In vitro antioxidant activity of the ethanolic extract from fruit, stem, and leaf of Solanum torvum

Abstract

Secondary metabolites in the Solanaceae group of plants influence human health. Hence fruits and beverages from Solanum torvum are becoming essential not only for their nutritional value but also for medicinal benefits. This study evaluates the antioxidant activity of the extract of fruit, leaf, and stem of S. torvum. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were evaluated using the Folin-Ciocalteu method and AlCl 3 test, respectively. Antioxidant activities were assessed by DPPH radical scavenging and the ferric-reducing antioxidant power assays. The results showed that stem extracts accumulated significantly higher phenolic content and higher reducing ability than the extracts of fruit and leaf. Extracts of leaves contained significantly higher flavonoid content and higher antioxidant capacity towards DPPH than that of in extract of fruit and stem. This result suggests that extracts of stems exhibited a good reducing ability, whereas the extract of leaves displayed an excellent DPPH free radical scavenging ability.