White dragon fruit is a well known and widely used herbal 

medicine,  especially  in  Asia,  which  contains  several  interesting 

bioactive constituents and possesses health promoting properties. 

The  aim  of  this  study  was  to  analyze  for  the  bioactive 

compounds,  evaluate  total  phenolic  contents  and  antioxidant 

capacities  of  methanolic  extract  of  white  dragon  fruit.  The 

antioxidant  activity  was  determined  by  the  1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity assay. Total 

phenolic  content  were  determined  by  Folin-Ciocalteu  method. 

Phytochemical  screening  of  the  white  dragon  fruit  showed               

the  presence  of  triterpenoid,  alkaloid,  flavonoid  and  saponin.            

The  extract  exhibited  strong  antioxidant  activity  with  IC50  of         

193 μg/mL, and total phenolic content of 246 μg/mL in 1 Kg dry 

extract

Redjeki, Tri

Susanti, Elfi

Syukri, Yandi

Utomo, Suryadi Budi

Sebelas Maret Institutional Repository

Short Communication   Volume 23 Issue 1 (2012) 60 Indonesian J. Pharm.  Vol. 23 No. 1 :  60 – 64 ISSN-p : 0126-1037 PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANALYSIS POLYPHENOLIC  ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF METHANOLIC  EXTRACT OF WHITE DRAGON FRUIT (Hylocereus undatus)  Elfi Susanti VH1*, Suryadi Budi Utomo1, Yandi Syukri2, Tri Redjeki1  1Department of Chemistry, PMIPA FKIP, Universitas Sebelas Maret. Jl. Ir Sutami 36 A Surakarta   Indonesia, 57126 2Departement of Pharmacy, FMIPA, Universitas Islam Indonesia  Jl. Kaliurang KM 14,5 Sleman Yogyakarta 55584  Submitted: 06-01-2012 Revised: 12-01-2012 Accepted: 28-01-2012  *Corresponding author Elfi Susanti VH +62-8121523622 E-mail: bunda3f@gmail.com ABSTRACT White dragon fruit is a well known and widely used herbal medicine, especially in Asia, which contains several interesting bioactive constituents and possesses health promoting properties. The aim of this study was to analyze for the bioactive compounds, evaluate total phenolic contents and antioxidant capacities of methanolic extract of white dragon fruit. The antioxidant activity was determined by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity assay. Total phenolic content were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu method. Phytochemical screening of the white dragon fruit showed               the presence of triterpenoid, alkaloid, flavonoid and saponin.            The extract exhibited strong antioxidant activity with IC50 of         193 μg/mL, and total phenolic content of 246 μg/mL in 1 Kg dry extract.  Key words: antioxidant activity, total phenolic, DPPH, white dragon fruit   INTRODUCTION Flavonoid are polyphenolic compound that are widely distributed in fruits and vegetables. They possess a large range of structure, according to chemical structure into flavones, isoflavones, flavonones, flavonols, anthocyanidin and chalcone. Flavonoids have been reported to exert wide range of biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, antiviral, antiallergic, cytotoxic antitumour (Sandhar et al., 2011). An important effect of flavonoids is their capacity to act as antioxidants (Nijveldt et al., 2001). Anti-oxidants are compounds which capable of preventing and even counteracting the damage caused in human tissue by the normal effect of physiological oxidation (Belsare et al., 2010). Antioxidants could protect cells against the damaging effects of reactive oxygen species, such as singlet oxygen, superoxide, peroxyl radicals, hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite. An imbalance between antioxidants and reactive oxygen species results in oxidative stress, leading to cellular damage. Oxidative stress, ie. increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, has been linked to asthma, cancer, cataracts, diabetes, gastrointestinal inflame-matory diseases, liver disease, aging, atherosclerosis, ischemic injury, and neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson's and Alzheimer's) (Patil et al. 2009). Flavonoids as anti-oxidants may help provide protection against these diseases. At present most of the antioxidants used for  this are manufactured synthetically. Several synthetic antioxidants are commercially accessible but have been reported to be toxic, therefore, it is very significant to find and develop a new, safe and cheap antioxidants of natural origin. One of the high-potential natural antioxidants is white dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus). White dragon fruit, golden outside and white inside, a fantastic new edible fruit plant obtained from Thailand. The Dragon Fruit is a vining, terrestrial with fleshy stems. Flowers are elaborate and bloom only at night. Dragon fruit is rich in vitamins and helps the digestive process due to its fiber, prevents colon cancer and diabetes, neutralize toxic substances such as heavy metal, and helps to reduce cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. The red-fleshed varieties contain lycopene, which is a natural Elfi Susanti VH et al. Volume 23 Issue 1 (2012) 61 antioxidant known to fight cancer, heart disease, and lower blood pressure. Red-fleshed pitaya fruit is a potential fruit for betacyanins extraction (Phebe et al., 2009). Regularly consuming the dragon fruit can help against asthma and cough. Dragon fruit is rich in fiber, Vitamin C and minerals. Dragon fruit is also rich in phytoalbumins which are highly valued for their antioxidant properties. Antioxidants prevent the formation of cancer-causing free radicals. In Taiwan, diabetics use the fruit as a food substitute for rice and as a source of dietary fiber. Wu et al., (2006) investigated that the flesh and peel of red dragon fruits were both rich of polyphenols and were good sources of antioxidants. White dragon fruit is a type of cactus plants that still do not have complete reference information, both in terms of phytochemical and pharmacology in order to be optimally used as a form of alternative medicine. Utilization of these plants as traditional medicine is based on empirical evidence so  there is a need to find a scientific basis             about utilities and types of bioactive compounds in dragon fruit with the use of research approaches to chemistry and modern biology.   The objectives of the present study are phytochemical screening and polyphenolic antioxidant activity of methanolic  extract of white dragon fruit. The present study aimed to promote the contribution of white dragon fruit in public health campaigns to encourage the daily consumtion of white dragon fruit, through phytochemical screening, evaluation of the total phenolic contents, and the antioxidant capacities.  METHODOLOGY Materials All chemicals and solvents, such as aceton, buthanol, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol, methanolic, n-hexane, hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, phenolic, anhidrous acetic acid, silica gel GF254 plates, and magnesium, were purchase from E-Merck. 2,2'-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, and gallic acid, were purchased from Sigma.          All other reagents, such as Lieberman-Burchard reagent, Dragendorff reagent, sodium carbonate, acetic acid, and ascorbic acid, from local sources were of analytical grade.  PROCEDURE  Extraction and Isolation of Compounds The fruit pulp of white dragon fruit were cleaned, dried, coarsely and extracted with ethanol using maceration technique for 24 h at room temperature. The extracts were filtered  by filter paper Whatman No. 42 (125mm).   The extract was evaporated and concentrated under reduced pressure using rotary evaporator with the water bath set at 50°C. The crude extracts were further used for the next investigation.  Phytochemical Screening The crude extract were analized for the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, tannins and terpenoids using standard procedures of analysis (Egwaikhide et al., 2007). Test for flavonoids; 1-2 mL methanolic was added to a portion of filtrate of the extract. Magnesium metal and concentrated hydro-chloric acid (4-5 drops) was added. A red or orange colouration indicates the presence of flavonoids.  Test for terpenoids and Sterol; To each 0.5 g of the extract was added 0,5 mL of chloroform. 0,5 mL Anhidrous acetic acid was added. Then, concentrated sulphuric acid (1-2 mL) was carefully added to form a layer. A reddish brown colouration of the interface indicates the presence of terpenoids. A blue-green of the interface indicates the presence of sterol. Test for alkaloids; 0.5 g of extract was diluted to 10 mL with acid alcohol, boiled and filtered. To 5 mL of the filtrate was added 2 mL of dilute ammonia. 5 mL of chloroform was added and shaken gently to extract the alkaloidal base. The chloroform layer was extracted with 10 mL of acetic acid. This was divided into two portions. Mayer’s reagent was added to one portion and Draggendorff’s reagent to the other. The formation of a cream (with Mayer’s reagent) or reddish brown precipitate (with Draggendorff’s reagent)         was  regarded  as  positive  for  the  presence of  alkaloids. Test for tannins; About 0.5 g of the extract was boiled in 1-2 mL of water in a test tube  and  then  filtered.  Phytochemical and antioxidant activity of Hylocereus undatus  Volume 23 Issue 1 (2012) 62 A few drops of 0.1% ferric chloride was added and observed for brownish green or a blue-black colouration. Test for saponins; To 0.5 g of extract was added 5 mL of distilled water in a test tube. The solution was shaken vigourously.and observed for a stable persistent froth.   Determination of antioxidant activity  Antioxidant activity was determined using DPPH radical-scavenging assay. The DPPH free radical scavenging capability of dragon fruit extract was determined according to the method desribed with slight modifications (Ghafar et al., 2010). An aliquot of 0.5 mL of extract metanol of dragon fruit at different concentrations (10, 30, 50 and 70 ppm ) was mixed with 500 µL of 1 mM DPPH (dissolved in ethanol until 5 mL). The mixture was vigorously shaken and left to stand at room temperature for 30 min in a dark room. Absorbance was read at 515 nm using UV-vis spectrophotometer. Ascorbic acid was used as standard. Inhibition of DPPH radical scavenging activity in percent (I%) was calculated according to the equation of I% = [(Ablank - Asample)/ Ablank] × 100 where Asample is the absorbance of the sample, and Ablank is the absorbance of blank solution (containing all reagents except the test sample). IC50 value was determined from the plotted graph of scavenging activity against the concentrations of the dragon fruit samples, which is defined as total antioxidant necessary to decrease the initial DPPH radical by 50%. Triplicate measurements were carried out and IC50 was calculated based on the percentage of DPPH radicals scavenged.  Determination of Total Phenolic Content The total phenolic content (TPC) was determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu method as described by Meda et al., (2008). 0,5 mL of extract was added to deionized water (7,5 mL) and Folin–Ciocalteu phenolic reagents (0,5 mL). After 5 minutes, 20% sodium carbonate (1,5 mL) was added to the mixture. After being kept in 400C for 20 minutes, the absorbance was measured at 760 nm using a spectrophotometer against a water blank. A standard calibration curve was plotted using gallic acid (0, 40, 80, 120, 160, dan 200 mg/L).  Amounts of TPC were   calculated  for  sample  using  gallic  acid calibration curve. The results were expressed as gallic acid equivalents (GAE) g/g of dry plant matter. All measurements were performed in triplicate.  RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Extraction and Phytochemical Screening Extraction from 1 Kg dragon fruit dried in 2 L methanolic for 24 h, yielded 1 L filtrate and obtained 320 grams crude extract after evaporated. TLC scanner analysis with mobile phase butanol: acetic acid: water (4:1:5) showed the existence of four spots of chromatograms (Figure 1) with Rf 0,48, 0,62, 0,72, and 0,73. Results of the examination with spectro-photometer is showed that number 1 spot positive to contain flavonoids. This analysis was also supported by the phytochemical screening. The screening showed presence of triterpenoid, alkaloid, flavonoid, saponin, and showed the absence of sterol and tanin.  Determination of Antioxidant Activity Measurement of antioxidant activity of dragon fruit is very important because knowing the quality and how much antioxidant activity contained in the dragon fruit can be used as a standard when the fruit will be used as herbal medicine for health. DPPH method was chosen because this method is rapid, simple and inexpensive to measure antioxidant capacity that involves the use of the free radical, 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). DPPH is widely used to test the ability of compounds that acts as free radical scavengers or hydrogen donors, and evaluates antioxidant activity of foods. It has also been used to quantify antioxidants in complex biological systems in recent years. The DPPH                method can be used for solid or liquid               samples and is not specific to any particular antioxidant component, but applies to                   the overall antioxidant capacity of the           sample. The red dragon fruit peel fulfilled its promise to inhibit  the   growth   of  melanoma cells. Rebecca et al., (2010) determined antioxidant activity for red dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) using DPPH method, showed that the effective concentration  (EC50) 2,90 mM vitamin C equivalents/g dried extract.  Elfi Susanti VH et al. Volume 23 Issue 1 (2012) 63 In this study IC50 for methanolic extract of white dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus) 193 µg/mL. This means that the methanolic extract of white dragon fruit at a concentration of 193 µg/mL have the ability to inhibit free radical DPPH by 50%. Based on these results it can be said that the methanolic extract of white dragon fruit is potential to inhibit free radical DPPH, because at concentrations less than 200 µg/mL was able to inhibit 50% DPPH free radicals. The ability of flavonoids in arresting free radicals due to the hydroxy group on the molecule where the presence of free hydroxy groups in flavonoids. IC50 values of methanolic extract of the white dragon fruit is much greater than the IC50 value of ascorbic acid that is equal to 4,3 g/mL..    Determination of Total Phenolic Content Polyphenolic compounds are known to have antioxidant activity and it is likely that the activity of the extracts is due to these compounds. This activity is believed to be mainly due to their redox properties, which plays an important role in adsorbing and neutralizing free radicals, quenching singlet and triplet oxygen, or decomposing peroxides (Ghasemzadeh A, 2010). The Folin-Ciocalteu method was used because it is a generally preferred analytical method for determination of total polyphenolic using gallic acid as a standard. Rebecca et al., (2010) described that based on research of Lako et al., (2007, 2008), common fruits with significant content of total polyphenolic include: Musa sp. (Banana) with 110 µg/g total polyphenolic; Ananas comosus (Pineapple) with 150 µg/g; Carica papaya (Papaya) with 260 µg/g; tomatoes with 350 µg/g; cherries with 670 µg/g and blueberries with 3180 µg/g. In this study, result shows a total phenolic content of 246 mg/L in 1 Kg of dry white dragon fruitextract.  CONCLUSION The present study indicated that white dragon fruit is rich in flavonoids and exhibit   Figure 1. Chromatogram patern of dragon fruit extract. Phytochemical and antioxidant activity of Hylocereus undatus  Volume 23 Issue 1 (2012) 64 strong antioxidant activity in the DPPH methods. The antioxidant activities well correlated to flavanoid content content of flavonoid compounds. It can be concluded that, white dragon fruit, which are consumed as a vegetable, can be used as an accessible source of natural antioxidants with consequent health benefits.  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors are thankful to DP2M Dikti and head of LPPM UNS, Dean of FKIP UNS, Head of Chemistry Study Program and Chemistry Laboratory PMIPA FKIP UNS.  REFERENCES Belsare, D.P., Pal, S.C., Kazi, A.A., Kankate, R.S., and Vanjari, S.S., 2010, Evaluation of Antioxidant Activity of Chalcones and Flavonoids. Int. J. ChemTech. Res., 2(2), 1080-1089. Egwaikhide, P.A., Okeniyi, S.O., and Gimba, C.E., 2007, Screening for Anti-Microbial Activity and Phytochemical Constituents of some Nigerian Medicinal Plants, Advan. in Biol. 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PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANALYSIS POLYPHENOLIC  

ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF METHANOLIC  EXTRACT OF 

WHITE DRAGON FRUIT (Hylocereus undatus)

http://eprints.uns.ac.id/12630/1/Publikasi_Jurnal_(74).pdf

PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANALYSIS POLYPHENOLIC ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF WHITE DRAGON FRUIT (Hylocereus undatus)

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