Optimization of extraction methods on antioxidant activity and phenolic content from red dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhyzus) peel.

Extraction is a method of extracting active compounds from a natural product. The extraction method commonly used is the maceration method, but currently, the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) method is also being developed. This study was conducted to determine the extraction method that can produce the maximum antioxidant activity and the highest total phenol content from dragon fruit peel extract. The antioxidant activity test was carried out using the FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power) method. In contrast, the measurement of phenolic content was carried out using the Folin-Ciocalteu method. The extraction solvent used was a mixture of ethanol-citric acid at pH 4.5. The results showed that the antioxidant activity of the maceration method and ultrasound-assisted extraction was 27.93 and 23.67mg Trolox/g extract, while the total phenolic content was 16.71 and 14.73 mg GAE/g extract, respectively. This result indicates that the maceration extraction method is more effective in extracting phenolic compounds and provides better antioxidant activity than the ultrasound-assisted extraction method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]