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8222123 
Journal Article 
Dpph free radical scavenging activity of tomato, cherry tomato and watermelon: Lycopene extraction, purification and quantification 
Shahzad, T; Ahmad, I; Choudhry, S; Saeed, MK; Khan, MN 
2014 
1 
International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
ISSN: 2656-0097
EISSN: 0975-1491 
IJPPS 
6 
SUPPL. 2 
223-228 
English 
Objective: The present study was aimed to evaluate the antioxidant activity and nutritional quality of tomato (Lycopersicum Esculentum), cherry tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) and watermelon (Citrullus Lanatus) fruits. Lycopene was extracted, purified and characterized. Methods: Antioxidant evaluation was carried out using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay. Lycopene was extracted with two extraction methods: acetone-petroleum ether and hexane extraction. Lycopene was purified on grade II alumina by column chromatography, which was evaluated by TLC. Elucidation of functional groups in lycopene was done by FTIR Spectroscopy. Results: The results showed variation in nutritional quality and antioxidant potential among these fruits. Tomato and cherry tomato exhibited high antioxidant activity which was closely followed by watermelon. In DPPH assay, all fruit samples exhibited better antioxidant activity in water than in methanol. Hexane extraction gave better yield of lycopene for all the three fruits. The highest lycopene content was recorded in cherry tomato. The pure lycopene content was calculated to be 55.84mg/kg, 74.53mg/kg and 88.87mg/kg in tomato, watermelon and cherry tomato, respectively. Elucidation of functional groups in lycopene was done by FTIR Spectroscopy. Conclusion: The results of the study showed that tomato, watermelon and cherry tomato, possess significant antioxidant activity. These results showed that the potential of these fruits should be used as medicine against the diseases caused by free radicals. 
Antioxidant activity; Dpph free radical scavenging assay; FTIR spectroscopy; Lycopene; Tlc