Abstract

The present study is aimed to evaluate antioxidant activity of Pyrus pyrifolia fruit peel extracts by different extraction methods. The fruit peel extracts of Pyrus pyrifolia were prepared by using soaking and Soxhlet method with acetone, ethyl acetate and chloroform: methanol (4:1) solvents. The antioxidant activity of the extracts were determined by using DPPH (2, 2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method. From the results obtained it becomes clear that Soxhlet method is best in terms of high extraction efficiency and extraction of antioxidant compounds. The extracts of soaking method showed less antioxidant activity than Soxhlet extracts. In Soxhlet extraction, the acetone extracts showed maximum antioxidant activity than ethyl acetate and chloroform: methanol (4:1) extracts. Out of the extracts prepared by soaking method of extraction, the extracts of chloroform: methanol (4:1) showed maximum antioxidant activity. Therefore, the antioxidant potential of fruit peel extracts of Pyrus pyrifolia depends upon the both, the extraction method and the solvent used for extraction.

Keywords

Pyrus pyrifolia, Soxhlet, Soaking, antioxidant activity