Total Phenol, Flavanoid and Antioxidant Activity of Physalis angulata Leaves Extract by Subcritical Water Extraction

Physalis angulata, having familiar name in Indonesia as “Ceplukan†, is wellknown empirically in folk medicineto treat several diseases such as hepatitis, malaria, boil, liver problem, diuretic etc. Clinically several researchershave revealed the activity of Physalis angulata extract as anticancer, antitumor, antimycobacterial,immunosuppresion etc. So far, the common method to obtain Physalis angulata extract is by hot waterextraction (HWE) and maceration using organic solvent such as methanol or ethanol. Meanwhile, strickerregulation of organic solvent residue to the pharmaceutical product encourages the research to replace organicsolvent by environmentally benign solvent. The objective of this research is to investigate the potential ofPhysalis angulata leaves extract obtained by Subcritical Water Extraction (SWE) method as antioxidantThe Physalis angulata leaves were extracted by water in subcritical condition. Water in this condition may havepolarity similar with organic solvent, so it can extract the phytochemical in plant material. Three variables wereinvestigated including pressure (100-200 bar), temperature (100-250oC) and extraction time (15-45 min). Afterevaporating the water, the extracts were analyzed for antioxidant activity, total phenol and flavanoid usingspectrophotometer. Water content in extract was analyzed by karl fischer titrator. The result revealed thatpressure has negligible effect, while temperature has significant effect to the antioxidant activity, total phenol andflavanoid content. The results also compared with that of obtained by conventional methods such as maceration(water and ethanol), HWE and soxhlet.