PHARMACOGNOSTIC STUDIES ON COFFEE ARABICA L. HUSKS: A BRILLIANT SOURCE OF ANTIOXIDANT AGENTS

Hanan M. Al-Yousef*, Anhar Sawab and Mayasem Alruhaimi

ABSTRACT

The current study was conducted to determine standardization profile of Coffee Arabica L. is not study before. Coffee Arabica L. (Rubiaceae), is native to South America and south west Asia. Coffee pulps and husks are rich in caffeine, tannins, phenolic compounds, and other organic matter and carbohydrate. Among these compounds found in coffee pulp and husk, phenolic compounds are known to be a potent inhibitor of fermentation. Phenolic compounds cause loss of integrity of the biological membranes of microorganisms such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, affecting the selective barrier capacity of membranes and the enzymatic matrix of microorganisms. These inhibitory compounds include alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, and acids. Pharmacognostical and preliminary phytochemical screening of Coffee arabicaL husk is going to be helpful to authenticate and avoid substitution as well as adulteration in the raw material. The microscopic characters, physiochemical information and FTIR will be useful in the expansion of monograph.

Keywords: Coffee Arabica, macroµscopy, UV& FTIR analysis, antioxidants.