Abstract
The effect of solvent polarity on extraction yield and antioxidant properties of phytochemical compounds in bean seeds was studied. Seed flour of three varieties of bean was extracted in a series of organic solvents with increasing polarity (n-hexane, petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol, acetone and water). Preliminary screening of phytochemicals showed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, anthocyanins, terpenoids, carotenoids, ascorbic acid and reducing compounds in all extracts. One way analysis of variance (ANOVA) of results showed that extraction yield, phytochemical content and antioxidant properties were significantly influenced (p<0.05) by the polarity of extracting solvents. The regression analysis of data showed polarity-dependent second order polynomial variations in the extraction yield, phytochemical contents, antioxidant activity, reducing properties and free radical scavenging activity of each variety. Extraction in highly polar solvents resulted in high extract yield but low phenolic and flavonoid content as compared to non-polar ones. The polarity-dependent increase in total antioxidant activity and reducing properties indicates the extraction of strong antioxidant compounds in polar solvents. The study suggests the use of a combination of polar and nonpolar solvents to increase the extraction efficiency of phytochemicals with good antioxidant quality from the bean and other legume seeds.
Highlights
Phytochemicals are non-nutrient bioactive compounds found in fruits, vegetables, cereals, legumes and most of the medicinal plants
Reducing potential of extracts was estimated in terms of iron reducing capacity (IRC) and linoleic acid reduction capacity (LARC) which ranged from 0.18±0.08-0.75±0.65 (Abs. at λ=700 nm) and 18.50±2.61-47±3.31% respectively (Figure 3A, B)
One way analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the results showed that extraction yield, phytochemical content and antioxidant properties of bean seeds were found to be significantly influenced (p
Summary
Phytochemicals are non-nutrient bioactive compounds found in fruits, vegetables, cereals, legumes and most of the medicinal plants. These compounds possess antioxidant properties and reduce the risk of oxidative damages imposed by free radicals produced during the normal metabolism (Guevara-González, 2006; Brewer, 2011; Coles, 2013). The extraction and purification of phytochemical and antioxidant substances from the plant material are generally affected by various factors including time, temperature, solvent concentration and solvent polarity. Various phytochemicals are extracted in solvents of different polarity as no single solvent may be reliable to extract all the phytochemical and antioxidant compounds present in the plant material (Lapornik, Prosek, Wondra, 2005; Iloki-Assanga et al, 2015).
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