MEDICINAL ATTRIBUTES OF SOLANUM CAPSICOIDES ALL.: AN ANTIOXIDANT PERSPECTIVE

The study evaluates the medicinal efficacy of Solanum capsicoides fruits as an antioxidant. Fruit extracts were prepared using acetone, ethanol, HCl, and water for the measurement of antioxidant potential by reducing power, DPPH radical scavenging activity, and CUPRAC assay and for the spectrophotometric determination of total phenol, flavonoid, anthocyanin, and carotenoid content. Chemical profiling of the fruit extract through GC-MS was also conducted. The total phenolic contents in extracts ranged between 1.2-4.25mg GAE g^-1 FW and flavonoid contents in the range of 3.89-22.96mg QE g^-1 FW. Among the various solvents used, acetone extract showed maximum antioxidant activity, and the least was observed in the water extract. Correlation coefficient analysis between bioactive compounds and antioxidant property revealed that TPC and TFC were positively and significantly correlated with antioxidant activity. A negative correlation was observed between the pigments, anthocyanins, and carotenoids, with DPPH and CUPRAC activity. The correlation between DPPH radical scavenging activity and carotenoids as well as TFC was not significant. In the case of RP, except carotenoids, all others showed a significant and positive correlation. From the multivariate analysis, it was clearly observed that the antioxidant activity decreases from acetone extract to water extract. Among different variables, TPC was with the maximum antioxidant property and the least with carotenoids. From this study, it can be considered that the phenolics present in the fruits contribute to the characteristic antioxidant property. The present study demonstrated considerable antioxidant activity of S. capsicoides All.