Polyphenol contents and free radical scavenging activity of Pinus merkusii cone

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the polyphenol contents from the Pinus merkusii cone extract and their antioxidant activity. The cone powder (40 mesh) was extracted with n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol successively for six hours. The cone of n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol soluble extracts was subjected to total tannin content, total phenol content, total flavonoid content, and antioxidant measurements. The polyphenol contents were measured through the colorimetric method, while antioxidant activity was observed by inhibition of the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) method. The results showed that total tannin content, total phenol content, total flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity of methanol soluble extract was higher than ethyl acetate and n-hexane soluble extracts. In this study, the high antioxidant activity of methanol soluble extract (IC50 of 196.73±13.93 ppm) might due to the high concentration of total phenol content (545.38±54.07 mg GAE/g sample). It was suggested that the P. merkusii cone is potential as the antioxidant source.