2019 ASHS Annual Conference

Banana (Musa spp.) is a rich source of phytonutrients and antioxidants in particular phenolic compounds providing health benefits to the consumers. Stage of ripening may have a profound influence on phytochemical content and bioactive compounds. Six banana cultivars varying in genotype including FHIA (AAAB), Hua Moa (AAB), Kandarian (ABB), Pisang Raja (AAB), Saba (ABB) and Williams (AAA) were selected. Fruits were harvested at full three-quarter stage of ripening, room ripened at 20^oC and 95% RH and separated to four ripening stages of mature green, transitional, fully ripe and over ripe. Peel and pulp fruit samples were analyzed for total phenolic content. In addition, the antioxidant activity was determined based on DPPH and FRAP assay and reported as Gallic acid and Trolox equivalent. Results indicate that total phenolic content of peel was significantly higher than pulp. Therefore, banana peels could serve as potential source of bioactive compounds and can be utilized effectively without being wasted. ‘Pisang Raja’ (AAB) and ‘FHIA 1’ (AAAB) in peel and ‘Kandarian’ (ABB) and ‘FHIA 1’ (AAAB) in pulp were identified as the cultivars with the highest total phenolic content. In terms of antioxidant activity, in both Gallic Acid and Trolox equivalent, ‘FHIA 1’(AAAB) and ‘Pisang Raja’ (AAB) were determined as the cultivars with the highest antioxidant activity followed by ‘Kandarian’ (ABB), ‘Williams’ (AAA), ‘Saba’ (ABB), and ‘Hua Moa’ (AAB). A positive correlation between total phenolic content and antioxidant activity was also observed in all cultivars. Further research is needed towards isolation and identification of active compounds present in the extracts which could possibly be exploited for pharmaceutical use.