Abstract
Citrus fruits play the potential role in diverse clinical complications although the mechanism is not clarified
well. Therefore, the current study has been done to assess the antioxidative effects of five varieties of citrus
fruits (C. assamensis (Ada), C. maxima (Ba), C. meyeri (Chi), C. sinensis (Ma) and C. aurantium (Ka) through
petroleum ether and methanol extraction. Among the five varieties of peels, C. sinensis (absorbance at 695 nm:
0.081, 0.142, 0.212, 0.263 and 0.293 respectively) and C. assamensis (absorbance at 695 nm: 0.082, 0.141,
0.211, 0.262 and 0.292 respectively) were found to be potential showing higher antioxidant capacity when
compared to catechin. Other varieties of peels also showed increased absorbance indicating higher
antioxidative effects. During methanol extraction, C. aurantium and C. maxima showed the potent effect (C.
aurantium: absorbance at 695 nm: 0.091, 0.171, 0.231, 0.279, 0.330; C. maxima: absorbance at 695 nm: 0.056,
0.130, 0.171, 0.211 and 0.262 respectively). Other varieties of peels were shown to have increased
antioxidative effects because of their increasing absorbance. The higher reducing power capacity of C. maxima
(absorbance at 700 nm: 1.473, 2.113, 2.370, 2.513 and 2.676 respectively) and C. assamensis (absorbance at
700 nm: 1.108, 1.523, 1.883, 2.133 and 2.353 respectively) were observed because of their higher absorbance
in peel extract. The other three varieties also showed potent reducing power capacity when compared to
ascorbic acid. C. aurantium (absorbance at 700 nm: 1.530, 2.360, 2.620, 2.760 and 2.840 respectively) and C.
meyeri (absorbance at 700 nm: 1.376, 2.130, 2.350, 2.420 and 2.480 respectively) showed the higher effect on
reducing power capacity when compared to control while the other varieties also showed enhanced effect
during different solvent extractions. Therefore, five varieties of fruits are major sources of phytochemicals and
play the critical role on antioxidative effects during adverse environmental circumstances.
