Abstract:
The Total Phenolic Content (TPC) and antioxidant activity of fresh and dried materials of Enicostemma littorale Blume were evaluated using the Folin-ciocalteau method, 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assays. Different drying treatments especially, microwave treated plant material led to significant reduction (p≤0.05) in antioxidant properties of E. littorale in methanolic extracts as compared to that of the boiling water extracts, which appeared to exhibit significantly stronger antioxidant potentials (p≤0.05) even in dried plant materials due to greater solubility of compounds, breakdown of cellular constituents as well as hydrolysis of tannins. A strong free radical scavenging activity in the chosen plant material suggests that it has great potential in the food industry as functional food ingredient.
R. Sathishkumar, P.T.V. Lakshmi and A. Annamalai, 2009. Effect of Drying Treatment on the Content of Antioxidants in Enicostemma littorale Blume. Research Journal of Medicinal Plant, 3: 93-101.
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