Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity of Purple Passion Fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims) Extracts

Oxidants and free radicals play a crucial role in the skin aging process, driving the exploration of natural ingredients for cosmetics. While Passiflora edulis (passion fruit) has been studied for its antioxidant properties, comparative research on the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of its leaf and seed ethanol extracts remains limited. This study aims to compare the phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities of ethanolic extracts from purple passion fruit leaves and seeds. Extracts were obtained by maceration using 96% ethanol. Phenolic and flavonoid content were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively using Folin-Ciocalteu and colorimetric methods, respectively. Antioxidant activity was determined using the DPPH radical scavenging assay, with data analyzed descriptively and expressed as mean ± SD. Qualitative analysis confirmed the presence of phenolic and flavonoid compounds in both extracts. The leaf extract contained total phenolics and flavonoids of 42.97 ± 2.6 mg GAE/g and 58.49 ± 4.05 mg QE/g, respectively. The seed extract contained 40.46 ± 4.9 mg GAE/g total phenolics and a higher flavonoid content of 71.79 ± 4.21 mg QE/g. The IC50 values for the leaf and seed extracts were 101.82 ± 8.44 ppm and 63.36 ± 8.22 ppm, respectively, indicating strong antioxidant activity for the seed extract and moderate-to-strong activity for the leaf extract. The ethanolic extracts of purple passion fruit leaves and seeds exhibit significant antioxidant activity, with the seed extract being particularly potent. These findings highlight their potential as promising natural ingredients for anti-aging cosmetic formulations.