Abstract:

This study was undertaken to estimate the antioxidant activity and total tannin content of Moringa olifera Lam. (Moringa) leaves and find a suitable extraction condition for maximum yield. Two types of solvent and three different extraction times and temperatures were experimented for extraction. Moringa leaves were oven-dried and powdered to determine the antioxidant activity in terms of total phenolic content (TPC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and DPPH radical scavenging activity and total tannin content. The maximum TPC value noted in methanol extract, and it ranges from 6.46 ± 0.34 g to 3.91±0.19 g gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100g dry sample (DM). The FRAP values varied from 211.6 ± 3.75 to 344.13 ± 3.26 mg ascorbic acid equivalent (AAE)/100g DM and 166.67 ± 2.90 to 224.93 ± 1.94 mg AAE/100g DM, for methanol and ethanol extract, respectively. The DPPH radical scavenging activity ranged from 46.32 ± 1.07 to 58.09 ± 0.92% for methanol extract and 56.76 ± 1.48% to 69.72 ± 1.15% for ethanol extract. The total tannin content varied from 6.84 ± 0.05 to 10.22 ± 1.11 mg GAE/100 g dry sample and 6.77 ± 0.08 to 9.23 ± 0.51 mg GAE/ 100g DMfor methanol and ethanol extract, respectively. The highest antioxidant yield for methanol and ethanol extract of Moringa leaves differed for various conditions. Overall, Moringa leaves showed excellent antioxidant properties that can be commercially and domestically used.

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