Phytochemical Analysis, In-Vitro Antioxidant Activity and Normal Human Fibroblast Viability Study of Alcoholic Extract of The Dragon Fruit.

Abstract

Red dragon fruit is a favored fruit, commonly utilized for both consumption and as a natural food dye. The peel and flesh of the red dragon fruit are rich in various antioxidant compounds, making them valuable for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications. This study assessed the phytochemical properties, antioxidant activities, and the impact of the alcoholic extract from the flesh of red dragon fruit on the viability of normal human fibroblasts. Antioxidant activity was measured using the DPPH assay, while the MTT assay was employed to evaluate the cell viability of normal human fibroblasts. Findings revealed that the alcoholic extract of H Polyrhizus fruit contained carbohydrates, alkaloids, phenolic compounds, tannins, saponins, glycosides, and flavonoids. The extract demonstrated significant antioxidant activity at 36.41%, and the extracts from the red dragon fruit flesh did not significantly affect fibroblast viability. The IC50 value for the alcoholic extract was 60.32±5.89 µg/mL, compared to IC50 values of 79.35±6.59, 55.01±4.59, 25.42±2.35, and 42.76±3.67 µg/mL for gallic acid, rutin, quercetin, and betanin, respectively. In summary, H Polyrhizus fruit exhibits strong antioxidant properties and could serve as a valuable source of natural compounds for new drug development, with its flesh extracts being relatively safe for normal cells compared to biomarkers.