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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Early Access

Multivariate profiling reveals extraction-dependent variations in antioxidant and polyphenol content of Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr. leaves

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.13283
Submitted
19 December 2025
Published
23-06-2026
Versions

Abstract

Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr. leaves represent a largely underexplored botanical resource with promising antioxidant potential attributed to their polyphenolic constituents. The present study comparatively evaluated the influence of different extraction techniques on the phenolic composition and antioxidant capacity of C. maxima leaf extracts, integrating the obtained data through a multivariate analytical framework. Extracts were prepared using maceration (MAC), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and microwave-assisted extraction. Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were determined and antioxidant activity was evaluated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging assay and the 2,2′-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical-scavenging assay. Maceration resulted in comparatively higher phenolic and flavonoid contents, whereas UAE demonstrated superior antioxidant performance, as indicated by lower half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values in both assays. To comprehensively interpret these variations, principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to integrate phenolic and antioxidant parameters. The first principal component accounted for 73.98 % of the total variance, generating a consolidated antioxidant–polyphenol profile that distinctly discriminated among extraction methods. Overall, the findings demonstrate that the antioxidant characteristics of C. maxima leaf extracts are markedly dependent on extraction strategy. The multivariate approach further underscores the utility of principal component analysis for systematically comparing extraction efficiency when multiple interrelated antioxidant indicators are considered.

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