Quantitative Phytochemical Analysis and in vitro Study of Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Activities of Aegle marmelos Fruit with Peel and without Peel: A Comparative Evaluation

Background: Aegle marmelos is an important ethnomedicinal plant that is found commonly in India and other Asian countries. The peel of the fruit is hard and is often discarded as waste. However, a few studies have shown that even the peel has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory attributes. The aim of this research work was to perform a comparative evaluation of Aegle marmelos fruit extracts with the peel (whole fruit) and without the peel. Phytochemical investigations were carried out on the two extracts. Materials and Methods: The Folin-ciocalteu reagent method and the aluminum chloride colorimetric method were used to determine the total phenolic contents and total flavonoid contents, respectively. The marmelosin content was measured using the high-performance thin layer chromatography technique. The antioxidant activity was determined in-vitro using the free-radical scavenging method, and the in vitro anti- inflammatory property was determined using the egg albumin denaturation method. The unpaired t-test (with Welch’s correction) was used to determine P values. Any differences that were observed were considered significant if P < 0.05. Results: The total flavonoid content of the extracts was found to be low, while the total phenolic content was high. There were no significant differences in the antioxidant activities of the extracts. The anti-inflammatory activities and marmelosin contents of the extracts were significantly different. Conclusion: The extracts displayed good antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The anti-inflammatory activity of the extract of the fruit without the peel was found to be greater than that of the extract of the fruit with the peel.