ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF THE CRUDE EXTRACTS OF DRUMSTICK TREE (MORINGA OLEIFERA LAM.) AND SWEET BROOMWEED (SCOPARIA DULCIS L.) LEAVES
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Publication date: 2007-06-30
Pol. J. Food Nutr. Sci. 2007;57(2):203-208
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ABSTRACT
The crude extracts of phenolic compounds were obtained from drumstick (Moringa oleifera Lam.) and sweet broomweed (Scoparia dulcis L.) leaves. The content of total phenolics in the extracts was determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu’s phenol reagent. Phenolic compounds present in the crude extracts showed antioxidant properties as revealed by the following determinations: the Total Antioxidant Activity (TAA), DPPH radical scavenging activity, and reducing power. The content of total phenolics in the extract of Moringa oleifera leaves was 118 mg/g. The lower content of the total phenolics was noted for the Scoparia dulcis leaves extract: 88 mg/g. The extract of Moringa oleifera was characterized by the higher value of the TAA (0.636 μmol Trolox/mg) than Scoparia dulcis (0.432 μmol Trolox/mg). For the extracts of Moringa oleifera also the stronger antiradical activity against DPPH radical and reducing power were noted. Phenolic acids (derivatives of caffeic, p-coumaric or ferulic acids) were the dominant phenolic constituents of Moringa olifera leaves extract.