Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Activities of Extracts from Musa sapientum Peel
Pathompong Phuaklee MSc*, Srisopa Ruangnoo MPharm*, Arunporn Itharat PhD*
Affiliation : * Department of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand
Background : Many parts of Musa sapientum Linn. (Musaceae) are used in Thai traditional medicine as drugs, food
supplements and cosmetics. The banana peel is used as an astringent in foot care, the unripe fruit is used to treat diarrhea and,
the ripe fruit is used as tonic.
Objective : To evaluate anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of banana peel extracts obtained from different extraction
methods and to determine their total phenolic content.
Material and Method: Four extraction methods were used to extract unripe and ripe peels. Nitric oxide inhibitory and DPPH
scavenging assays were used to evaluate anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, respectively. Folin-Ciocalteu’s reagent
was used to determine total phenolic content.
Results : The water extract of fresh ripe peel exhibited the most potent NO inhibitory activity (IC50 = 6.68 + 0.34 μg/ml), but
apparently exhibited no antioxidant activity. The decoction extract of fresh unripe peel exhibited strong antioxidant activity as
well as had the highest total phenolic compound. The antioxidant activity exhibited a correlation with the total phenolic content.
Conclusion : This study supports the use of Musa sapientum peel in Thai Traditional Medicine for treatment of inflammatory-
related diseases.
Keywords : Musa sapientum Linn., Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Total phenolic content
