Antioxidant, a-Amylase Inhibitory Activities and Photoprotective Properties of Peels of Nephelium Lappaceum Linn. (Malwana Special)

Abstract

This study focused on evaluation of antioxidant, α-amylase inhibitory activities and photo protective properties of peels of Nephelium lappaceum Linn. (rambutan); Malwana special. Methanolic extract of peels was sequentially partitioned in hexane, dichloromethane (DCM) and aqueous methanol. The methanol extract showed a significantly (p greater then 0.05) higher DPPH radical scavenging activity than that of butylated hydroxytoluene. Among the fractions, the highest total phenolic content (TPC) was found in the aqueous methanol fraction. DCM and aqueous methanol fractions were rich in flavonoids. In vitro α-amylase inhibitory activity of the aqueous methanol fraction was also significantly higher than the standard drug, acarbose. Partially purified aqueous methanol fraction of rambutan peels exhibited UV-B absorption with a moderate solar protection factor. The results revealed that the peels of Nephelium lappaceum Linn., Malwana special can be considered as a promising source for the development of natural antioxidant, cosmeceutical sunscreen and antidiabetic agents.