Phytochemical Analysis and Antioxidant Potential of Cucumis Melo Seeds

Abstract

-Secondary metabolites or phytochemicals from plants have eminent pharmacological activities such as anti-oxidative, anti-allergic, antibiotic, hypoglycaemic and anti-carcinogenic. These secondary metabolites protect the cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals. They can inhibit oxidation of free radicals in both human body and food system. Food industry uses both natural and synthetic antioxidants to extend shelf life of products. But the application of synthetic antioxidant has been limited due to its carcinogenicity. Recently research is being focused on fruit materials, which are considered rich source of antioxidant compounds. In this study the phytoconstituents of seed extracts of two varieties of Cucumis melo L, namely Cucumis melo cantalupensis and Cucumis melo reticulatus, were studied for their antioxidant property by DPPH free radical scavenging method. In this investigation, chloroform, petroleum ether, acetone, aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the fruit seed were made using cold extraction process. Phytochemical study reveals that anthroquinones, quinines, cardiac glycosides, terpenoids, phenols and steroids were present in aqueous extract of both the samples. The total phenolic content of their seed extracts were found to be 8.8 mg GAE/g of dry sample and 9.2 mg GAE/g of dry sample respectively. The phenolic content was found to be linearly proportional to the antioxidant ability of the samples.