Analysis of Antioxidant Activity of Lontar Fruit (Borassus flabellifer Linn.) using Various Solvents

Background: Borassus flabellifer Linn. (lontar) fruit contains essential nutrients and bioactive secondary metabolites, including flavonoids and phenolic compounds, which exhibit antioxidant activity. However, information on antioxidant properties based on different extraction solvents remains limited. Aims: This study aimed to analyze the nutritional composition and evaluate the antioxidant activity of lontar fruit extracts obtained using solvents with different polarities. Methods: Proximate analysis was conducted to determine the nutritional composition of lontar fruit. Extraction was performed using ethanol, methanol, and n-hexane as solvents. The antioxidant activity of each extract was evaluated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, and inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values were calculated to compare antioxidant effectiveness. Results: Proximate analysis revealed that lontar fruit contains 78.61% carbohydrates, indicating its potential as a high-energy food source with an energy value of 3762 cal/gram. All extracts demonstrated free radical scavenging activity. At a concentration of 0.40 mg/mL, the n-hexane extract exhibited the highest inhibition (64.27%), followed by ethanol (59.25%) and methanol (53.69%). The lowest IC₅₀ value was observed in the n-hexane extract (0.23 ± 0.02 mg/mL). Conclusion: The results indicate that lontar fruit possesses strong antioxidant activity, with nonpolar compounds contributing predominantly to this effect, suggesting its potential application as a source of antioxidant supplements or functional food ingredients.