Total Phenolic, Total Flavonoid and Antioxidant Activities of Durio graveolens Becc. from Sabah, Malaysia: Phenolics, Flavonoids & Antioxidants in D. graveolens

Nur'Izzah JUARAH; Noumie SURUGAU; Nor Azizun RUSDI; Mohd Fadzelly ABU BAKAR; Monica SULEIMAN

doi:10.51200/jtbc.v22i.6447

Authors

Nur'Izzah JUARAH Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Noumie SURUGAU Faculty of Science and Natural Resources, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Nor Azizun RUSDI Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Mohd Fadzelly ABU BAKAR Faculty of Applied Science and Technology, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia
Monica SULEIMAN Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51200/jtbc.v22i.6447

Keywords:

Antioxidant properties, phytochemical content, dalit, orange-fleshed durian

Abstract

Sabah is home to diverse wild durian species, including the orange-fleshed durian (Durio graveolens Becc.), locally known as "dalit." Despite its prevalence, scientific data on this wild durian remains limited. This study aimed to characterise the phytochemical composition and antioxidant potential of D. graveolens fruit parts (flesh, seed, mesocarp, and exocarp). Freeze-dried samples were extracted using 80% methanol and 60% acetone, followed by qualitative phytochemical screening. Total phenolic and total flavonoid contents were quantified via the Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminium chloride colourimetric methods, respectively. Antioxidant activity was assessed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging assays, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. The 60% acetone extracts demonstrated superior phytochemical content and antioxidant activity compared to methanolic extracts. The mesocarp exhibited the highest total phenolic (76.64 ± 1.21 mg GAE/g, p < 0.01) and flavonoid (69.30 ± 0.69 mg CE/g, p < 0.01) contents, along with the strongest antioxidant activity (DPPH IC₅₀ = 70 µg/ml, p < 0.01; ABTS IC₅₀ = 50 µg/ml, p < 0.01; FRAP = 71.15 mg TE/g, p < 0.01). These findings highlight the mesocarp’s potential as a natural antioxidant source with promising pharmaceutical applications.

Author Biographies

Nor Azizun RUSDI, Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Monica SULEIMAN, Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

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