Abstract

K. S. Sim , A. M. Sri Nurestri * and A. W. Norhanom

The total phenolic content of the extracts of Pereskia bleo were assessed by the Folin-Ciocalteau’s method while the antioxidant activities were determined by three different assays, namely scavenging activity on 1,1- diphenyl-2 - picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals, reducing power assay and ß-carotene method. In the present study, the ethyl acetate extract exhibited the highest total phenolic content (40.12 mg of GAEs/g of extract) and showed the strongest antioxidant activity in the ß -carotene bleaching assay significantly. Whilst, the hexane extract showed significantly the highest antioxidant activity when determined by scavenging effect on DPPH radicals (EC50 210 µg/ml) and the reducing power assay.