FUNCTIONAL COMPONENTS FROM TROPICAL FOREST PRODUCTS

Abstract

To investigate functional or bioactive components, especially antioxidants, from the bark of mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King) planted in Indonesia and the seed coats of tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) in Thailand, which are unused biological resources, the DPPH radical scavenging activity of some extracts from the two materials was assayed. On the mahogany bark, a methanol extract and a hot water extract had higher activity than tocopherol, and the former that had the highest activity is being separated. On the tamarind seed coats, an effective and practical extraction method was investigated. Tamarind seed coat extracts possessed antioxidant activity and especially the activity of the ethyl acetate fractions given by either stepwise extraction or direct maceration was equal to that of vitamin C. Isolation and identification of antioxidants in the two materials are under study. The antioxidants and the antioxidant active extracts are expected for utilization as food additives and supplements as well as cosmetic materials.