The Potential Use of Secondary Metabolites in Moringa oleifera as an Antioxidant Source

This present study determined antioxidant activity, lipid peroxidation, total phenolic, total flavonoids and phytochemicals in moringa leaves and moringa stem. Analysis used in this study was 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method for antioxidant activity, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) method for lipid peroxidation, Folin-Ciocalteu method for total phenolic, total flavonoid and UFLC (Ultrafast Liquid Chromatography) for identification and quantification of phenolic compounds. The results showed that moringa leaves had higher ability to scavenge free radical, total phenolic, and total flavonoid than moringa stem (P<0.001). Malondialdehyde production, the end product of lipid peroxidation, in moringa leaves was lower than moringa stem (P<0.001). Ferulic acid was the major active compound in both moringa leaves and moringa stem. This present study indicated that moringa leaves and moringa stem could be used as feed additive which had a good potential to prevent oxidative stress in animals. Key words: antioxidant, lipid peroxidation, moringa leaves, moringa stem, phytochemicals