南美假櫻桃 (Muntingia calabura Linn.) 為文丁科 (Muntingiaceae) 西印度櫻桃屬 (Muntingia) 植物。又名螺李 (ratiles)、麗李 (datiles)、西印度假櫻桃、醋栗、昔來薩樹等,南美假櫻桃成熟果實柔軟多汁,其果皮光滑呈紅色,當果實變紅時則表示可採收食用,在台灣常被當作行道樹種植,常見於台灣中南部,然而有關台灣產南美假櫻桃果實的生理功效卻鮮少有相關之報導,於是選定台灣產南美假櫻桃果實做為研究主題,冷凍乾燥過之台灣產南美假櫻桃果實粉末以不同溶劑 (水、乙醇、丙酮、乙酸乙酯) 進行萃取,利用抗氧化成分測定 (總酚、總類黃酮、總花青素) 以及抗氧化能力測定 (DPPH自由基清除能力測定、總抗氧化能力 (TEAC) 測定、還原力測定、銅離子誘導人類LDL過氧化反應測定) 進行評估篩選,找出最佳抗氧化能力萃取物進行矽膠管柱層析 (silica gel column chromatography) ,再將最佳抗氧化力之管柱層析區分物使用高效能液相層析儀進行主要抗氧化成分的分離純化,配合高效能液相層析質譜儀 (HPLC-MS)、核磁共振儀 (NMR) 進行結構鑑定,確認台灣產南美假櫻桃果實中主要的抗氧化成分為沒食子酸 (gallic acid) 與1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, diisooctylester。經由 HPLC 定量,凍乾的台灣產南美假櫻桃果實gallic acid 含量為3.76 (mg/g),1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, diisooctyl ester 含量為 4.62 (mg/g)。
Muntingia calabura belongs to Muntingiaceae family and is also named as ratile and datile. Mature Muntingia calabura berries have smooth red skin and taste succulent . Muntingia calabura is planted on streets in southern Taiwan. Although Muntingia calabura commonly appears in Taiwan, the bioactive effect of Muntingia calabura berry is rarelly reported. Therefore, we choose Muntingia calabura berries for our research topics .The freeze dried Muntingia calabura berry was extracted by difference solvents (water, ethanol, acetone and ethyl acetate ) and then the extract were separated by activity-guide antioxidant assay. According to the results, the ethanol extract had the highest level of antioxidant contents and the prominent activities. Afterward, the ethanol extract was purified through silica gel column chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography. After a further separation, two major compounds, "gallic acid" and "1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, diisooctylester" were identified by Mass and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), respectively. Finally, the amount of gallic acid and 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, diisooctylester in Muntingia calabura berries quantified by HPLC was 3.76 and 4.62 (mg/g) , respectively.