STUDY OF ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY COMBINATION OF ARABICA COFFEE LEAF ETHANOL EXTRACT AND ROSELLE FLOWER PETAL WATER EXTRACT

Abstract

Free radicals are molecules that have one or more
unpaired electrons. As we know that some
cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease,
diabetes mellitus, and cancer are diseases that
triggered by oxidative damage in the presence of
free radicals. Excessive oxidation of the nucleic
acids, proteins, fats and DNA cells can initiate the
occurrence of degenerative diseases such as
coronary heart disease, cataracts, cognitive
disorders and cancer (Leong and Shui, 2001; Pietta
1999). Humans have had a defense system against
oxidants that come from within or from outside the
body in the form of diet. Defense of the body such
as enzymes peroxidase, catalase, glutathione,
histidine, peptidin often still lacking due to
environmental influences and poor diet (Pietta,
1999).
Antioxidants are molecules that can inhibit the
oxidation of molecules that can produce free
radicals. Antioxidant is a compound that has the
ability to react with free radicals to produce a stable
free radical by accepting or donating electrons.
Based on the source of, antioxidant divided into two
kinds, namely natural antioxidants and antioxidants
synthetic (artificial). Synthetic antioxidants are most
often used such as Propyl Error (PG), Butylated
hydroxyanisole (BHA), Butylated hydroxytoluene
(BHT) and Tertbutylhydroquinone (TBHQ). The
synthetic antioxidants can give side effects that
harmful to human health because it’s carcinogenic.
Various studies on BHA and BHT indicate that this
can cause tumors in laboratory animals at long-term
use (Kikuzaki, 1993). Natural antioxidant is an
antioxidant that is obtained naturally in plants.
Natural antioxidants are usually more desirable,
because the level of better security and broader
benefits in the food, health and cosmetics. Natural
antioxidants can be found in food of vegetables and
fruits. As an example of natural antioxidants such as
Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Polyphenols.
Their concerns about the potential side effects of
synthetic antioxidants used as motivation for the
study of natural antioxidants as one alternative.
According to previous studies, plants with high
phenol levels have high antioxidant activity as well,
this is because most of the antioxidant compounds
are derivatives of phenol. Coffee is one agricultural
commodity in Indonesia. In the Indonesian market
encountered two types of coffee, the Arabica coffee
(Coffea arabica) and Robusta coffee (Coffea
canephora). Previous research showed that the
leaves of the Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica)
contains a lot of polyphenol compounds are
efficacious as an antioxidant. Research conducted
shows the results of a very high antioxidant activity
(Pellegrini et al., 2003).
Nowdays roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) become so
popular. Almost in every exhibition of medicinal
plants, roselle is always introduced. This is due to
almost all parts of this plant can be used for
treatment, particularly for alternative medicine.
Roselle contain chemical compounds that can
provide many benefits. According to the results of
previous studies showing that the anthocyanin
content in the plant is effective in counteracting
free radicals cause cancer and other diseases
(Mardiah et al., 2009).
This research will be conducted to determine the
antioxidant activity of ethanol extract of the leaves
of the Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica) and water
extract of roselle calyx (Hibiscus sabdairffa) by
DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) because the
method this is the simplest method, fast, easy,
accurate, inexpensive, and capable of measuring
the various components that act as free radical or
hydrogen donor. In addition DPPH method does not
require a lot of reagents such as another method of
measuring antioxidant activity. Comparative
compounds used in measuring the activity of these
antioxidants are Vitamin C or ascorbic acid. Used as
a comparison compound for the preparation
Vitamin C is widely used in the market and has been
shown to have antioxidant activity and relatively
cheap. According to the study, Vitamin C is used by
many researchers as a benchmark test for the
antioxidant activity