The investigation of the antioxidant potential and phyto-chemical content of banana peel of nine different local varieties showed that the content of total phenols were higher in Rasthali compared to other species which might be correlated with its high ABTS scavenging activity. In contrast, the content of flavonoids was higher in Poovan banana and is highly correlated with its lipid peroxida-tion inhibition activity. Hence the relationship between phytochemical content and free radical scavenging activ-ity of banana peel indicates that peel extracts from these varieties may be useful to combat free radical mediated diseases. These observations may be used to substantiate
Table 2. Phytochemical contents in peels of banana varie-ties.
Total Phenols
Flavanoids
Banana varieties
mg CE g–1
mg rutin g–1
Kadali
0.15a ± 0.01
13.80b ± 0.50
Karpooravalli
0.19a ± 0.01
16.91c ± 0.23
Monthan
0.32b ± 0.03
11.91a ± 0.23
Nendran
0.49d ± 0.06
21.72e ± 0.71
Poovan
0.39e ± 0.09
22.83e ± 1.54
Pachainadan
0.30b ± 0.02
18.79d ± 1.35
Rasthali
0.60c ± 0.01
21.33e ± 1.44
Robusta
0.20a ±0.02
17.93cd ± 0.52
Sevvazhai
0.46cd ± 0.07
12.96ab ± 1.04
Values represent mean ± SD of 3 replicates; Total phenols was expressed as mg catechol equivalents g–1 fresh tissue; Flavonoids was expressed as mg rutin equivalents g–1 fresh tissue; Mean followed by a common letter are not significantly different at the 5% level by DMRT.
the scientific reasoning that free radical-scavenging is indeed the mode of operation of these peel varieties in the treatment or prevention of the onset of diseases that evidence free radical activity.
5. Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge the Management of Kumaraguru College of Technology, Coimbatore for financial assistance to carry out this work.