Antioxidant activities of phenolic, proanthocyanidin, and flavonoid components in extracts of Cassia fistula.
Cassia fistula L., a semi-wild Indian Labernum, is widely cultivated in Mauritius as an ornamental tree for its beautiful bunches of yellow flowers and also used in traditional medicine for several indications. The total phenolic, proanthocyanidin, and flavonoid contents, and the antioxidant activities, of fresh vegetative and reproductive organs of Cassia fistula harvested at different stages of growth were determined using the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. The antioxidant activities were strongly correlated with total phenols (TEAC r = 0.989; FRAP r = 0.951) in all organs studied, and with proanthocyanidins (TEAC r = 0.980; FRAP r = 0.899) in reproductive organs including fruits. The antioxidant activities of reproductive parts were higher than those of the vegetative organs, with the pods having highest total phenolic, proanthocyanidin, and flavonoid contents and antioxidant potentials (TEAC = 992 +/- 0.4 micromol/g dry weight; FRAP = 811 +/- 23 micromol/g dry weight).
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Mauritius, Réduit, United Kingdom.
Amitabye
A
Luximon-Ramma
Theeshan
T
Bahorun
Mohammed A
MA
Soobrattee
Okezie I
OI
Aruoma
D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002366:Cassia / Q000737:chemistry*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry*; D018514:Plant Structures / Q000737:chemistry; D044945:Proanthocyanidins
D000872:Anthocyanins; D000975:Antioxidants; D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D044945:Proanthocyanidins; C013221:proanthocyanidin