Evaluation of biochemical composition and antioxidant activity of flowers of Cinnamomum melastomaceum collected from the coastal sandy area of Hue city

Phung Thi Bich Hoa * and Nguyen Thi Ngoc Thuy Tin

* Corresponding author: (ptbhoa@hueuni.edu.vn)

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Received: Oct 7, 2025
Revised: Dec 15, 2025
Accepted: Dec 17, 2025
Published: Apr 20, 2026
Title: Evaluation of biochemical composition and antioxidant activity of flowers of Cinnamomum melastomaceum collected from the coastal sandy area of Hue city
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Hòa, P. T. B., & Tin, N. T. N. T. (2026). Evaluation of biochemical composition and antioxidant activity of flowers of Cinnamomum melastomaceum collected from the coastal sandy area of Hue city. Journal of Science and Education, 66(02). Retrieved from https://tckhgd.dhsphue.edu.vn/index.php/jse/article/view/296
Issue
Vol. 66 No. 02 (2026): Journal of Science and Education: Natural Science - Technology
Section
Journal of Science and Education: Natural Science - Technology

Abstract

Cinnamomum melastomaceum, a native species of the Lauraceae family, has been traditionally used in folk medicine, although scientific data remain limited. Various plant parts have been reported to exhibit analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and detoxifying activities, and are traditionally employed in the management of colds, musculoskeletal disorders, digestive and liver conditions, as well as dermatological ailments. This study evaluates the biochemical composition and antioxidant capacity of flower extracts of C. melastomaceum. The results show that the flowers possess low moisture content (21.17%) and extremely low protein levels (0.19 mg/g), while crude lipids (66.00 mg/g) and reducing sugars (27.67 mg/g) are present at notable levels, reflecting the secondary-metabolite-rich metabolic strategy typical of the genus Cinnamomum. The extract exhibited strong DPPH free radical scavenging activity with an IC₅₀ value of 102.49 µg/mL, along with a high vitamin C content (35.04 mg/100 g) and catalase activity of 0.08 U/mg. These characteristics indicate that the flowers of C. melastomaceum represent a potential natural source of antioxidant compounds with promising applications in pharmaceuticals and functional foods.
Keywords: Cinnamomum melastomaceum, Flower, Antioxidant activity, Biochemical composition, IC₅₀

Tóm tắt

Cây Rè muôi (Cinnamomum melastomaceum), loài bản địa thuộc họ Long não, được dùng lâu đời trong y học dân gian nhưng còn ít dữ liệu khoa học; các bộ phận của cây có tác dụng giảm đau, kháng viêm, tiêu độc, hỗ trợ điều trị cảm mạo, bệnh xương khớp, tiêu hóa, gan mật và các bệnh ngoài da. Nghiên cứu này đánh giá thành phần hóa sinh và khả năng chống oxy hóa của dịch chiết hoa Rè muôi. Kết quả cho thấy hoa có độ ẩm thấp (21,17%) và hàm lượng protein rất thấp (0,19 mg/g), trong khi lipid thô (66,00 mg/g) và đường khử (27,67 mg/g) ở mức đáng kể, phản ánh chiến lược trao đổi chất giàu hợp chất thứ cấp của chi Cinnamomum. Dịch chiết thể hiện khả năng bắt giữ gốc tự do DPPH mạnh với IC₅₀ = 102,49 µg/mL, cùng hàm lượng vitamin C cao (35,04 mg/100 g) và hoạt độ catalase 0,08 U/mg. Những đặc điểm này cho thấy hoa Rè muôi là nguồn dược liệu tiềm năng chứa các hợp chất chống oxy hóa tự nhiên có thể khai thác cho mục đích dược liệu và thực phẩm chức năng.
Từ khóa: Cinnamomum melastomaceum, Hoa Rè muôi, Hoạt tính chống oxy hóa, Thành phần hóa sinh, IC₅₀

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