Antioxidant activity of selected lesser known edible fruits from Western Ghats of India

Abstract

Six species of lesser known edible fruits from Western Ghats of India were analysed for their anthocyanin, ascorbic acid, total phenolics and flavonoid levels and their antioxidant activities using the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method. The data obtained shown the anthocyanin, ascorbic acid, total phenolics and flavonoid levels were significantly higher in the methanol extract of <i style="">Mahonia leschenaultii</i> (Wall. ex Wight &amp; Arn.) Takeda fruits. <i style="">Gaultheria fragrantissima</i> Wall. and <i style="">Rubus ellipticus</i> Sm. fruits were also found to have significant amount of phytochemicals analyzed. <i style="">M. leschenaultii</i> fruits had highest antioxidant activity when compared to all other fruit extracts. There was a strong correlation between the content of phytochemicals and antioxidant activities in all fruit extracts in the following decreasing order: <i style="">M. leschenaultii</i> &gt; <i style="">G. fragrantissima</i> &gt; <i style="">R. ellipticus</i> &gt; <i style="">Grewia tiliaefolia</i> Vahl &gt; <i style="">Ziziphus rugosa</i> Lam.&gt; <i style="">Flueggea leucopyrus</i> Willd.