FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING ACTIVITY AND PHENOLIC CONTENT OF MLINJO TREE (Gnetum gnemon L.)

Abstract

Gnemon tree, Gnetum gnemon, L (Gnataceae) is cultivated in Indonesia, Malaysia and other south-east Asian islands for its seeds and is used as food in Indonesia. This tree may be considered as a suitable source of functional food, nutraceutical food supplement and their high bioavailability. The study was aimed to determine the antioxidant activity (total antioxidant and free radical-scavenging activities) and total phenolic content of different tissue such as root, stem, leaf, seed and pulp seed on mlinjo tree (G. gnemon). The total phenol varied from 5.97 and 9.91 mg GAE g-1 sample. Flavonoid contents were between 0.85 – 3.14 mg QE g-1 sample. 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging effect of their extracts were determined spectrophotometrically. The highest radical scavenging effect was observed in root with 37.27 mg VCEAC g–1 sample. Furthermore, the radical scavenging activity of mlinjo tree tissue was in the order of root > leaf (36.66 mg VCEAC) > seed (34.08 mg VCEAC )> stem (32.52 mg VCEAC )>pulp seed (32.48 mg VCEAC). The greater amount of phenolic compounds leads to more potent radical scavenging effect as shown by mlinjo tree tissue extract.