The particle size of butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea) powder improved the phenolic, flavonoid, and antioxidant activity using ethanol ultrasound-assisted extraction

Abstract

Extraction of phytochemical compounds is closely related to particle size and solvent. This research evaluates the effect of particle size of butterfly pea (Clitorea ternatea) powder and percentage of ethanol (EtOH) solvent (0%, 40%, and 80%) using ultrasound-assisted extraction on total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and antioxidant activity using 1,1- difenil-2-pikrilhidrazil (DPPH) method. The crude EtOH extract was extracted from dried powders of C. ternatea with various particle sizes (crude,> 30 mesh, > 50 mesh, > 70 mesh, and < 90 mesh). The abundance of phytochemicals showed results at smaller particle sizes. The particle sizes decreased as the TPC, TFC, and antioxidant activity significantly increased (P<0.05). C. ternatea at the smallest particle size (< 90 mesh) in 40% EtOH have the highest abundance of TPC and TFC, 62.70±1.83 mg GAE/g dry samples, and 167.23±0.73 mg quercetin/g dry samples, respectively. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity under the same treatment conditions and smaller particle size significantly increases the IC50 value. The particle size in < 90 mesh;40% EtOH has the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity at 68.83±0.95 %. The findings from this research stated that the particle size and solvent percentage could improve the extraction process for phytochemical compounds. Antioxidant activity had a strong correlation with total phenolic and flavonoid content.