DOI: https://doi.org/10.55373/mjchem.v28i2.1

Keywords: Schefflera heptaphylla, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, DPPH, ABTS, response surface methodology

Abstract

This study used Response Surface Methodology, with the support of ultrasound waves, to determine the optimal extraction conditions for obtaining the total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS) of Schefflera heptaphylla leaves. The experiment was arranged according to the Box-Behnken design, and a model was built to optimize each extraction process with four factors: extraction temperature (X₁), extraction time (X₂), ethanol concentration (X₃) and power level (X₄). The optimal conditions for the technological parameters of the extraction process were determined at an extraction temperature of 62 ºC, an extraction time of 49 minutes, ethanol concentration of 60 %, and power level of 309 W. We obtained a total phenolic content of 55.13 ± 0.20 mgGAE/g, total flavonoid content of 44.41 ± 0.15 mgQE/g, DPPH antioxidant capacity 158.17 ± 0.12 µg/g, and ABTS antioxidant capacity 129.33 ± 0.19 µg/g.