Abstract
Extraction parameters in classical solvent extraction of bioactive compounds from Arbutus unedo leaves were studied using a single factor experiment approach. Effects of ethanol (EtOH) concentration (20-100 %), solvent:solid ratio (10-90 ml/g), extraction time (20-100 min) and extraction temperature (15-70 °C) on total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and total antioxidant activity (TAA) of the extracts were investigated. The optimal conditions were found as solvent concentration of 40 % EtOH, solvent:solid ratio of 50:1, extraction time of 60 min, and extraction temperature of 55 °C. Under these conditions, TPC, TFC and TAA were obtained as 89.58 mg GAE/g dw, 28.62 mg CAT/g dw and 85.25 % inh, respectively. It was found that especially the flavonoid content of the extracts was highly correlated with antioxidant activity under all extraction conditions such as ethanol concentration (r=0.962), solvent:solid ratio (r=0.947), extraction time (r=0.793) and temperature (r=0.935).