Extraction of antioxidants from Peperomia pellucida L. Kunth

Abstract

The objective of this research is to investigate the effect of two extraction techniques (maceration and reflux) and three extracting solvents (methanol, butanol and ethylacetate) on the yield and antioxidant activity of Peperomia pellucida L. Kunth extracts. The result showed that the methanolic extract by reflux method offered the highest extraction yield. Moreover, among the different extraction solvents, ethylacetate extract had the highest total phenolic contents. This correlated to the antioxidant activity evaluated by DPPH assay. The reducing power of extracts expressed as mmol FeSO₄/g extract were in the range of 0.139-1.164 mmol FeSO₄/g extract. Overall, higher extract yield, total phenolic contents and antioxidant activity were obtained by reflux method.

Keywords: Reflux; Peperomia pellucida L. Kunth; Antioxidant activity; DPPH; Medicinal plant.