Extraction-Dependent Phenolic Profile and Antioxidant Activity of Jordania cherlerioides (Bornm.) Rabeler & Madhani

The efficient recovery of plant-derived phenolic compounds is strongly influenced by the extraction method employed, which directly determines the biological potential of the resulting extracts. In this study, conventional and green extraction techniques were comparatively evaluated for the first time to recover phenolic compounds from Jordania cherlerioides (Bornm.) Rabeler & Madhani using methanol as the solvent. Maceration (MAC), Soxhlet extraction (SE), microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), ultrasonic bath- assisted extraction (UBAE), and ultrasonic probe-assisted extraction (UPAE) were applied. The extracts were characterized in terms of extraction yield, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant activity determined by DPPH (2,2-diphenyl- 1-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS (2,2′-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)), and FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power) assays, and phenolic composition. The results demonstrated that phenolic recovery and antioxidant capacity varied significantly with the extraction technique. The highest TPC (84.07 ± 0.13 mg GAE/g) and TFC (25.83 ± 0.16 mg QE/g) values were obtained using MAC, whereas the highest extraction yield (14.19%) was achieved with SE. Antioxidant assays showed that MAC extracts exhibited the strongest free radical scavenging activity and reducing power. Furthermore, the phenolic profile of J. cherlerioides extracts was reported for the first time using LC–MS/MS (Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry) analysis. Rutin was the predominant compound in all extracts, while rosmarinic acid, apigenin, and protocatechuic acid occurred at method-dependent levels for applications.

Keywords: Antioxidant activity, extraction techniques, Jordania cherlerioides, LC-MS/MS analysis, phenolic compounds