Changes in Antioxidant Activity and Total Phenolic Content of Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatic Forsk.) under In Vitro Biomimicking System

The purpose of current study was to examine bioaccessibility of antioxidant activity and total phenolic content in each part of water spinach (Ipomoea aquatic Forsk.). In vitro biomimicking system simulated human digestive fluid was employed in order to measure bioavailable anti-oxidative effect and phenolic content. Antioxidant activity and total phenolic content was measured by using the DPPH method and the Folin-Ciocalteu assay, respectively. Stem of water spinach had a higher DPPH free radical scavenging effect (5.43 mg/mL for IC₅₀) than leaf (5.95 mg/mL for IC₅₀), while leaf had a greater level of total phenolic content (287.45 μg GAE/mL) than stem (216.45 μg GAE/ mL). Bioaccessible antioxidant capacity and digestive stability of total phenolic content showed a similar pattern to what found in raw materials. Our result also indicated that total phenolic content was not found to be a major marker for prediction of antioxidant activity. It is plausible that other constituents such as vitamin E and C in water spinach could be contributors for antioxidant activities.