Total Active Compounds and Mineral Contents in Wolffia globosa

Abstract

Wolffia globosa, or watermeal, is an aquatic plant belonging to the Lemnaceae family that is consumed as food and sold in local markets of Thailand. The aim of this study was to quantify selected active compounds and minerals in W. globosa ethanolic extract and evaluate its antioxidant activity. Total phenolic, flavonoid, and anthocyanin contents were analyzed. High-performance liquid chromatography was used for the determination of beta-carotene, ferulic acid, luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucoside, and kaempferol. Mineral contents (iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and sodium) were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Antioxidative activity was evaluated by DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2′-azobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) radical scavenging assays. The beta-carotene, ferulic acid, luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucoside, and kaempferol contents of the extract were 2.52 ± 0.10, 1.40 ± 0.10, 2.42 ± 0.50, and 1.57 ± 0.14 mg/g extract, respectively. The highest mineral content in the W. globosa extract was magnesium. The wet extract of W. globosa showed higher amounts of all minerals than the dry extract. Freshly prepared and boiled W. globosa extracts showed radical scavenging activity at 1000 µg/milliliter with 75.77 ± 0.93% and 67.10 ± 0.20% inhibition of DPPH and 70.40 ± 7.20% and 59.78 ± 3.16% inhibition of ABTS, respectively. This plant is a promising novel source of natural phytochemical constituents and antioxidants and has potential for development as a plant-based nutraceutical product for the treatment of diseases caused by free radicals.