Antioxidant and Anti-diabetic Properties of Caryota Urens (Kithul) Flour

Publication date: 2016 Source:Procedia Food Science, Volume 6 Author(s): G.E.M. Wimalasiri, P. Ranasinghe, D.M.A. Gunaratne, L.P. Vidhana Arachchi Starch extracted from pith of Caryota urens L. (Family: Arecaceae) palm is known as “Kithul flour” and is claimed to have health benefits according to folklore and Ayurveda. Antioxidants are believed to possess numerous health benefits. However, as yet, health benefits of C. urens flour have not been scientifically investigated. Antioxidant properties of C. urens flour were tested using different in vitro assays namely, 2,2-azino-bis 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS+), ferric reducing antioxidant power, oxygen radical absorbance capacity and ferrous ion chelating assays. Total Phenolic Content (TPC) and Total Flavonoid Content (TFC) were also evaluated. Anti-diabetic properties were estimated using alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase enzyme inhibition assays. Dried methanolic extracts of both boiled and raw samples were used in all assays. Results of the study showed that C. urens flour possess free radical scavenging activity(raw 0.02± 0.01 and boiled 0.04±0.01mg trolox equivalent (TE)/ g flour), electron donating reducing power (raw 0.10±0.03 and boiled 0.36±0.11mg TE/g flour), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (raw 2.29± 0.71 and boiled 192.3 ± 57.71mg TE/1g flour) and metal ion chelating capacity (raw 0.03±0.01 and boiled 0.14±0.04mg EDTA equivalents /g flour) exhibiting its antioxidant pote...
Source: Procedia Food Science - Category: Food Science Source Type: research