Secondary metabolite screening and relative reactive oxygen species scavenging with reducing potency of fruit extract of Malaysian Mengkudu using various solvent extracts

• Main Authors: Mahadeva Rao, U.S, Khamsah Suryati, Mohd, Siti Zulaikha, Abd Halim
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan International Cultural Exchange Foundation 2014
• Subjects: Q Science (General)
• Online Access: http://eprints.unisza.edu.my/5501/1/FH02-FPSK-14-01328.jpg; http://eprints.unisza.edu.my/5501/

Aim: An endeavor has been organized to screen the secondary metabolite, comparative superoxide radical scavenging and reducing potency of Mengkudu (Morinda citrifolia) using aqueous and organic solvent extracts. Methods: The herbal powder obtained from plant part-dry fruit were extracted with aqueous and organic solvents. The extracts were analysed for secondary metabolite and antioxidants. Free radical scavenging capacity was analysed in terms of superoxide radical scavenging assay and reducing power assay. Result: Phytochemical characterization of the different solvent extracts exposed the existence of the secondary metabolites, viz. alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, sterol, saponin glycosides, reducing sugars, proteins, cardia active agiycones and cardinolides. Excellent superoxide radical scavenging propensity established in almost all solvent extracts of Mengkudu. Discussion: In the contemporary study, the superoxide radical reduces nitro blue tétrazolium (NBT) to a blue coloured formazan that is measured at 560 nm. Antioxidant activity has been recounted to be concomitant with improvement of reducing power. This confirms that extracts might contain reductones like ascorbic acid, reducing sugar, thiol group containing protein which could react with free radicals to stabilize and terminate radical chain reaction. Conclusion: These outcomes advocate that the guaranteeing phytonutrients of the fruit could be intimidated against oxidative stress, cancer, ageing, ischemic heart disease in dissolving thrombus, microbial infections and hormone replacement therapy extenuating their consumption in conventional medicine as nutraceuticals.