Compound Analysis and Genetic Study of Selected Plectranthus scutellarioides Varieties from Indonesia

Background: Plectranthus scutellarioides is one of medicinal plants in Indonesia, which has several hundred varieties but only one is known by local people as medicine. Objective: Six varieties of Plectranthus scutellarioides were analyzed for their total flavonoid content, chemical compound, and moleculer genetic. Methods: TFCs were analyzed using AlCl3 colorimetric method, chemical compounds were identified using TLC-scanning densitometer, GC-MS, and FTIR, moleculer genetic were observed using DNA barcoding rbcL gene. Results: The TFCs of trailing psycholeus, and flamingo varieties were higher than the other varieties. TLC-scanner densitometer showed that color blaze dark star, trailing psycholeus, and trailing queen had similar profiles, as did beale street, trailing rose, and flamingo. The GCMS results showed notable difference in trailing psycholeus and trailing queen which have 2-oleoylglycerol and 9(E),11(E)-conjugated linoleic acid in larger amounts than others, respectively. Multivariate analysis of the FTIR spectra showed the closeness of all varieties, except for beale street which had the lowest similarity with the others. Despite that, genetic studies using the rbcL gene and comparing the results with the P. scutellarioides gene in the database (MW538954.1) showed beale street was the most similar (99.52%). The phylogenetic analysis showed that beale street and trailing psycholeus have the highest similarity among others. Conclusions: There is a slight difference in chemical composition between varieties as well as the genetic. Therefore, quality control or standardisation is needed in the use of this plant as a traditional medicine.