Abstract

LAGENARIA SICERARIA (MOLINA) STANDLEY. TOTAL POLYPHENOLS AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF SEED OILS OF BOTTLE GOURD CULTIVARS

Emmanuel E. Essien*, Bassey S. Antia and Nimmong-uwem S. Peter

Abstract

The polyphenols content and antioxidant activity of Lagenaria siceraria seed oils of four bottle gourd cultivars (water jug-globose head, African wine gourd, speckled swan and water jug- hourglass shape) were evaluated. The total phenolics and flavonoids content of the seed oils were measured spectrophotometrically using the Folin- Ciocalteu assay and aluminum chloride colorimetric method respectively. The total phenolic contents of the seed oils ranged from 8.0-10.5 mg gallic acid/100g and total flavonoids, 5.6-7.7 mg quercetin equivalent/100g. The seed oils (100 μg/ml) free radical scavenging activity (DPPH assay), varied between 47.2-68.5% with EC50 values of 51.0-108.0 μg/ml; metal chelating activity of seed oils ranged from 63.8-80.1% with EC50 of 17.0-57.0 μg/ml; and ferric reducing power of seed oils was 0.479-0.607 with EC50 values of 50.0-103.0. The results suggest that seeds of these bottle gourds are a veritable source of potential edible medicinal oils and may be used in different food applications to provide nutrition and health benefits.

Keywords: Cucurbitaceae, Lagenaria siceraria, cultivars, seed oil, antioxidant activity.