Effect of Extracting Solvents on the Phyto-chemical Properties of Fermented Pawpaw (Carica papaya L.) Seed

Abstract

Fruit seeds contain several phytochemical compounds which have been reported to show antiviral, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, anti tumor and antioxidant activities. Due to the varied chemical properties of these seeds, different solvents are used in the extraction. Therefore, this research was aimed at evaluating the effect of extracting solvents on the yield, phytochemical compounds and selected chemical properties of fermented pawpaw (Carica papaya) seed. Extracts from fermented T-solo variety of pawpaw seeds were obtained using petroleum ether, n-hexane and hot aqueous solvents using standard method. Analysis was carried out to determine some qualitative and quantitative phyto-chemical and some selected chemical composition (Peroxide Value PV and Thiobarbituric Acid Value TBA. Extracts’ yield were 26.00, 23.30 and 19.51% for petroleum ether, n-hexane and hot aqueous solvent, respectively. The result of quantitative analysis shows that all the phytochemicals were more abundant in petroleum ether extract. The PV and TBA of n-hexane, petroleum ether and hot water extract were 5.32, 4.52, 0.00 meq/kg and 0.87, 0.16, 0.09 μg/kg respectively. The PV and TBA obtained for petroleum ether extract were relatively low and         this implied that the extract will undergo little or no autoxidation or oxidative deterioration when used.