SPECTROSCOPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF OIL-BIOLIN COMPOSITE USING FOURIER TRANSFORM INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY

УДК 577.1

Abstract

This article presents the development and characterization of an oily extract of a biologically active supplement formulated from medicinal plants that have long been utilized in traditional folk medicine. The selected plant materials are known for their potential therapeutic properties, including immune system modulation, stimulation of gastrointestinal function, and supportive effects in the regulation of blood glucose levels. The work focuses on obtaining an optimized oil-based formulation, referred to as Biolin, designed to preserve and enhance the bioactive components extracted from the plant mixture. The main objective of the study is to investigate and compare the molecular composition of the obtained Biolin oil and the corresponding pure base oil using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. FTIR analysis was employed to identify characteristic functional groups and to evaluate possible structural changes occurring during the formation of the biologically active oil formulation. The spectra of both samples were analyzed to determine the presence of key organic compounds such as lipids, unsaturated fatty acids, and functional groups associated with biologically active phytochemicals. The comparative spectral analysis provides insight into the chemical interactions between plant-derived components and the oil matrix, confirming the successful incorporation of bioactive constituents into the final formulation. Based on the obtained FTIR results, conclusions were drawn regarding the structural integrity and chemical compatibility of the Biolin supplement. The findings support the potential applicability of the developed oily extract as a functional biologically active product with possible health-promoting properties.

Аннотация

В данной статье представлены разработка и характеристика масляного экстракта биологически активной добавки, полученной на основе лекарственных растений, которые на протяжении длительного времени используются в народной медицине. Выбранное растительное сырьё известно своими потенциальными терапевтическими свойствами, включая модуляцию иммунной системы, стимуляцию функций желудочно-кишечного тракта и вспомогательное действие в регуляции уровня глюкозы в крови. Основное внимание в работе уделено получению оптимизированной масляной композиции под названием «Биолин», предназначенной для сохранения и усиления биологически активных компонентов, экстрагированных из растительной смеси.

Главной целью исследования является изучение и сравнительный анализ молекулярного состава полученного масла «Биолин» и соответствующего чистого базового масла методом инфракрасной спектроскопии с преобразованием Фурье (FTIR). FTIR-анализ был использован для идентификации характерных функциональных групп и оценки возможных структурных изменений, происходящих в процессе формирования биологически активной масляной композиции. Спектры обоих образцов были исследованы с целью определения наличия основных органических соединений, таких как липиды, ненасыщенные жирные кислоты и функциональные группы, связанные с биологически активными фитохимическими веществами.

Сравнительный спектральный анализ позволил получить представление о химических взаимодействиях между компонентами растительного происхождения и масляной матрицей, подтверждая успешное включение биологически активных веществ в конечную композицию. На основании полученных результатов FTIR были сделаны выводы о структурной целостности и химической совместимости добавки «Биолин». Полученные данные подтверждают потенциальную применимость разработанного масляного экстракта в качестве функционального биологически активного продукта с возможными полезными для здоровья свойствами.

Keywords: Biolin oil, biologically active supplement, medicinal plants, oily extract. 

Ключевые слова: масло «Биолин», биологически активная добавка, лекарственные растения, масляный экстракт.

Introduction

Natural plant-derived oils and biologically active phytocompositions have attracted increasing scientific interest due to their potential applications in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and functional food systems. Vegetable oils are rich sources of essential fatty acids, triglycerides, tocopherols, phenolic compounds, and other biologically active constituents that exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and protective biological activities. The incorporation of medicinal plant extracts into lipid matrices represents an effective strategy for improving the stability, bioavailability, and preservation of phytochemicals while maintaining the favorable physicochemical properties of vegetable oils. Medicinal plants such as Zingiber officinale, Ferula sumbul, Inula helenium, Arctium tomentosum, and Sedum species are widely used in traditional medicine because of their diverse pharmacological activities. These plants contain numerous secondary metabolites, including flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, tannins, and phenolic acids, which may contribute to immune modulation, gastrointestinal support, antioxidant protection, and metabolic regulation. Oil-based extraction systems provide efficient transfer of lipophilic and semi-polar biologically active compounds into stable formulations suitable for further biomedical and nutritional applications.Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is one of the most effective analytical techniques for the structural characterization of vegetable oils and plant-derived bioactive formulations. FTIR analysis enables rapid identification of functional groups, evaluation of intermolecular interactions, and detection of structural modifications occurring during extraction and formulation processes. Characteristic absorption bands corresponding to ester groups, aliphatic hydrocarbon chains, unsaturated fatty acids, and oxygen-containing functional groups provide important information regarding the molecular composition of lipid systems and incorporated phytochemical constituents. In recent years, FTIR spectroscopy has been widely applied for the characterization of medicinal plant extracts, edible oils, lipid-based drug delivery systems, and biologically active composites. Comparative spectral analysis allows the assessment of chemical compatibility between plant-derived compounds and oil matrices as well as confirmation of successful incorporation of biologically active substances into functional formulations. Therefore, the present study aimed to obtain a biologically active oil formulation named “BIOLIN” based on medicinal plant extracts and to investigate its molecular composition using FTIR spectroscopy in comparison with pure sunflower oil. Special attention was devoted to the identification of characteristic functional groups and the evaluation of possible structural modifications associated with the incorporation of plant-derived bioactive compounds into the oil matrix.

Materials and methods

The medicinal plants used in this study included Zingiber officinale (ginger), Sedum species, Ferula sumbul, Inula helenium, and Arctium tomentosum. All plant materials were dried under laboratory conditions, cleaned of impurities, and finely powdered before extraction. Refined sunflower oil was used as the base oil for the preparation of the biologically active formulation. Preparation of BIOLIN Oil: The sequential extraction method was applied for the preparation of the biologically active oil formulation “BIOLIN.” Equal proportions of powdered plant materials were mixed thoroughly to obtain a homogeneous phytocomposition. Approximately 10 g of the prepared plant mixture was extracted with 100 mL of 96% ethanol under reflux conditions in a water bath at 60–70°C for 30 min. After completion of the ethanolic extraction stage, 50 mL of sunflower oil was added directly to the extract mixture. The extraction process was continued under controlled heating conditions to facilitate the gradual evaporation of ethanol and transfer of lipophilic and semi-polar phytochemical constituents into the oil phase. The resulting oil extract was filtered to remove insoluble plant residues and stored at 4°C for 24 h to ensure stabilization and sedimentation of suspended particles. The obtained filtrate represented the final biologically active oil formulation designated as “BIOLIN.” FTIR Spectroscopic Analysis: Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra of pure sunflower oil and BIOLIN oil were recorded using a Bruker Alpha II FTIR spectrometer (Germany). Spectral measurements were carried out in the mid-infrared region of 4000–400 cm⁻¹ at room temperature. Samples were analyzed directly without additional chemical treatment. The obtained spectra were processed and interpreted comparatively to identify characteristic absorption bands corresponding to functional groups present in the lipid matrix and plant-derived bioactive compounds.

Results and discussions

To improve comparative interpretation, slight variations in peak intensity and band distribution between pure sunflower oil and BIOLIN oil indicate the incorporation of plant-derived phytochemical constituents into the lipid matrix. In particular, changes observed in the fingerprint region suggest the presence of oxygen-containing bioactive compounds, including phenolics, flavonoids, and terpenoid derivatives extracted from the medicinal plants. During the research work, the FTIR analysis of the biologically active supplement Biolin oil, obtained from plants, was compared with the FTIR analysis of pure oil. In other words, FTIR spectra of both the pure oil used and Biolin oil were recorded and studied. First, the results of the pure oil are presented.

Figure 1. Results of the FTIR analysis of the pure oil

Based on the FTIR spectrum of the obtained pure oil, several characteristic absorption bands were observed, confirming the presence of lipid-based structures and bioactive functional groups derived from the plant mixture. A weak band at 3008.95 cm⁻¹ corresponds to =C–H stretching vibrations, indicating the presence of unsaturated fatty acids (cis-olefinic groups) in the oil matrix. The strong absorption bands at 2922.16 cm⁻¹ and 2852.72 cm⁻¹ are attributed to the asymmetric and symmetric stretching vibrations of aliphatic –CH₂ and –CH₃ groups, which are characteristic of long-chain hydrocarbon structures in triglycerides.

A prominent peak at 1743.65 cm⁻¹ is assigned to the C=O stretching vibration of ester functional groups, confirming the presence of esterified fatty acids typical for vegetable oils. This band is a key indicator of triglyceride structures in the BIOLIN oil.

Figure 2. FTIR analysis results of Biolin Oil

The bands observed at 1456.26 cm⁻¹ and 1377.17 cm⁻¹ are associated with CH₂ bending (scissoring) and CH₃ symmetric bending vibrations, respectively, further supporting the presence of aliphatic lipid chains. In the fingerprint region, several peaks at 1236.37 cm⁻¹, 1159.22 cm⁻¹, and 1097.50 cm⁻¹ are related to C–O stretching vibrations of ester and alcohol groups, which are typical for glycerol backbone structures in triglycerides and may also reflect contributions from plant-derived bioactive compounds. The absorption band at 721.38 cm⁻¹ is characteristic of long-chain –(CH₂)n– rocking vibrations, confirming the presence of extended aliphatic chains in fatty acid components. Additional bands in the lower region (964.11, 914.26, 844.82, 605.65, and 549.71 cm⁻¹) are associated with out-of-plane bending and skeletal vibrations, which may be related to minor structural variations and phytochemical constituents from the plant extracts.

Based on the FTIR spectrum of the obtained BIOLIN oil, several characteristic absorption bands were observed, confirming the presence of lipid-based structures and bioactive functional groups derived from the plant mixture.

A weak band at 3008.95 cm⁻¹ corresponds to =C–H stretching vibrations, indicating the presence of unsaturated fatty acids (cis-olefinic groups) in the oil matrix. The strong absorption bands at 2922.16 cm⁻¹ and 2852.72 cm⁻¹ are attributed to the asymmetric and symmetric stretching vibrations of aliphatic –CH₂ and –CH₃ groups, which are characteristic of long-chain hydrocarbon structures in triglycerides.

A prominent peak at 1743.65 cm⁻¹ is assigned to the C=O stretching vibration of ester functional groups, confirming the presence of esterified fatty acids typical for vegetable oils. This band is a key indicator of triglyceride structures in the BIOLIN oil.

The bands observed at 1456.26 cm⁻¹ and 1377.17 cm⁻¹ are associated with CH₂ bending (scissoring) and CH₃ symmetric bending vibrations, respectively, further supporting the presence of aliphatic lipid chains.

In the fingerprint region, several peaks at 1236.37 cm⁻¹, 1159.22 cm⁻¹, and 1097.50 cm⁻¹ are related to C–O stretching vibrations of ester and alcohol groups, which are typical for glycerol backbone structures in triglycerides and may also reflect contributions from plant-derived bioactive compounds.

The absorption band at 721.38 cm⁻¹ is characteristic of long-chain –(CH₂)n– rocking vibrations, confirming the presence of extended aliphatic chains in fatty acid components. Additional bands in the lower region (964.11, 914.26, 844.82, 605.65, and 549.71 cm⁻¹) are associated with out-of-plane bending and skeletal vibrations, which may be related to minor structural variations and phytochemical constituents from the plant extracts.

Conclusion

The FTIR analysis of BIOLIN oil and the corresponding pure oil sample confirms that the obtained product is predominantly composed of lipid-based structures typical of vegetable oils. The spectra of both samples exhibit characteristic absorption bands associated with triglycerides, including strong C=O stretching of ester groups (~1743 cm⁻¹), aliphatic C–H stretching vibrations (~2922 and ~2852 cm⁻¹), and C–O stretching vibrations in the fingerprint region. These signals collectively confirm the presence of long-chain esterified fatty acids with both saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbon chains.

In addition, the presence of bands corresponding to =C–H stretching and out-of-plane bending vibrations indicates unsaturation within the fatty acid profile, while CH₂ and CH₃ bending vibrations further support the aliphatic nature of the oil matrix. Minor differences and additional weak peaks observed in the BIOLIN oil spectrum compared to the pure oil suggest successful incorporation of plant-derived bioactive compounds into the final formulation.

Overall, the comparative FTIR study demonstrates that BIOLIN oil retains the fundamental chemical structure of a triglyceride-based oil while also reflecting contributions from the plant mixture's phytochemical constituents, confirming its successful development as a bioactive lipid formulation.

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