 2 FTIR Peaks wi h Func ional G oup: Men ha pipe i a
Peak (cm⁻¹)
Func ional G oup
In e p e a ion
3852.07
O-H s e ching ( ee hyd oxyl g oups)
P esence o alcohols o phenols
3753.23
O-H s e ching (hyd ogen-bonded)
Hyd ogen-bonded hyd oxyl g oups, ypical in alcohols o
ca boxylic acids
3277.87
N-H s e ching
P esence o amines o amides
2921.39
C-H s e ching (alipha ic)
Common in alkanes
2855.93
C-H s e ching (alipha ic)
Con i ms he p esence o alipha ic hyd oca bons
2114.70,
2069.21
C≡C s e ching (alkyne)
Sugges s he p esence o e minal alkynes
1951.63
C=O s e ching (ca bonyl)
Indica es ke ones o aldehydes
1731.50
C=O s e ching (es e o ca bonyl)
Typical o es e s o sa u a ed ca bonyl compounds
1601.63
C=C s e ching (a oma ic)
P esence o a oma ic compounds
1412.64
C-H bending (in-plane)
Associa ed wi h alipha ic compounds
1250.93
C-O s e ching
Common in alcohols, e he s, and es e s
1018.67
C-O s e ching
Con i ms he p esence o alcohols o e he s
885.96, 813.35
Ou -o -plane C-H bending
Typically associa ed wi h a oma ic compounds
766.75, 699.17
Ou -o -plane C-H bending
Fu he con i ms he p esence o a oma ic s uc u es
603.60, 540.73
Skele al ib a ions o ou -o -plane
bending modes
Rela ed o s uc u al ea u es in complex o ganic
compounds
Table 3 FTIR Peaks wi h Func ional G oup: Aegice as co nicula um
Peak (cm⁻¹)
Func ional G oup
In e p e a ion
500
Me al-ligand o skele al ib a ions
Indica es me al-ligand in e ac ions o s uc u al ea u es in
o ganic compounds
800 - 1000
Ou -o -plane C-H bending
ib a ions
Associa ed wi h a oma ic compounds
1000 - 1300
C-O s e ching ib a ions
Common in alcohols, e he s, and es e s
1400 - 1500
C-H bending ib a ions
Typical in alipha ic compounds
1600 - 1700
C=C s e ching o C=O s e ching
Found in alkenes o ca bonyl compounds (ke ones,
aldehydes)
1700 - 1750
Ca bonyl (C=O) s e ches
Common in ke ones and ca boxylic acids
2100
C≡C s e ching ib a ions
Indica es alkynes
2800 - 3000
C-H s e ching ib a ions (sp³, sp²,
o a oma ic)
Found in alkanes, alkenes, o a oma ic compounds
3200 - 3500
O-H o N-H s e ching
Found in alcohols, ca boxylic acids, amines, o amides
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Table 4 FTIR Peaks wi h Func ional G oup: Zingibe o icinale
Peak (cm⁻¹)
Func ional G oup
In e p e a ion
A ound 3283
O-H s e ching
Typical o alcohols o phenols
2924
C-H s e ching
Found in alkanes
1639
C=C s e ching
Indica es alkenes o a oma ic compounds
3813.75, 3723.50
O-H s e ching
Sugges s he p esence o hyd oxyl g oups in alcohols o
phenols
3283.11
N-H s e ching
May indica e amino g oups, sugges ing he p esence o
amines
2104.00
C≡C s e ching
Indica es he p esence o alkynes
1639.03, 1518.05
C=C s e ching
Sugges s double bonds ypical o alkenes o a oma ic
sys ems
1244.52, 1148.50
C-O s e ching
Indica es e he o alcohol unc ionali ies
997.92, 858.69, 765.26,
706.55
C-H bending
ib a ions
Con i ms he p esence o a oma ic compounds
Table 5 FTIR Peaks wi h Func ional G oup: Pipe nig um
Peak (cm⁻¹)
Func ional G oup
In e p e a ion
3747.12
O-H S e ch (Alcohols, Phenols)
B oad peak indica es he p esence o hyd oxyl g oups
3293.99
N-H S e ch (Amines, Amides)
Sugges s amine o amide unc ional g oups
2919.13,
2852.64
C-H S e ch (Alkanes)
Symme ic and asymme ic s e ching o C-H bonds in
alipha ic hyd oca bons
2319.78
C≡C S e ch (Alkynes)
Indica es e minal alkynes
2112.76
C≡N S e ch (Ni iles)
Sugges s he p esence o ni ile g oups
1991.41
C=O S e ch (Ca bonyls)
Indica es ca bonyl compounds like ke ones o aldehydes
1729.34
C=O S e ch (Es e s, Lac ones)
S ong peak ypical o es e o lac one unc ional g oups
1623.49
C=C S e ch (Alkenes)
Sugges s double bonds in alkenes
1442.75,
1318.72
CH₂ Bending
Indica i e o me hylene bending ib a ions in alipha ic
compounds
1248.66,
1096.19
C-O S e ch (Alcohols, E he s)
Sugges s he p esence o alcohols o e he s
1021.81,
885.95
C-O-C S e ch (E he s)
Cha ac e is ic o e he linkages
715.51, 614.86
Ou -o -plane C-H Bending
Indica es subs i u ed a oma ic ings
557.39, 500
Me al-ligand ib a ions o complex
in e ac ions
Less commonly associa ed wi h o ganic unc ional g oups
3.1. Cu cuma longa
The FTIR analysis o Cu cuma longa iden i ied signi ican peaks a 3710 cm⁻¹ and 1728 cm⁻¹, co esponding o O-H and
C=O s e ching ib a ions, espec i ely. This is consis en wi h p e ious s udies, whe e cu cumin, a majo bioac i e
compound in u me ic, was shown o exhibi s ong ca bonyl and hyd oxyl abso p ion bands (Agga wal e al., 2007).
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Addi ionally, peaks a 2854 cm⁻¹ and 2919 cm⁻¹ (C-H s e ching) we e indica i e o alipha ic hyd oca bons, suppo ing
epo s o sesqui e penes in u me ic oil (Jayap akasha e al., 2005).
3.2. Men ha pipe i a
The spec um o Men ha pipe i a e ealed peaks a 3852 cm⁻¹ ( ee O-H s e ching) and 3277 cm⁻¹ (N-H s e ching),
indica i e o hyd oxyl and amino g oups. P e ious s udies (McKay & Blumbe g, 2006) also epo ed simila peaks,
a ibu ing hem o men hol and men hone, key cons i uen s o peppe min essen ial oil. Peaks a 1731 cm⁻¹ and 1601
cm⁻¹ we e a ibu ed o C=O and C=C s e ching, co obo a ing he p esence o es e s and a oma ic compounds, which
a e cha ac e is ic o his plan 's bioac i e p o ile.
3.3. Aegice as co nicula um
Dis inc ea u es o Aegice as co nicula um included signi ican me al-ligand ib a ions a lowe wa enumbe s (500-
1000 cm⁻¹), sugges ing he p esence o coo dina ion compounds, as epo ed ea lie (Banda anayake, 2002). The peak
a 1600-1700 cm⁻¹ was indica i e o C=C s e ching, aligning wi h indings o polyphenolic compounds in mang o e
plan s. The clea C-O s e ching peaks a 1000-1300 cm⁻¹ sugges ed he p esence o simple alcohols o e he s, consis en
wi h seconda y me aboli e analysis in mang o es.
3.4. Zingibe o icinale
The spec um o Zingibe o icinale exhibi ed a peak a 3283 cm⁻¹ co esponding o O-H s e ching, indica i e o alcohols
and phenols. Peaks a 2924 cm⁻¹ and 1639 cm⁻¹ (C-H and C=C s e ching) u he poin ed o he p esence o alkanes
and a oma ic compounds, in ag eemen wi h s udies highligh ing ginge ol and shogaol as majo cons i uen s (Ali e al.,
2008). Addi ional peaks a 2104 cm⁻¹ and 1244 cm⁻¹ (C≡C and C-O s e ching) indica ed alkynes and e he s, which
ha e also been epo ed in ginge essen ial oils (Singh, 2008).
3.5. Pipe nig um
The FTIR spec um o Pipe nig um e ealed s ong O-H and N-H s e ching ib a ions a 3747 cm⁻¹ and 3293 cm⁻¹,
co esponding o hyd oxyl and amino g oups. These indings align wi h he p esence o pipe ine, an alkaloid known o
i s an ioxidan and an i-in lamma o y p ope ies (S ini asan, 2007). Peaks a 2919 cm⁻¹ and 1729 cm⁻¹ (C-H and C=O
s e ching) u he suppo ed he p esence o alipha ic hyd oca bons and ca bonyl g oups, consis en wi h ea lie
s udies (Ra ind an e al., 2000).
The esul s demons a ed signi ican o e lap wi h exis ing li e a u e, con i ming he alidi y o he FTIR analysis. The
p esence o hyd oxyl g oup was almos common ea u e ac oss all samples, highligh ing hei po en ial as an ioxidan s
o eac i e in e media es in biochemical pa hways.
The inge p in egion was obse ed o span he wa enumbe ange be ween 600 cm⁻¹ and 1500 cm⁻¹ in all plan
samples. This egion is dis inc o each molecule, p o iding a unique " inge p in " ha aids in he iden i ica ion o
speci ic compounds. Unlike he unc ional g oup egion (abo e 1500 cm⁻¹), he inge p in egion exhibi ed a complex
a ay o abso p ion bands, which a ise om a ious bending, s e ching, and ib a ional modes o he a oms wi hin he
molecule. The peaks in his egion a e in luenced by he o e all molecula s uc u e, including he a angemen o a oms
and bonds, con ibu ing o he cha ac e is ic pa e n obse ed in he FTIR spec um.
4. Conclusion
FTIR spec oscopy demons a ed i s e ec i eness in iden i ying di e se unc ional g oups wi hin he analyzed plan
samples. No able di e ences in spec al ea u es we e obse ed among he samples, such as unique me al-ligand
ib a ions in Aegice as co nicula um. The unique " inge p in " o each molecule was also no ed in all plan samples.
These indings p o ide insigh s in o he chemical composi ion o he plan s, which could in o m hei po en ial
applica ions in pha maceu icals and nu aceu icals. Fu he mo e, hese indings con ibu e o he g owing da abase o
FTIR spec al signa u es o medicinal plan s, aiding in apid sc eening and quali y con ol o phy ochemicals.
Compliance wi h e hical s anda ds
Acknowledgmen s
The au ho s exp ess hei g a i ude o he P incipal o Goga e Jogaleka College o hei suppo o he esea ch wo k.
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249
Disclosu e o con lic o in e es
The au ho s decla e ha he e is no con lic o in e es ega ding he publica ion o his pape .
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