Change in total phenolic content and antioxidant activity at different growth and development stages of Misai Kucing (Orthosiphon stamineus) plants

Abstract

Many studies on herbal plants indicated that chemical content composition of these plants may vary substantially at the different growth stages. In this research, the changes of total phenolic content and antioxidant activity at different growth and development stages of Misai Kucing were investigated. Thus, this is necessary because detail knowledge about the effect of different growth stages on total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of Misai Kucing plant is not readily available. In addition the most data has been reported are about it medicinal functions and properties. In this research, total phenolic content of extract was determined by using Folin-Ciocalteu method while antioxidant activity of extract was determined by using DPPH assay. Based on the result, it is shown that there is no significant different (p > 0.05) between the total phenolic content and antioxidant activities for each harvesting stages. In the commercialization method, Misai Kucing mostly will be harvest at flowering stage. This is because at flowering stage, Misai Kucing reaches it maturity and optimum growth while the amount of phenolic content and antioxidant activity is similar at all growth stages. After the flowering stage, Misai Kucing growth begins to decline because it reaches the old stage.