Pharmacognostical standardization, phytochemical analysis, and antioxidant activity of Musa balbisiana Colla fruits

Abstract

Musa balbisiana (MB) fruits are widespread as an herbal medicine worldwide. This study aimed to screen phytochemicals, standardize raw materials and crude extract, and evaluate antioxidant property of MB fruit extracts. Standardization was performed using purity content and chemical characterizations, total polyphenol (TPC) and flavonoid (TFC) contents to assess the quality. The phytochemicals were determined by chemical reactions. DPPH quenching, ABTS cation decolorization, and reducing power assays were selected to investigate antioxidant ability. Results indicated that physicochemical parameters for MB fruits were within prescribed Vietnamese Pharmacopoeia 5^th limits. Phytochemical analysis of MB fruits disclosed the presence of volatile oils, lipids, flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, saponins, and triterpenoid . The TPC was 3.92 ± 0.27 mg GAE/g d. w. (dry weight) and 162.64 ± 3.39 mg GAE/g d. w. for the raw materials and crude extract respectively while the TFC was 0.138 ± 0.002 mg QE/g d. w. and 1.222 ± 0.007 mg QE/g d. w.. Furthermore, crude extract and some of its fractions have a high radical scavenging activity. These initial studies play a pivotal role in the procurement of raw materials and evaluation of the quality of the crude extract, and show antioxidant potential of MB fruits.