Bioactive Compounds from Garcinia binucao Fruit Pulp: Evaluation of Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Properties

Abstract

This experimental laboratory study evaluated the phytochemical constituents, antioxidant radical-scavenging activity, and anti-inflammatory activity of Garcinia binucao fruit pulp extract. Fresh fruit pulp was air-dried, macerated in 95% methanol for 48 hours, filtered, and concentrated by rotary evaporation. Qualitative phytochemical screening was conducted for flavonoids, phenols and tannins, saponins, alkaloids, and carbohydrates. Antioxidant activity was measured using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay at three extract concentrations (100%, 50%, and 25%), with pineapple juice and methanol as positive and negative controls, respectively. Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed through inhibition of heat-induced egg-albumin denaturation, using diclofenac as the positive control. Absorbance was measured by UV-Vis spectrophotometry in triplicate, and treatment differences were examined through one-way analysis of variance. Garcinia binucao tested positive for all screened phytochemical groups, whereas pineapple juice was positive only for saponins and alkaloids and methanol was negative for all groups. Reported DPPH inhibition increased from 70.3% at 100% extract to 76.9% at 50% and 83.3% at 25%, approaching the 85.4% inhibition of pineapple juice; treatment differences were significant (p = .01). Protein-denaturation inhibition was 9.30%, 2.51%, and 11.22% for the 100%, 50%, and 25% treatments, respectively, compared with 18.27% for diclofenac, with a significant treatment effect (p = .001). The findings indicate strong in vitro antioxidant activity but comparatively modest anti-inflammatory activity under the tested conditions. Garcinia binucao fruit pulp is a promising indigenous source of bioactive compounds, although standardized dose-response studies, compound characterization, and complementary biological assays are required before therapeutic claims can be established.