Influence of Maggot Residue Fertilizer on Phenolic and Flavonoid Content and Antioxidant Activity of Red Betel (Piper crocatum Ruiz & Pav.)

Abstract

Red betel (Piper crocatum Ruiz & Pav.) contained many active compounds that played a role in the treatment of degenerative diseases, such as phenolics and flavonoids. This research aimed to determine the effect of maggot manure application on the growth, total phenolic content, flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity of red betel plants. The total phenolic and flavonoid content were measured using colorimetric methods with Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride reagents. Antioxidant activity was measured using the DPPH and FRAP methods. The results showed that treatment with Dose 3 (1 maggot manure: 7 planting media) had the highest content of active compounds compared to other treatments, at 166.41 ± 4.50 mg GAE/g for phenolics, 47.59 ± 1.33 mg QE/g for flavonoids, 272.39 ± 15.49 ppm for IC50 value, and 545.27 ± 12.05 μM TE/g for antioxidant capacity. The highest plant growth, leaf count, wet weight, and dry weight were obtained from the negative control treatment, at 115.41 cm, 20.08 leaves, 19.03 grams wet weight, and 3.85 grams dry weight, respectively. The usage of maggot manure can increase the production of active compounds such as phenolics and flavonoids and enhance the antioxidant activity of red betel plants. However, this was in contrast to the growth of the plants when maggot manure was added.