• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• v.52 no.5
• /
• pp.450-458
• /
• 2024

Litsea elliptica, a Southeast Asian tree with a rich history of medicinal applications, is attracting increasing research attention. This study investigated the effects of leaf maturity and solvent selection on the extraction of bioactive compounds from L. elliptica leaves, specifically with regard to their antioxidant activity. 2,2'-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) method was employed to quantify the free radical scavenging capacity of L. elliptica leaf extracts prepared using three different solvents (n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol) at three different leaf stages (tender, immature, and mature). These results highlight the significant effects of leaf maturity and solvent selection on the extraction of phenolic compounds and flavonoids from L. elliptica leaves. Ethanol is the most effective solvent for the extraction of bioactive compounds, particularly from mature leaves. The ethanol extraction of tender leaves demonstrated potential for optimizing the antioxidant content. Further research is necessary to investigate the specific factors influencing the observed differences in antioxidant activity between leaves of varying ages and the potential impacts of other bioactive compounds present in the leaves.