Authors:Antwi-Boasiako, C; Jin Wang; Yongde Yue
Abstract:Tropical bamboo shoot solvent extract component identification by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) is non-existing. To investigate and exploit their nutritional and biomedical potentials, extracts from air-dried young shoots from Bambusa vulgaris var. vulgaris (green bamboo) and B. vulgaris var. vittata (yellow variety) from Ghana were pre-treated by Soxhlet and Supersonic techniques using solvents with different polarities. Their chemical components were analyzed by GC-MS and compared with fractions from an extensively edible Asian variety (Phyllostachys pubescens). Octane, 2-methyl-Naphthalene and 1,1Bicyclohexyl were the main n-hexane Supersonic technique fractions identified from B. vulgaris var. vulgaris crown internode. Their retention times are 5.01, 19.86 and 20.75 mins., and 90 per cent, 90 per cent and 91 per cent match qualities respectively. The more polar methanol identified two chemicals, which are: p-xylene and 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid-butyl 2-methylpropyl ester. Their retention times are 5.89 and 30.16 mins., but have greater match qualities (97% and 94% respectively) than the n-hexane fractions. B. vulgaris var. vittata is rich in 6,10,14-trimethylpentadecan-2-one from Soxhlet extraction with ether. Its retention time is 30.10 mins., and matching quality of 98 per cent. It has anti-microbial properties, while properties from B. vulgaris var. vulgaris fractions indicate they are generally unsafe for consumption. The major component identified in Supersonic ether extractions from P. pubescens is 3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-2-hexadecen-1-ol (phytol) at retention time of 28.62 mins., and match quality of 93 per cent. At present the tropical bamboos are not exploited as raw materials of biomedicine or vegetable. However, their local and worldwide edibility could be tapped out with further intensive research.
Keywords:Bamboo extract;