Abstract:

The 70% ethanol extracts from three different tissues of banana (Musa AAA Cavendish subgroup cv. Brazil) inflorescence including petal, bract and growth point were assessed for their free radical scavenging and anti-lipid peroxidation activities and reducing power. Among the three tissues of banana inflorescence, the highest contents of total flavonoids (5.9mg/100 g), total phenolics (14.91 mg/g) and saponins (14.77 mg/100 g) were found in petals, bracts and growth points, respectively. All the extracts from them could scavenge DPPH and ABTS+ free radicals and protect against lipid peroxidation and had pronounced reducing power in a concentration-dependent fashion and the extract from banana bracts had the strongest ability to scavenge DPPH and ABTS+ free radicals and reducing power and anti-lipid peroxidation activity, followed by that from banana growth points. Furthermore, compared with galic acid, all the extracts from banana petal, bract and growth point presented higher reducing power.

Key words: Musa AAA Cavendish subgroup cv. Brazil, inflorescence, chemical composition, extract, antioxidation