Background: Musa sapientum L. (Male bud, banana blossom) has been used in Thai health food and Thai traditional medicine preparation as part of postpartum breastfeeding care.
Objective: The extracts were tested for anti-inflammatory activity by inhibition of NO production by RAW 264.7 cell lines, antioxidant activity by DPPH radical scavenging assay and total phenolic content by Folin-Ciocalteu’s method.
Material and Method: Both dry and fresh banana blossom were extracted by decoction, maceration with 50%, 95% EtOH and residue from maceration were extracted by decoction. The fresh young male bud was also soaked in water and dried by freeze drying. The extracts were tested for anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant activity and the total phenolic content determined.
Results: The results of anti-inflammatory assay by inhibitory activity against lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 cell lines showed that dried male flower by decoction exhibited the most potent effect with IC50 value 5.9791+0.1908 μg/ml. The DPPH radical scavenging assay showed that fresh male flower by decoction had the most potent anti-oxidant activity with EC50 value 5.775+0.118 μg/ml. The total phenolic content of fresh male flower by decoction had the highest total phenolic content with value 269.313+0.719 mg GAE/g.
Conclusion: Therefore, this result is the basis for using decoction method for preparing food from dried male flower for postpartum care.

Keywords: Musa sapientum, Banana blossom, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-oxidant, Total phenolic content