Influence of Drying on the Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Properties of Bombax buonopozense (Gold Coast Bombax) Sepals

Abstract

Dried sepals of red silk cotton plant (Bombax buonopozense) are incorporated into soups by some Ghanaian indigenes due to the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. This study was aimed at determining the influence of drying (sun, solar, and oven drying) on phytochemicals and antioxidant properties of the sepals. DPPH radical scavenging activity method was used to determine the antioxidant activity, whereas total phenolics and tannin contents were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu’s method, and total flavonoids by Aluminium trichloride method. The results revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, total flavonoids, and total phenols. There was no significant difference (P> 0.05) in alkaloids and tannins contents of the dried sepals regarding the drying methods used. The solar-dried sepals showed highest level of antioxidant activity with EC50 of 0.063 mg/mL. There was also no significant difference (P> 0.05) in antioxidant activity with EC50 of the dried sepals regarding the drying methods used. The solar drying method preserved most of the antioxidant properties and tolerable levels of phytochemicals in the sepals which makes it a potential source of natural antioxidants and can help reduce degenerative oxidative stress in consumers.