N. JANAKIRAMAN, M. JOHNSON^#

Department of Botany, Centre for Plant Biotechnology, St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Palayamkottai – 627 002, Tamil Nadu, India

Fourier Transform – Infra Red (FT-IR) spectra of pure compounds provide unique chemical „fingerprint” with absorption peaks which correspond to the frequencies of vibrations between the bonds of the atoms making up the material. In the present study, FT-IR analysis was used to study the functional groups present in Cyathea nilgirensis Holttum, Cyathea gigantea (Wall. ex. Hook.) Holttum and Cyathea crinita (Hook.) Copel. About 1.0 mg of crude extracts of selected Cyathea species were separately made into thin discs with 10–100 mg of potassium bromide using a mould and pressed under anhydrous conditions. The pellets were measured in an automatic recording IR spectrophotometer in the range of 400 to 4000 cm^–1. The percentage of transmissions was recorded against the wavenumber. The analytical evaluation of the FT-IR spectra revealed significant differences in band position and absorbance intensities. The comparative FT-IR spectra showed that there is an apparent change in relative intensity of the bands. The results of the present study have proven FT-IR spectroscopy as a valuable tool and chemotaxonomic parameter to distinguish Cyathea species based on the functional groups.

Corresponding author’s e-mail: ptcjohnson@gmail.com

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