Relationship between free-radical scavenging activities and total phenolic compound of two selected timber species in Malaysia

Two plant species were selected, which are Hevea Brasiliensis (Rubberwood) and Shorea spp. (Meranti) for determination of total phenolic compound and the free-radical scavenging activities. In this study, the total phenolic compound was determined by using Folin-ciocalteau reagent. Free-radical scavenging activitity was determine by using DPPH (1,1- dipheny1-2-picryl hydrazyl) radical. Free radical scavenging activities was determined by using DPPH radical which is expressed as EC50 (µg/m1). Total phenolic content varied between the species. Hevea Brasiliensis (Rubberwood) have higher total phenolic content compared to Shorea spp. (Meranti), which is 316.444 mg GAE/mg and 117.555 mg GAE/mg respectively. Result showed that the Hevea Brasiliensis (Rubberwood) has lower EC50 value compare to Shorea spp. (Meranti). So, Hevea Brasiliensis (Rubberwood) has high free radical scavenging activity. The relationship between free-radical scavenging activities and total phenolic compound was interpreted by using graph. There are correlationship between free-radical scavenging activities and total phenolic compound. Higher total phenolic compound show high free radical scavenging activities.