The influence of leaf age and drying temperature on antioxidant capacity of Cassia alata

摘要

Antioxidants play an important role in inhibiting and scavenging free radicals,thus providing protection to human against infections and degenerative diseases.Current research is now directed towards natural antioxidants originated from plants due to safe therapeutics.Cassia alata plant has been commonly used as medicinal herbs for treating fungal infection such as ringworm and eczema.Nevertheless,there are only few studies focused on C.alata.This work aims to provide information about the antioxidant capacity of C.alata leaves at different stages of maturity and drying temperatures.The leaf maturity(young,medium and old)were determined by using chlorophyll meter.The leaves were dried at different temperatures(30,40,60 and 80 °C)using a laboratory oven.The leaves were then analysed for its antioxidant capacity.The extract of C.alata exhibited strong scavenging effect on 2,2-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl(DPPH)free radical.The antioxidant capacity in the examined extracts ranged from 85.81 to 89.71%.The results exhibited that the antioxidant capacity of C.alata extracts increased when the maturity of the leaves increased.Besides that,drying temperature was also found to increase the antioxidant capacity of C.alata leaves.