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Free radical scavenging activity, total phenolics and metabolites identified in Rivina humilis berries

Free radical scavenging activity, total phenolics and metabolites identified in Rivina humilis berries

Andrea Goldson Barnaby
Faculty of Science and Technology
Chemistry
Theme: 
Agriculture and Agro-processing

Rivina humilis L belongs to the Petiveriacea family and is also known as pigeon berry, dog blood, dogberry or blood berry. The leaves of the plant are utilised in traditional medicine for the treatment of various ailments. The berries are however underutilised. Betalains are the pigments responsible for the red colour of the fruit. The free radical scavenging activity and IC50 value (inhibitory concentration) of the berries were determined utilising the 2,2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and total phenolics by the Folin-Ciocalteu assay. The berry extracts were also analysed by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry to identify metabolites present. R. humilis berries exhibit excellent free radical scavenging activity with an IC50 value of 4.93 mg/mL. The total phenolic content of R. humilis berries was 9.57 ± 0.03 mg GAE/g. Galactose was identified as the major carbohydrate in R. humilis berries. Other metabolites identified included citric acid and the triterpenoid, germanicol. R. humilis berries are a rich source of antioxidants and may be considered for commercial food applications.

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