Antimicrobial, antioxidant and phytochemical activities of three orangutan plant foods in Wehea-Kelay Landscape, East Kalimantan

Abstract

The Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) is an umbrella species with a high population in the Wehea-Kelay Landscape. In this landscape, at least 227 forage plant species have been identified as potential medicine plants including Eusideroxylon zwageri, Nephelium lappaceum, and Tristaniopsis whiteana. The aim of this study was to determine the yield value of extracts produced from three different plant samples, qualitatively and quantitatively trace the phytochemical content, as well as test the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. In this study, Qualitative phytochemical assays were conducted by observing the presence of colour changes. Quantitative analysis of phytochemicals was conducted using the colorimetric test method. The assessment of antioxidant activity involves the utilisation of the DPPH radical decolorization test method. An antimicrobial test was performed at a concentration of 62,5–500 µg/well with chloramphenicol and miconazole as positive controls. The qualitative phytochemical examination revealed the presence of alkaloid, flavonoid, tannin, triterpenoid, carbohydrate, carotenoid, and coumarin components in three samples. The quantitative phytochemical analysis revealed that the plant samples possessed a total phenolic content ranging from 2,397 to 4,163 µg GAE/mg extract. The plant samples were analysed and found to have a total flavonoid content ranging from 4,493 to 5,557 µg CE/mg extract. The plant samples demonstrated potent antioxidant activity, effectively inhibiting free radicals. The IC50 values ranged from strong to extremely strong. Antimicrobial testing on medicinal plant extracts provides weak to strong inhibition.