Antioxidant Activity Test of Kersen Leaf Extract (Muntingia calabura L.) as A Source of Natural Compounds

Antioxidants play an important role in warding off free radicals that can cause various degenerative diseases. Kersen leaves (Muntingia calabura L.) are known to contain bioactive compounds that have the potential to be natural antioxidants. This study aims to evaluate the antioxidant activity of kersen leaf extract with the DPPH free radical reduction method using UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The results showed that kersen leaf extract had very strong antioxidant activity with an IC₅₀ value of 7.2 μg/mL, although it was still lower than vitamin C as a comparison standard which had an IC₅₀ of 2.8 μg/mL. This antioxidant activity is thought to come from the content of flavonoids, phenolics, saponins, and tannins that play a role in the free radical scavenging mechanism. These results suggest that kersen leaf extract has the potential to be developed as a natural source of antioxidants in various fields, including the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries. However, further research is needed to optimize extraction methods, formulations, and bioavailability of extracts so that they can be used more widely and effectively.