Abstract
The antioxidant activity (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)) values varied between 9.71 (methanol:water, 60:40 v/v) and 13.30% (methanol:water, 50:50 v/v) and total phenol contents ranged between 12.43 (ethanol:water, 60:40 v/v) and 22.91 mg GAE/kg (methanol:water, 50:50 v/v). In general, pomelo fruit carpels (PFCs or the carpels with juicy vesicles) extracts obtained using methanol:water solutions exhibited higher antioxidant activities and total phenolic content in comparison with those obtained using ethanol:water solutions. Gallic acid, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, (+)-catechin, and 1,2-dihydroxybenzene were the major phenolic compounds of PFC extract obtained by methanol:water and ethanol:water solutions at different concentrations. Gallic acid contents of PFC extract obtained by both solutions varied between 9.35 (methanol:water, 100:0 v/v) and 34.30 mg/kg (methanol:water, 50:50 v/v), whereas 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid contents of those changed between 1.02 (ethanol:water, 80:20 v/v) and 8.70 mg/kg (methanol:water, 50:50 v/v). Overall, a combination of methanol and water at 1:1 ratio is optimal for extraction of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity from PFCs. Practical applications Pomelo is one of the major citrus plants. Polyphenolic compounds have demonstrated various health-promoting effects. Fruits and vegetables are generally considered as healthy foods, and their consumption is crucial to disease prevention and in cases their treatment due to the occurrence of bioactive. Such bioactive compounds play vital roles toward health-promoting properties of different fruits and vegetables, and hence, interest in investigation for different bioactive compounds, extraction procedures, and their biological properties is increasing. Pomelo fruit is a rich source of these bioactive compounds. The current study investigates the extraction of bioactive compounds from pomelo fruit carpel using organic solvents.