Comparative FTIR Spectroscopic Profiling of Ipomoea carnea (Jacq.) Leaf Powder and Petroleum Ether Extract

Abstract

Ipomoea carnea Jacq. (IC) is a vigorous, woody perennial shrub with considerable phytochemical and pharmacological potential despite its invasive nature. The present study aimed to comparatively characterize the FTIR profiles of I. carnea leaf powder and its petroleum ether extract. Leaf powder (5 mg) and petroleum ether extract (0.2 mL) were analysed using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy (BRUKER OPTICS, TENSOR27), equipped with a KBr beamsplitter, RockSolid interferometer, 0.4 cm⁻¹ apodized resolution, DigiTect detector and automatic H₂O/CO₂ compensation. Spectral acquisition and analysis were performed using OPUS software with a spectral-search facility. The leaf powder exhibited prominent bands at 3350, 2915, 2845, 1620, 1250 and 1020 cm⁻¹, broadly associated with O–H/N–H, aliphatic C–H, C=C/carbonyl-associated, C–O and C–N functionalities. In comparison, the petroleum ether extract showed bands at 3330, 2940, 2830, 1680, 1448, 1412 and 1020 cm⁻¹. The stronger aliphatic C–H absorptions at 2940 and 2830 cm⁻¹ and the distinct carbonyl-associated band near 1680 cm⁻¹ indicate enrichment of lipophilic and carbonyl-containing constituents following solvent fractionation. Overall, the comparative FTIR profile demonstrates selective extraction of chemically distinct, predominantly non-polar constituents by petroleum ether and provides a preliminary chemical fingerprint of the extract. Further GC–MS/LC–MS studies are warranted for definitive compound identification and correlation with the pharmacological potential of I. carnea.