Borneo Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research 1 .
2025 33-36
BORNEO PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES AND RESEARCH
https://journal.
id/index.
php/bpsr ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE Isolation and Identification of -Cellulose from Longan (Dimocarpus longan L.
) Peel Using Chemical Delignification Method Yulianita Pratiwi Indah Lestari1,Aa.
Abdul Aziz Setiawan2.
Nita Triadisti1.
Tuty Mulyani1 1Fakultas Farmasi.
Universitas Muhammadiyah Banjarmasin.
Banjarmasin.
Indonesia 2Fakultas Farmasi.
Universitas Muhammadiyah A.
Fachruddin.
Tangerang.
Indonesia
A R T I C L E
I N F O
Article history:
Received 19 August 2025 Accepted 28 August 2025 Available online 29 August 2025 * Corresponding author.
E-mail address: yulianita.
pratiwi@umbjm.
A B S T R A C T
This study aims to isolate and characterize -cellulose from longan (Dimocarpus longan L.
) peel using a chemical delignification method.
Longan peel, as an agricultural waste, is known to contain significant amounts of cellulose and thus has potential as a sustainable raw material.
The dried longan peel .
was subjected to alkaline treatment using sodium hydroxide (NaOH), followed by a bleaching process with sodium hypochlorite (NaOC.
to remove lignin and non-cellulosic The resulting -cellulose was collected, washed, and dried.
From 150 grams of dried simplicia, 28.
28 grams of cellulose was obtained, resulting in a yield of 18.
The isolated material appeared as a fibrous, white solid in unground The chemical delignification method was proven effective in separating cellulose from the lignocellulosic matrix of the longan peel.
These findings suggest that longan peel can serve as a promising alternative source of -cellulose for various pharmaceutical and industrial applications.
A2025.
Published by Institute for Research and Innovation Universitas Muhammadiyah Banjarmasin.
This is Open Access article under the CC-BY-SA License .
ttp://creativecommons.
org/licenses/by-sa/4.
0/).
Keywords: -cellulose, cellulose, lignocellulose, longan peel, chemical delignification.
https://doi.
org/10.
35747/bpsr.
Introduction The increasing concern over environmental degradation due to non-biodegradable materials such as Styrofoam has prompted the search for sustainable alternatives.
Biodegradable foam .
, derived from natural sources like starch, has been widely studied as a potential eco-friendly packaging material.
However, biofoam made solely from starch is known to have limitations, including high water absorption and low structural flexibility.
These deficiencies can be addressed by incorporating reinforcing agents such as -cellulose, which improves mechanical properties and reduces water permeability (Akmala & Supriyo, 2.
-cellulose, a purified form of cellulose, is widely recognized as a precursor for microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), a valuable biopolymer extensively applied in pharmaceutical and material sciences.
The isolation of -cellulose generally involves delignification processes, including alkaline and oxidative treatments to remove lignin and hemicellulose.
Various agricultural residues such as pineapple leaves (Sumiati et al.
, 2.
, areca nut peel (Zulnazri et al.
, and limpasu fruit peel (Yuspa et al.
, 2.
have been identified as promising sources for -cellulose, promoting the valorization of local biomass waste.
In Indonesia, non-wood biomass like seludang jantung pisangAia banana flower sheath wasteAicontains high -cellulose content .
47%) and has shown potential as a sustainable source for MCC production (Fernianti & Hastuti, 2.
Similarly, longan (Dimocarpus longan L.
) peel, abundant locally, not only provides cellulose but also exhibits antioxidant and antibacterial activities, positioning it as a dual-purpose candidate for pharmaceutical use (Thursina et al.
, 2022.
Tobaq et al.
, 2.
Prior research has demonstrated that MCC isolated from tropical biomass such as pineapple fruit has comparable physicochemical properties to commercial MCC (Agustin & Abdassah, 2.
, supporting the feasibility of utilizing local resources.
In the pharmaceutical industry.
MCC is widely used as an excipient in directly compressed tablets due to its excellent binding, disintegrating, and filler Agustin and Abdassah .
successfully isolated MCC from pineapple fruit and reported that its physicochemical characteristicsAiincluding moisture content, pH, particle size, and morphologyAiwere comparable to commercial MCC (Avicel PH-.
This demonstrates the feasibility of tropical biomass for high-quality MCC production.
Among the less-explored but highly promising materials is the limpasu fruit (Baccaurea lanceolat.
, endemic to Kalimantan.
Research has shown that its fruit peel can be utilized not only as a source of -cellulose but also for the preparation of MCC with desirable pharmaceutical-grade characteristics (Yuspa et al.
, 2.
Additionally.
Prigita et al.
highlighted the importance of exploring the bioactivity of longan seed extracts, further supporting the integration of ethnobotanical resources in pharmaceutical applications.
Therefore, the objective of this study is to evaluate and characterize microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) derived from longan (Dimocarpus longan L.
) as a potential pharmaceutical excipient.
The findings are expected to support the development of MCC from underutilized local biomass, promote sustainable excipient sourcing, and contribute to the advancement of environmentally friendly pharmaceutical practices in Indonesia.
Borneo Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research 1 .
2025 33-36 Material and Methods Material The tools used in this study included laboratory glassware, an oven, a melting point apparatus, pH paper, and a digital balance.
The natural material used was powdered simplicia of longan peel (Dimocarpus longan L.
The chemical reagents used included distilled water, hydrochloric acid (HC.
, acetic acid (CHCECOOH), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), sodium hypochlorite (NaOC.
, zinc chloride (ZnClCC), potassium iodide (KI), iodine (ICC), and 70% ethanol.
Methods Preparation and extraction of Longan Peel Simplicia Longan peels were sorted to remove dirt or foreign materials, then thoroughly washed under running water and drained.
The material was cut into small pieces and dried in a shaded area protected from direct sunlight.
Once dried, the simplicia was ground using a blender and sieved through a 60-mesh sieve to obtain a uniform powder size for further processing (Yuspa et al.
, 2.
Longan peel simplicia powder was extracted using the maceration method with 70% ethanol as the solvent in a 1:10 ratio.
The extraction process was carried out for 3 y 24 hours with occasional stirring.
The resulting filtrate was filtered, and the solvent was evaporated using a dehydrator at 50 AC until a thick extract was obtained.
This extract was stored in a tightly closed container at 4 AC until further use, while the residue from the extracted simplicia powder was used for -cellulose isolation (Yuspa et al.
, 2.
Isolation of c-Cellulose of Longan Peel Using the Kraft cooking method, the material was boiled in a 10% NaOH solution for 1 hour.
After cooking, it was soaked in 1 liter of cold water for 24 hours to optimize the removal of residual cooking solution.
Subsequently, a 3.
5% NaOCl solution was added to produce a whiter and cleaner powder.
The material was then washed until free from alkali and ground to obtain powder with a particle size of 30Ae40 mesh (Lestari et al.
, 2.
Identification of c-Cellulose using zinc chloride-iodine solution A zinc chlorideAeiodine solution was prepared by dissolving 20 g of ZnClCC and 6.
5 g of KI in 10.
5 mL of water, followed by the addition of 0.
5 g of iodine.
The mixture was stirred for 15 minutes.
Approximately 10 mg of c-Cellulose was placed on a spot plate, and 2 mL of the zinc chlorideAeiodine solution was The compound was considered positive if a blue-violet color was produced (Lestari et al.
, 2.
Result and Discussion This study successfully isolated -cellulose from longan (Dimocarpus longan L.
) peel through chemical delignification, followed by conversion into microcrystalline cellulose (MCC).
The results presented include yield calculations from each stage of processing, visual observations of material transformation, and qualitative identification outcomes.
These findings are discussed in relation to their implications for optimizing production efficiency, material purity, and potential applications as pharmaceutical excipients.
The discussion also compares the physicochemical characteristics obtained with relevant literature to assess the quality and feasibility of longan peelAederived MCC.
Preparation of Longan Peel Simplicia The preparation of simplicia is the initial step to ensure the raw material is clean, uniform, and suitable for subsequent chemical processing.
In this study, dried longan peel simplicia was obtained after careful sorting, washing, cutting, drying, grinding, and sieving.
This process produced a fine powder with a uniform particle size, which is essential for maximizing extraction efficiency in the next stage.
Figure 1.
The process of preparing longan peel simplicia.
The powdered simplicia served as the starting material for -cellulose isolation, where chemical delignification was employed to remove lignin and hemicellulose, thereby enriching the cellulose content.
The preparation of longan peel simplicia is a critical step to ensure material cleanliness and uniformity before chemical processing.
In this study, the process involved sorting to remove impurities, washing under running water, cutting into small pieces, drying in a shaded area to prevent degradation of active compounds, grinding, and sieving through a 60-mesh sieve.
This method produced a fine powder with a consistent particle size, which is essential for maximizing the efficiency of the subsequent delignification process.
Similar preparation methods have been reported for other lignocellulosic materials, such as ketapang leaves (Yuspa et al.
, 2.
and limpasu fruit peel (Yuspa et al.
, 2.
, where proper drying and particle size reduction significantly improved the penetration of alkaline and bleaching agents during cellulose The shaded drying technique also helps preserve the structural integrity of cellulose fibers, thereby supporting higher yields and better quality of -cellulose in later stages.
Preparation of c-Cellulose The chemical delignification process using the Kraft method effectively removed lignin and hemicellulose from the lignocellulosic matrix of longan peel.
The combined alkaline cooking with 10% NaOH and bleaching with 3.
5% NaOCl produced a white, fibrous -cellulose material with a yield of 18.
85% from 150 g of dried simplicia.
This yield is higher than the 12.
45% reported for -cellulose derived from ketapang (Terminalia catappa L.
) leaves using a similar Borneo Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research 1 .
2025 33-36 NaOHAeNaOCl treatment (Yuspa et al.
, 2.
, but comparable to yields obtained from limpasu (Baccaurea lanceolat.
fruit peel, which ranged from 17Ae19% (Yuspa et al.
, 2.
Sumiati et al.
also reported a similar approach for pineapple leaf lignocellulose, where alkaline delignification followed by oxidative bleaching resulted in high-purity -cellulose with good physical appearance.
Variations in yield between sources are influenced by cellulose content, lignin composition, and fiber structure of the raw material.
Table 1.
Yield of c-cellulose isolated from longan peel simplicia.
Plant part Simplicia weight .
-cellulose weight .
Yield (%) Longan peel
28,28
18,85%
Figure 2.
The isolation process of -cellulose from longan peel: A) chemical delignification using NaOH solution.
B) bleaching using NaOCl solution.
C) the resulting -cellulose in unground form.
The bleaching step was effective in producing a whiter product, indicating efficient removal of residual lignin, consistent with results from pineapple leaf (Sumiati et al.
, 2.
and areca nut peel cellulose production (Zulnazri et al.
, 2.
Qualitative testing using zinc chlorideAeiodine solution produced a distinct blue-violet coloration, confirming the presence of cellulose.
This colorimetric response is consistent with previous findings in -cellulose from various plant materials (Lestari et al.
, 2025.
Yuspa et al.
, 2.
, indicating that the method is a reliable and rapid technique for verifying cellulose content before further processing into microcrystalline cellulose (MCC).
To confirm the identity of the isolated material, qualitative testing was performed using zinc chlorideAeiodine solution, which is a standard method for cellulose identification.
Identification of c-Cellulose Qualitative identification of the isolated -cellulose was carried out using the zinc chlorideAeiodine test, a standard method for confirming the presence of cellulose.
In this test, -cellulose produced a characteristic blue-violet coloration upon contact with the reagent, indicating a positive result.
The coloration occurs due to the formation of a celluloseAeiodine complex in the presence of zinc chloride, which swells the cellulose fibers and facilitates iodine penetration (MiAorajunnisa & Lestari, 2.
Figure 3.
Identification of -cellulose using ZnClCCAeICC solution: A) isolated sample.
B) reagent.
C) immediate color change.
D) color after 12 h.
This reaction is consistent with the description by Ruppersberg et al.
, who explained that SchultzeAos reagent produces a blue to brown-violet coloration depending on cellulose concentration and fiber structure, as zinc and chloride ions promote fiber swelling, allowing iodine to bind effectively to cellulose chains.
While this method is valued for its simplicity and sensitivity, it contains zinc chloride, which is classified as hazardous (GHS 05.
GHS 07.
GHS Ruppersberg et al.
proposed an iodineAecalcium chloride solution as a safer alternative, maintaining detection performance while reducing reagent hazardsAian option worth considering for future cellulose identification studies.
According to Hubbe et al.
, the zinc chlorideAeiodine test is one of the most effective classical staining methods for cellulose because ZnClCC acts as a strong fiber-swelling agent, disrupting crystalline regions and enabling iodine to penetrate deeply into the cellulose microfibrils.
This structural change makes the coloration both rapid and highly specific to cellulose, with no comparable staining for lignin or hemicellulose.
Mechanistically.
Cao et al.
demonstrated that ZnClCC forms a zincAecellulose complex with reduced crystallinity, making the cellulose more reactive toward hydrolysis and iodine binding.
Their iodine absorption experiments confirmed that zinc-treated cellulose exhibits faster and more intense coloration due to increased accessibility of hydroxyl groups at the C-5 position.
Furthermore.
Li Feng Jia et al.
showed that the intensity and clarity of the blue-violet color in iodine-based cellulose staining are strongly influenced by reaction conditions such as temperature, iodide concentration, and fiber swelling agents.
Optimized swelling significantly enhances the staining contrast, supporting the importance of adequate ZnClCC concentration in ensuring accurate cellulose identification.
Borneo Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research 1 .
2025 33-36 Similar observations were reported in -cellulose derived from kapok pericarp (Ceiba pentandra L.
), which exhibited the same blue-violet color response comparable to commercial microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel PH-.
(MiAorajunnisa & Lestari, 2.
This color change is attributed to iodine binding with the hydroxyl groups at the C-5 position of cellulose, while zinc chloride promotes fiber swelling and enhances the reaction.
ZnClCC has also been shown to accelerate cellulose dissolution and hydrolysis into glucose, increasing its reactivity toward iodine.
Similar blue-violet responses have also been reported in -cellulose derived from ketapang leaves (Terminalia catappa L.
) (Yuspa et al.
, 2.
and tigarun leaf fibers (Crateva magna DC.
) (Lestari et al.
, confirming the reliability of this test across various plant-derived cellulose sources.
The use of this rapid qualitative method at the -cellulose stage ensures that subsequent processing, such as conversion into microcrystalline cellulose, is performed on a verified cellulose-rich material, thereby reducing the risk of impurities affecting product quality.
The characteristic blue-violet color that appears during the identification of -cellulose using zinc chlorideAeiodine solution does not appear immediately but develops over time.
This occurs because ZnClCC acts as a fiber swelling agent that disrupts the crystalline structure of cellulose, allowing iodine to penetrate and bind effectively to the cellulose chains (Hubbe et al.
, 2.
Additionally.
ZnClCC accelerates the hydrolysis of cellulose into glucose, increasing its reactivity toward iodine and enhancing the color intensity (Cao et al.
, 1.
Reaction conditions such as iodide concentration and temperature also influence the intensity and rate of color development (Jia et al.
, 2.
Therefore, sufficient time is required for the characteristic color to fully develop as a positive indicator of -cellulose presence.
Conclusions -cellulose was successfully isolated from longan (Dimocarpus longan L.
) peel through a chemical delignification method involving alkaline treatment and bleaching.
The final yield obtained was 18.
85%, and the product appeared as white, fibrous material in unground form.
This study demonstrated that longan peel, an agricultural waste, has potential as an alternative natural source of -cellulose for further applications in pharmaceutical and biomaterial The identified -cellulose is a suitable precursor for MCC, highlighting its potential for pharmaceutical excipient development.
Author contribution conducted the research and prepared the initial manuscript draft.
, and T.
contributed to the manuscript refinement and final Both authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Acknowledgments The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to the Faculty of Pharmacy.
Universitas Muhammadiyah Banjarmasin, for providing laboratory facilities and support throughout the research process.
This study did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or notfor-profit sectors.
Conflict of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest regarding this research or its funding.
References