Phytochemical Composition and Antioxidant Potential of Elephant Cassava (Manihot esculenta var. Gajah): A Promising Functional Food from Muna Island, Indonesia

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Functional foods containing abundant bioactive compounds have gained increasing attention for their contributions to health promotion and the prevention of degenerative disorders. Elephant cassava (<i>Manihot esculenta</i> var. Gajah), a local cultivar grown on Muna Island, Indonesia, is notable for its large tubers and high productivity. Therefore, this research was designed to investigate its phytochemical composition, antioxidant potential and cyanogenic safety of elephant cassava to evaluate its feasibility as a functional food source. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Ethanol extracts of elephant cassava tubers were prepared by maceration and fractionated by solvent partitioning. Qualitative phytochemical screening, thin-layer chromatography (TLC), antioxidant assays using DPPH and FRAP methods and qualitative cyanide detection via alkaline picrate test were performed. Furthermore, LC-MS/MS analysis was employed to identify the major bioactive compounds, followed by the structural elucidation of the isolated molecules using FTIR, NMR and MS techniques. <b>Results:</b> Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics and steroids, while saponins, tannins and triterpenoids were absent. Antioxidant assays demonstrated strong radical scavenging and reducing capacities, with IC values of 20.9 μg/mL for the extract and 11.8 μg/mL for vitamin C, categorizing the extract as highly active. The FRAP assay further confirmed the comparable reducing power of this product to that of vitamin C. Cyanogenic glycosides were undetectable, indicating the product's safety for consumption. The LC-MS/MS analysis identified key metabolites, including myo-inositol, trehalose, nicotinamide, adenine, indoline, palmitic acid glycerol ester and 1-stearoylglycerol, all of which contribute to the nutritional and pharmacological potential of this compound. <b>Conclusion:</b> Elephant cassava tubers possess a rich phytochemical profile and exhibit strong antioxidant activity with no detectable cyanogenic toxicity. The presence of nutritionally valuable and bioactive compounds underscores its potential as a safe and promising candidate for the development of functional foods.