Antioxidant activities of Sechium edule (Jacq.) Swartz extracts

The antioxidant activities (AA) of Sechium edule extracts were tested by three established in vitro methods, namely reducing power, beta-carotene linoleate model and 1,1-diphenyl-2 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging. Leaf ethanolic extracts and leaf and seed water extracts showed strong inhibitory activity by beta-carotene bleaching (AA values of 90%). Furthermore, these extracts exerted hydrogen-donating ability in the presence of DDPH stable radical (IC50 2 mu g/ml). These extracts also showed strong reducing power by the potassium ferricyanide reduction method. Leaf and seed extracts may be exploited as biopreservatives in food applications as well as for health supplements or functional food, to aleviate oxidative stress. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.