Antioxidative constituents of Oenanthe javanica (selom) and Mahinot esculenta (pucuk ubi)

Abstract

Malays traditional vegetables in Malaysia are consumed because of their taste as well as for their health benefit. Nutritional studies have indicated that many of these vegetables supply the human body with essential dietary antioxidant component. The concentrations of antioxidative constituents ( a-tocopherol, ascorbic acid and carotenoid content as well as catalase (CAT), guaicol peroxidase (POD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) specific activities) were studies in the leaf tissues of Oenanthe javanica (selom) and Mahinot esculenta (pucuk ubi). Result showed that Oenanthe javanica exhibited significantly higher concentration of a-tocopherol, ascorbic acid as well as ascorbate peroxidase specific activities as compared to Mahinot esculenta. However, the carotenoid content, catalase and guaiacol peroxidase specific activities were significantly higher in Mahinot esculenta compared to Oenanthe javanica.