Water lily (Nymphaeaceae antares) contains a vast array of phenolic compounds with important natural antioxidative properties that could inhibit the adverse effects of the reactive oxygen species produced in living things. These substances are complex in composition which requires a suitable extraction medium to exploit the phenolic compounds. This study was designed to determine the antioxidative properties in petal and stamen of water lily extracted using different extraction solvents namely ethyl acetate and 60% methanol. Antioxidant properties of the samples were determined using 2,2-diphenyl -1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, ferric thiocyanate (FTC) method, thiobarbituric acid (TBA) test, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and total tannin content (TTC) along with individual flavonoids content using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The yield of extract was found to be the highest in petals extracted with 60% methanol (44.55±1.63%) while stamen extracted with ethyl acetate yielded the lowest (24.50±1.09%). In the DPPH inhibition method, petal extracted with ethyl acetate obtained the highest scavenging activity (89.15±3.62%). FTC analysis revealed that ethyl acetate extract of petal experienced the highest percentage inhibition (76.70±6.48%) while in TBA analysis ethyl acetate extract of stamen exhibited the highest percentage inhibition (70.78±1.39%). Flavonoids such as quercetin, kaempferol, rutin, gallic acid, catechin, epigallocatechin, p-coumaric acid and myricetin were found to be present in ethyl acetate and 60% methanol extracts of water lilies stamen and petal. The information from this study indicates that water lily petals and stamens may be integrated as a good source of nutrients in the food industry, the pharmaceutical industry. If the advantages of water lily are not used and integrated into everyday life for health benefits, it will be a massive waste of natural resources.

Mahkota Dewa (Phaleria macrocarpa) also known as God's Crown has been historically used as an indispensable alternative herbal medicine. Microencapsulation is a process whereby tiny particles or droplets are engulfed or enclosed in a coating matrix to produce small capsules. Generally, without microencapsulation, powders are fragile materials that could easily interfere with other components that are difficult to dissolve in water, lose their beneficial properties and decrease shelf life. It is hoped that the microencapsulation would increase the consistency of the powder during storage and maintain its beneficial properties. The goal of this research is to investigate the physicochemical and antimicrobial activity of Mahkota Dewa leaves encapsulated in different concentrations of gum Arabic (GA) and to determine the form of antioxidant and their role and properties. Mahkota Dewa leaves powders were microencapsulated in 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10% gum Arabic using an ultrasonic spray dryer at 90οC. The microencapsulated Mahkota Dewa leaves (MMDL) samples were subjected to physicochemical and antimicrobial activity. The results showed that the 6% GA MMDL exhibited the highest yield (3.91%) while 0% GA was the lowest yield (1.64%). The highest total phenolic and flavonoid content was exhibited by 2% GA. The highest DPPH inhibition was depicted in 0% GA which indicates the highest antioxidant activity (54.9±0.01%) and is significantly (p<0.05) different from other samples. The highest inhibition was exhibited in 0% GA in the TBA method and FTC analysis. The encapsulated powders were identified to have weak antimicrobial activity against Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. The powders produced have an irregularly spherical structure and smooth surface with some dented spots on the surface. The different concentration of gum Arabic resulted in different antioxidant activity, flavonoid content and antimicrobial activity of MMDL.