Research article summary (published 30 Dec 2004):

Antioxidant properties of palm fruit extracts.

Full Abstract

Phenolic compounds have been shown to exhibit bioactive properties, and in particular antioxidant effects. A phenolic-rich fraction has been isolated from the aqueous by-product obtained during the milling of oil palm fruits. The objectives of the study were to determine the phenolic content of the crude and ethanolic extracts of oil palm fruits and to evaluate the antioxidant properties of these extracts. The total phenolics content of the crude and ethanol extracts as determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method were found to be 40.3 +/- 0.5 and 49.6 +/- 0.6 mg GAE/g extract (dry basis), respectively. The radical scavenging activity of the extracts determined using 2,2 diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH.) indicated that both crude and ethanol extracts exhibit hydrogen-donating capacity, and have antiradical power (ARP) comparable to ascorbic acid. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of the extracts were less than that of gallic acid, but the time-course variations of the scavenging curves suggest that the extracts acted by a mechanism similar to that of gallic acid. The electron-donating potentials of the extracts were inferred from the hydrogen peroxide scavenging and reducing power assays. The reducing power of crude and ethanol extracts at 1 mM GAE were found to be comparable to that of 0.3 mM gallic acid. The extracts indicated complete scavenging of hydrogen peroxide at concentrations above 0.4 mM GAE. These findings suggest that the crude and ethanol extracts are able to scavenge free radicals, by either hydrogen or electron donating mechanisms, and can therefore act as primary antioxidants.

Author information

Author/s: Balasundram, Nagendran (N); Ai, Tan Yew (TY); Sambanthamurthi, Ravigadevi (R); Sundram, Kalyana (K); Samman, Samir (S);

Affiliation: Human Nutrition Unit, School of Molecular and Microbial Biosciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006 Australia.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Asia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition (Asia Pac J Clin Nutr), published in Australia. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2005-; vol 14 (issue 4) : pp 319-24

Dates: Created 2005/12/05; Completed 2006/05/01; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 16326638, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Antioxidants - pharmacology Dose-Response Relationship, Drug Free Radical Scavengers - metabolism Fruit Gallic Acid - pharmacology Humans

Hydrogen Peroxide - pharmacology Kinetics Phenols - isolation & purification; pharmacology Picrates - pharmacology Plant Extracts - chemistry; pharmacology Plant Oils - chemistry

Associated Chemicals: Antioxidants (0) ; Free Radical Scavengers (0) ; Phenols (0) ; Picrates (0) ; Plant Extracts (0) ; Plant Oils (0) ; Gallic Acid (149-91-7) ; 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (1898-66-4) ; Hydrogen Peroxide (7722-84-1) ; palm oil (8002-75-3)

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