ackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) waste extracts as rich source of flavonoids with potential antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities

Nur Khaleeda Zulaikha  Zolkeflee; S.Jasrey Max  Suil; Si Hoo  Wan Kei; Umar  Lawal; Ahmed  Mediani; Pei Lou  Wong; Faridah  Abas

Authors

Nur Khaleeda Zulaikha Zolkeflee Natural Medicines and Products Research Laboratory, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia
S.Jasrey Max Suil Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia
Si Hoo Wan Kei Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia
Umar Lawal Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural & Applied Sciences, Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina 2218, Nigeria
Ahmed Mediani Metabolomics Research Laboratory, Institute of Systems Biology (INBIOSIS), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor 43600, Malaysia
Pei Lou Wong Metabolomics Research Laboratory, Institute of Systems Biology (INBIOSIS), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor 43600, Malaysia
Faridah Abas Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia

Keywords:

Antioxidant, α-glucosidase, Global Natural Products Molecular, Networking (GNPS), Liquid chromatography tandem mass, spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

Abstract

Importance of the work: Agricultural waste from the food industry presents a serious disposal
challenge, yet it can serve as a valuable source of bioactive compounds. Jackfruit (Artocarpus
heterophyllus Lam.) waste, often discarded, has potential to be repurposed into high-value products
for food and pharmaceutical applications.
Objectives: To investigate the antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of jackfruit waste
extracts and to identify their metabolite composition using liquid chromatography combined with
tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).
Materials and Methods: Jackfruit waste was extracted using different ethanol concentrations
and the extracts were evaluated for total phenolic content (TPC), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl
(DPPH) radical scavenging activity, nitric oxide radical inhibition and α-glucosidase inhibitory
activity. Then, the most active extract was analyzed further using LC-MS/MS coupled with
a spectral library search through Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking for
compound identification.
Results: The 50% ethanolic extract had the highest TPC (mean ± SD, 73.76±2.19 mg gallic acid
equivalents per gram of extract), with strong bioactivities, including DPPH radical scavenging
(concentration of sample required to scavenge 50% of the DPPH free radicals = 85.83±3.14
µg/mL), nitric oxide radical inhibition (37.49±1.83% at 250 µg/mL) and potent α-glucosidase
inhibition (half maximal inhibitory concentration = 3.75±0.15 µg/mL). The LC-MS/MS analysis
identified 28 compounds, including 12 flavonoids with documented biological activities.
Main finding: Jackfruit waste is a rich source of natural antioxidants and α-glucosidase inhibitors,
which collectively highlight their prospective applications in food and pharmaceutical industries
and contribute to the sustainable valorization of agro-industrial waste streams.