Antioxidant activities of barringtonia racemosa leaves

Abstract

Proximate analysis of Barringtonia racemosa (putat) leaves was carried out and total phenolic content (TPC) was measured using total phenolic assay, also known as the Folin Ciocalteu (FC) assay. Antioxidant activities of the methanolic and aqueous extracts were evaluated by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay; the free radical scavenging capacity was determined by 1,1-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging capacity (DPPH) assay. Proximate analysis showed that the leaves contained 70.52% moisture, 0.96% ash, 2.54% protein, 0.26% fat, 1.38% crude fiber, and 25.71% carbohydrates. The TPC amount exhibited by the methanolic extract was 1585.20±25.54 mg GAE/100 g sample, which was higher compared with the aqueous plant extract with 1314.12±66.19 mg GAE/100 g (p<0.05). Significant (p<0.05) difference in terms of the flavonoid content was observed between the extracts obtained by methanolic and aqueous extraction. Total condensed tannin content showed significant (p<0.05) difference between the methanolic and the aqueous extracts, which were 33.11±0.61 mg CE/100 g and 13.38±0.87 mg CE/100 g, respectively. Methanolic extract of Barringtonia racemosa leaves showed a higher DPPH scavenging activity than the aqueous extract. FRAP value for the methanolic extract of the sample was higher than the aqueous extract, with a significant difference (p<0.05). Results of this study will provide a platform for the future paradigm of these potential natural sources of antioxidants in food and nutraceutical applications.