Active Ingredients and Their Antioxidant Activities in the Fermented Seeds of Morinda citrifolia （Rubiaceae）

Key words: 
• Fermentation /
• Noni seeds /
• Anti-oxidant activity

Abstract: In order to effectively utilize fermented noni seeds,the fermented seeds of noni（ Morinda citrifolia）were extracted by steam distillation or 95% ethanol,and the extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry（ GC-MS）. The 95% ethanol extract was analyzed by using Electron Paramagnetic Resonance（ EPR） Spectrometer A320 to determine its anti-oxidant activities. The results showed that the extracts of the fermented noni seeds contained mostly esters,as well as some acids and alcohols. The GC-MS analysis showed that the ethanol extract contained squalene with its relative content of 12. 95%,which was first found in the fermented noni seeds. The EPR spectroscopy showed that the ethanol extract of the fermented Noni had a very high anti-oxidation activity,higher in the low than the upper layer of the extract. It is concluded that the fermented noni seeds contained some bioactive ingredients with anti-oxidant activity. These active ingredients merit development.