Glucosamine production from palmyrah (Borassus flabellifer L.) seeds (a study of precursor type and concentration)

Glucosamine is an amino-sugar compound that is a precursor in synthesis repairment of cartilage and joints in human body. Glucosamine can be produced in the body as well as obtained from animal and plant sources. One of the plant sources that contain glucosamine is the seed of palmyrah. To obtain glucosamine from palmyrah seeds is required extraction process. The addition of ammonium salt precursor to the extraction stage could increase the production of glucosamine. The aim of this research was to determine the influence of the type and concentration of ammonium salt precursor to the glucosamine content from seeds of palmyrah fruit. This research used nested design with two factors, consisting of type and concentration of precursor. The main factor of precursor type (as first factor) consisting of three levels, namely NH₄Cl, (NH₄)₂CO₃, and (NH₄)₂SO₄, although nested factor of precursor concentration (as second factor) consisting of two levels. The glucosamine content was tested by spectrophotometry analysis. The effect of treatment was analyzed using analysis of variance and was continued with the Least Significant Difference test. Glucosamine was tested qualitatively by Thin Layer Chromatography. The results showed that the best treatment of precursor types were found in the addition of NH₄Cl 4.5 M; (NH₄)₂CO₃ 1.5 M; and (NH₄)₂SO₄4 M with glucosamine content1418.5; 1263.5 and 1078.5 ppm and yield 0.450; 0.380; and 0.627% respectively.The qualitative test using TLC showed all samples of extracts have similarities of retention factor with glucosamine standard.