Phenolic and flavonoid contents and anti-oxidative potential of epicarp and mesocarp of Lagenaria siceraria fruit: A comparative study

ABSTRACT

Objective: To conduct a comparative analysis of the phenolic and flavonoid contents and anti-oxidative potential of epicarp and mesocarp of Lagenaria siceraria fruit. Methods: The dried methanolic extracts of mesocarp and epicarp of the fruit and their hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanolic and aqueous fractions were subjected to antioxidant assays including ferric reducing antioxidant potential, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid, reducing power capacity, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, lipid peroxidation inhibitory and phosphomolybdate assays. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were also determined. Results: Ethyl acetate fractions of epicarp and mesocarp had considerable amounts of phenolics (243.50 and 109.50 μg/mL of gallic acid equivalents, respectively). 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity of ethyl acetate fractions of both the plant parts showed higher activity than vitamin C with IC