Antioxidant activity of tauco ethanol extract and its fractions

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate antioxidant activity and phytochemical screening of ethanol extract, fractions of water, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane from tauco. Methods: Two types of tauco were extracted using soxhletation methods, followed by fractionation using liquid-liquid extraction methods, and phytochemical screening. Antioxidant activity test was carried out using 1,1-diphenyl-2-pikrilhiradzil with ascorbic acid (vitamin C) as a reference. Modified method of Farnsworth was applied for phytochemical screening. Results: It was found that extracts of ethanol and ethyl acetate fraction containing flavonoids, monoterpenoid, and sesquiterpenoids whereas the water fraction and a fraction of n-hexane only contain monoterpenes and sesquiterpenoids. The inhibition concentration 50 (IC50) value for the ethanol extract, water, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane fractions of two taucos in a row were 1192.71 ppm, 1746.01 ppm, 722.38 ppm, 1845.45 ppm and 1190.15 ppm, 1740.30, 710.46, for tauco A and B, respectively. Conclusion: It was unexpected that tauco ethanol extract and fractions showed much weaker antioxidant activity than vitamin C, which had the IC50 value of 4.41 ppm.