Evaluation of Antioxidant Capacity of Florida Native and Non-Native Plants

This study is part of a large project aimed at studying the nutritional characteristics of lesser known native and non-native plants that grow well in the summer months of Florida. We analyzed the antioxidant capacities of the following organically-grown plants: Portulaca oleracea (purslane), Hydrocotyle umbellate (dollar weed), Hibiscus acetosella (cranberry hibiscus), Cucurbita moschata (Seminole pumpkin), Corchorus olitorius (Egyptian spinach), Moringa oleifera (moringa), Callicarpa Americana (beautyberry). Methanol was the best solvent for extraction of antioxidants. Antioxidant content of dollarweed was the highest among all plants studied, followed by beautyberry, moringa, purslane, Egyptian spinach, then cranberry hibiscus. These plants possess strong DPPH radical scavenging activity but additional research into the nutritional properties of these plants is warranted before wide consumption can be recommended.