EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY IN SOME LOCAL FRUITS IN CHIANG MAI, THAILAND

Chiang Mai is a subtropical province of Thailand that produces a number of native fruits. This study was conducted to determine the antioxidant potential of 10 kinds of fruits; roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.), myrabolan (Terminalia chebula Retz.), calabura (Muntigla calabura L.), Indian gooseberry (Phyllanthus embrica L.), carambola (Averrhoa carambora L.), hog plum (Spondias pinnata L.), sapodilla (Manikaro zapata L.), starapple (Chrysophyllum cainito L.), jujube (Zizyiphus mauritiana Lamk.) and Elaegnus latifolia. Antioxidant capacity was measured in terms of total phenolic and total flavonoid contents and radical scavenging activity. Among the fruits tested, Elaegnus latifolia had the highest antioxidant capacity. The fruit contained highest level of phenolics, flavonoids and radical scavenging activity.