18B-33 |
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H. BAE and H. P. Batt. Dept. of Packaging Science, Clemson Univ., College of Agriculture, Forestry & Life Sciences, B-212 P&A Bldg., Clemson, SC 29634-0370 Leaves of Ficus Carica, the common fig tree, were extracted in methanol (80%) and subjected to an antioxidant activity assay. Antioxidant activity was measured using a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging method. The crude extract was subjected to solvent-solvent partitioning to yield 4 fractions: hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and aqueous. These fractions were then screened for antioxidant activity using the DPPH assay. The antioxidant activity of the aqueous fraction was the strongest. Using C18-high-pressure liquid chromatography, the aqueous fraction was partitioned and then analyzed. Total of five fractions were acquired and two fractions (fraction 2 and fraction 5) from the aqueous fraction exhibited high antioxidant activity. Crude methanolic Ficus Carica leaf extract (10 mg/mL) had approximately 50% free radical scavenging activity. This result was equivalent to the antioxidant activities of 0.1mg/mL ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and 0.08mg/mL butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) at the same experimental conditions. The results demonstrated that Ficus Carica leaf extract might be another good source of natural antioxidants.
Session 18B, Food Chemistry: Antioxidant and bioactive agents
2005 IFT Annual Meeting, July 15-20 - New Orleans, Louisiana |