The Potential of Phytochemical Compounds in Invasive Weeds Cyperus rotundus and Imperata cylindrica as Natural Herbicides
Abstract
Invasive plants such as Cyperus rotundus and Imperata cylindrica pose a serious threat to agricultural productivity due to intense resource competition. Reliance on synthetic herbicides for their control has triggered weed resistance and environmental pollution, necessitating sustainable alternatives based on allelopathy. This study aims to evaluate the bioherbicide potential through physicochemical characterization and phytochemical screening of C. rotundus tubers and I. cylindrica rhizomes extracts. Extraction was performed using the maceration method with three solvents of varying polarity: distilled water (aquadest), 96% ethanol, and methanol. Observed parameters included acidity (pH), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), and qualitative profiles of secondary metabolites (phenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, saponins, and tannins). The results indicated that organic solvents (ethanol and methanol) were significantly more effective in extracting bioactive compounds compared to distilled water. Physicochemically, all extracts exhibited an acidic pH (4.51–5.05), supporting compound stability during storage. The ethanol extract of C. rotundus tubers demonstrated the superior profile with a yield of 35.00%, high TDS (2,954 ppm), and strong positive phytochemical intensity (+++) for phenols, steroids, saponins, and tannins. Conversely, although the distilled water extract of I. cylindrica rhizomes showed high TDS (2,162 ppm), its phytochemical screening was negative (-), indicating that the dissolved solids were dominated by non-active compounds such as carbohydrates. In conclusion, the ethanol extract of C. rotundus tubers is the most potential candidate for development as a natural herbicide formulation.
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