Total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, antioxidant activities and soluble sugars 2 Determination of different varieties of banana fruit pulps grown in some selected Woredas 3 in Bench Sheko and Sheka zones, southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

This study investigated the total phenolic, flavonoid, and soluble sugar contents, including 11 antioxidant activities, in banana fruit collected from local farmers. Banana fruit samples were 12 also collected from three potential plantation districts. Among ripening method, only the dried 13 banana leaf wrapping technique resulted in the required ripening. Thus, an analysis of the 14 bioactive compounds and soluble sugar content was conducted. Therefore, the dried banana fruit 15 pulp was analyzed for phenols, flavonoids, antioxidants, free radical scavenging activities, and 16 soluble sugars. The obtained result showed the presence of significant differences between the 17 analyzed banana fruit varieties and growing districts. Overall, the phenolic contents among the 18 banana fruit pulp ranged from 36.28 to 45.34 GAE mg/100 g of banana fruit pulp, while the 19 flavonoids ranged from 3.35 to 7.95 QE mg/100 g. Similarly, the antioxidant activity ranged from 20 12.09 to 19.56 AAE mg/100 g, while the free radical activity (DPPH) was 62.10 to 94.80%. Also, 21 the IC50 value ranged from 0.04 to 0.07. The analyzed soluble sugar contents ranged from 6.10 22 to 11.0 g/100 g. In general, the obtained results also agreed with other previously reported values. 23 Thus, the analyzed banana fruits were appreciated as alternative bioactive compound sources, 24 including the soluble sugars. 25 Keywords: Banana fruit, antioxidant activities, phenols, flavonoids soluble sugars 26 *Corresponding author: 27 Email: shishohaile311@gmail.com; Tel: +251-933-527-265 This preprint research paper has not been peer reviewed. Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=5212372 Preprint