DOI: https://doi.org/10.55373/mjchem.v26i5.175

Keywords: Antioxidant; cytotoxicity; effective concentration; phenolic; protein

Abstract

Moringa oleifera has gained substantial attention in industrial applications due to its remarkable antioxidant capabilities. Leveraging the potential of Moringa oleifera as a valuable and safe resource in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications is essential. This study aimed: (1) to determine the antioxidant activity of the ethanolic extracts and protein isolates of Moringa oleifera using FRAP, DPPH, and ABTS radical scavenging assays; and (2) to evaluate the cytotoxicity using the brine shrimp lethality assay. Results showed that fresh ethanolic extract (FEE) exhibited the highest radical scavenging activity (%RSA), followed by dry ethanolic extract (DEE), dry protein extract (DPE), and fresh protein extract (FPE) in DPPH and ABTS assays. All samples displayed significant FRAP activity. While FEE demonstrated the highest phenolic (109.59 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid contents (316.89 mg QE/g), FPE exhibited the highest toxicity among the samples. This study recommends 1.25 mg/mL of Moringa oleifera extract as an effective concentration for optimal antioxidant activity without exceeding toxicity thresholds. However, further comprehensive toxicological studies in animal models are advised to gain insights into the application of Moringa oleifera in the nutraceutical sectors. Identifying specific phenolic compounds through LC-MS and GC-MS is suggested to correlate with in vivo antioxidant activities and toxicity.