Proximate Composition and Antioxidant Potential of Leaves from Three Varieties of Mulberry (<em>Morus</em> sp.): A Comparative Study

• Main Authors: Raja Adil Sarfraz, Md. Kamal Uddin, Kim Wei Chan, Sirajuddin, Umer Younas, Shahid Iqbal
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2012-05-01
• Series: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
• Subjects: mulberry leaves; varieties; proximate composition; antioxidant activity
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/6/6651

In this study, leaves of three indigenous varieties of Mulberry namely, <em>Morus alba</em> L., <em>Morus nigra</em> L. and <em>Morus rubra</em> L. were investigated for their antioxidant potential and their proximate composition was determined. The yields of 80% methanolic extracts ranged between 8.28–13.89%. The contents of total phenolics (TPC), total flavonoids (TFC) and ascorbic acid (AA) ranged between 16.21–24.37 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g, 26.41–31.28 mg rutin equivalent (RE)/g and 0.97–1.49 mg/g, respectively. The antioxidant activity of leaf extracts was evaluated by measuring 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH<sup>•</sup>) radical scavenging actity, 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS<sup>•+</sup>) radical cation scavenging capacity and ferric ion reducing power and values ranged between 1.89–2.12, 6.12–9.89 and 0.56–0.97 mM Trolox equivalent/g of dried leaves, respectively. The investigated features reveal good nutritive and antioxidant attributes of all the varieties with mutually significant differences.