Changes in Antioxidant Activity of Cyphomandra betacea (Cav.) Sendtn. Fruits During Maturation and Senescence

Antioxidants are extremely important substances that possess the ability to protect the body from damage caused by free radical induced oxidative stress. Antioxidants are derived from dietary sources, such as fruits, vegetables, and beverages. In this study, the antioxidant activity of different maturity stages of two varieties of Cyphomandra betacea fruits of Darjeeling was evaluated in vitro. The radical scavenging properties on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical, lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide, and reducing power as well as the flavonoids, phenolics, lycopene, and total carotene contents of methanolic extracts of the fruits were determined. All fruit extracts, mainly the mature red fruit of purple-red variety exhibited strong scavenging activity towards all radicals tested due to the presence of relatively high total phenol, flavonoids, and lycopene as well as total carotene contents. The findings suggest that purple red variety of C. betacea fruit is endowed with antioxidant phytochemicals, which could provide protection against oxidative stress induced diseases.