EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT SOLVENTS ON THE EXTRACTION OF BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS AND THEIR ACTIVITIES FROM CASSIA SIAMEA (LAMK.) LEAVES COLLECTED FROM DIFFERENT LOCATIONS

The aim of this study is to evaluate bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities are present in C. siamea leaves collected from four different locations in and around Universiti Putra Malaysia using different solvents extractions: water, methanol, ethanol and ethyl acetate. The contents of ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene, tannin and total phenolic contents (TPC) were determined. Antioxidant activities were evaluated using DPPH radical scavenging assay, Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS). The result showed that methanol extract indicated the highest value of the TPC, tannin contents, antioxidant activities (DPPH, FRAP and TEAC values) followed by the extracts of water, ethanol and ethyl acetate, respectively. TPC and tannins were found to be significantly (p< 0.05) higher in methanolic extract of C. siamea leaves sample obtained from the location 3. Ascorbic acid content was found to be higher in water extract, whereas the ethyl acetate extract showed highest beta-carotene contents (16.51-28.20 mg of beta-carotene/g dry weight), irrespective of its locations obtained. DPPH and ABTS values of methanol extract were found to be significantly higher at location 3. On the basis of the results obtained, we confirmed that the methanolic extract of C. siamea leaves obtained from location 3 is a potential source of bioactive compounds rich in antioxidant activity.