Exploring antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of ultrasound-assisted extraction of Javanese ginseng (Talinum paniculatum) roots: Potential halal bioactive source

Abstract

The roots of Javanese ginseng (Talinum paniculatum (Jacq.) Gaertn.) are widely used in traditional medicine, yet their scientific evaluation remains limited. This study compared ethanol and butanol extracts of T. paniculatum roots obtained through ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) in terms of phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity, and cytotoxicity. Phytochemical tests confirmed the presence of phenolics, flavonoids, terpenoids, and other compounds, with the ethanolic extract showing a more diverse profile. Total phenolic content (TPC) was relatively low for both extracts, with ethanol slightly higher (0.64 ± 0.02 mg GAE/g) than butanol (0.57 ± 0.01 mg GAE/g). In contrast, antioxidant activity measured by the DPPH assay was stronger in the butanol extract (IC₅₀ = 39.45 mg/L) than in ethanol (IC₅₀ = 94.07 mg/L). Cytotoxicity screening using the brine shrimp lethality test revealed a notable difference, as the butanol extract exhibited a very low LC₅₀ value of 2.36 mg/L, indicating strong activity compared to 20.99 mg/L for the ethanolic extract. These findings suggest that T. paniculatum roots, particularly the butanol fraction, may offer bioactive compounds with promising antioxidant and anticancer potential. These findings also support the potential development of T. paniculatum as a halal-compliant source of bioactive compounds for nutraceutical and functional food applications.

Keywords: Antioxidant activity, Cytotoxicity, Halal compliance, Talinum paniculatum, Ultrasound-assisted extraction.