ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF PERSEA AMERICANA M. SEED AS AFFECTED BY DIFFERENT EXTRACTION SOLVENT

The present study investigated the antioxidant properties of Persea americana Mill seed using four different extraction solvents at different dilution ratios (100% acetone, 70% acetone, 100% ethyl acetate, 70% ethyl acetate, 100% ethanol, 70% ethanol and 100% water). Total phenol (TP), total flavonoid (TF), total proanthocyanidin (TpA), total antioxidant activity and reducing/scavenging capacity (using Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power-FRAP and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl-DPPH radical scavenging) were determined spectrophotometrically. The results showed that Persia americana Mill seed contain considerable amounts of phenols, flavonoids and pro-anthocyanidin. Extraction solvents had significant effects on the concentration of TP, TF TpA and antioxidant activity. The concentrations observed were in this order for the solvents: 100% acetone, 70% acetone, 100% ethyl acetate, 100% ethanol, 100% water, 70% ethyl acetate and 70% ethanol. The TP varied between 10.99 and 5.03 mg GAE/100 g, TF varied between 1.92 and 0.46 mg quercetin/100 g, TpA varied between 0.67 and 0.15 mg/g catechin and total antioxidant content varied between 265.75 and 150.6 mg AAE/100 g. The highest FRAP and DPPH scavenging capacity were recorded for the 100% acetone extract (0.85 mg/ml, and 89.15% respectively) and the least for 70% ethanol extract (0.28 mg/ml and 50.35% respectively). Positive correlations exist between the TP, TF, TpA and antioxidant capacity of Persea americana Seed. In conclusion, Persea americana Mill seed is a good source of antioxidant. Solvent of extraction has significance on the quantity and potency of antioxidant.