Abstract:
Red sessile joyweed (Alternanthera sessilis) is believed to have high antioxidant
properties which made it being used for medicinal properties in all over the world. This
study was carried out to determine the effect of different drying temperature (50, 60, 70
and 80
°
C) on its antioxidant properties. The extract of the plant that has been dried at
temperature gave the least effect on its antioxidant properties which was applied into
coconut milk to see its ability in inhibit the oxidation process. The antioxidant activity
was determined using ferric thiocyanate (FTC) and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) method
while the radical scavenging activity was measured by 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylydrazyl
(DPPH) method. The extract which had been dried at 80
C shows significantly stronger
antioxidant and scavenging activity but not significantly difference (P < 0.05) with the
fresh sample and BHT (2, 6-di-tert-butyl-p-hydroxytoluene ). The extracts also show a
good inhibition of lipid oxidation after being applied in coconut milk.
