Differential Effects of Solvents on Extraction, Pharmacognostic Evaluation and Antioxidant Activity of Long Pepper Piper longum Fruit Extract

Abstract

The present study proposed differential effect of solvents on extraction, pharmacognostic evaluation and antioxidant activity of Long pepper (Piper longum) fruit extract. The bio-analytes present in P. longum fruit were extracted by dissolving powder fruit in water, ethanol, methanol, acetone, and ethyl acetate. Further, the extracts were dried using rotavapor at 55 °C and used to assess the phytochemical analysis where total phenolic compounds (TPCs) were evaluated using Folin-Ciocalteu Assay. Additionally, ascorbic acid content was measured, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis was performed to predict the presence of various compounds based on their surface functional groups. Further, antioxidant efficiency was determined by considering DPPH radical scavenging activity. The quantitative measurements of the TPC and ascorbic acid reveal the presence of the pharmacognostic compounds in P. longum, which is also supported by FTIR analysis. The FC assay test confirmed the highest polyphenols (181.0 ± 8.69 mg GAE/g) in ethyl acetate extract, while methanolic extract showed the maximum ascorbic acid content (1.51 ± 0.067 mg AE/g). Methanolic and ethyl acetate-based extraction process showed great results than other solvents as they showed maximum DPPH radical scavenging activity (% degradation), 81.57 %, followed by ethyl acetate (79.35%). The obtained results announced P. longum extract can be used as a raw material in pharmaceutical industries and local levels to improve health conditions.