Experimental approaches targeting the biochemical and antioxidant potential of Synsepalum dulcificum dried fruits

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the biochemical content and antioxidant activity of methanol extracts prepared from Synsepalum dulcificum dried fruits. The results obtained by phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of some pharmacologically active chemical compounds such as: alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds and tannins. Quantitative analysis showed that the seeds had phenols in greater amounts (157.88 ± 2.09 mg GAE / g dry matter) than dried fruit pulp (54.09 ± 2.24 mg GAE / g dry matter). Contrariwise, flavonoid content was found to be low in seed (0.013 ± 0.02 mg EQ / g) and high in fruit pulp (0.13 ± 0.05 mg EQ / g). Correlated with the high amount of total phenol, in the seed extracts was found a good antioxidant activity – measured by both DPPH and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. This antioxidant capacity may be also correlated with the amount of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and phenolic compounds, and as well as with their synergistic interactions. Synsepalum dulcificum fruits can be used as a healthy source of additives for the food industry or as natural antioxidants for the pharmaceutical industry.