DETERMINATION OF TOTAL PHENOLIC CONTENT AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF BORASSUS FLABELIFFER LINN. FRUIT PULP COLLECTED FROM SEVERAL PARTS OF SRI LANKA

Borassus flabeliffer Linn. (Palmyra Palm) is widely distributed in the Northern parts of Sri Lanka. Its leaves, fruits and pith have various uses. Palmyra based industries provide living for many families in that region. Palmyra pulp obtained from the ripe fruit is used in many traditional food items in the Jaffna Peninsula and surrounding areas. It is also being used in folk medicine to cure various diseases. In this study, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of aqueous palmyra fruit pulp extracted from fruits of Kilinochchi, Anamaduwa and Batticalo districts of Sri Lanka were evaluated. The total phenolic content of the pulp extracts of fruits obtained from Anamaduwa district showed the highest value (9.297 ±0.018 mg GAE/mg extract). DPPH Radical scavenging activity was seen highest in the Anamaduwa samples (3.065 ±0.176 mg ml^-1) and lowest in Batticalo sample (7.466 ±0.156 mg ml^-1). The total antioxidant capacity based on the phosphomolybdenum assay also indicated the highest value in the Anamaduwa sample (68.171± 2.068 mg AE/g extract) and lower value in Batticalo sample (31.134 ±0.470 mg AE/g extract).