Effect of solvent polarity on total phenolic, antioxidant and antibacterial capacity of cherry leaves (Muntingia calabura L.)

Abstract

The cherry (Mutingia calabura L.) is a neotropical tree widespread in Indonesia. This study will examine how solvent polarity affects total phenolic, total flavonoids, antioxidants, and antibacterial capacity. The maceration method extracts materials with ethanol, ethyl acetate, and hexane from cherry leaves. The maximum yield, phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity are in ethanol solvent. Based on ANOVA at 95% confidence intervals, solvent polarity significantly affected metabolite and activity profiles. However, DPPH, ethyl acetate, and hexane solvents revealed similar antioxidant capacity. The antioxidant capacity of DPPH and FRAP was positively correlated. The DPPH method exhibited more antioxidant capacity, whereas the FRAP approach had superior precision. The Pearson correlation test demonstrated a favourable association between antioxidant capacity and total phenolic, with r = 0.85. The paper disc method for Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli antibacterial testing. As a positive control, Chloramphenicol had an apparent zone diameter of 13.3 mm (Staphylococcus aureus) and 15.8 mm (Escherichia coli). The samples had antibacterial capacity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli at 7 mm and 6.5 mm (ethanol), 8.7 mm and 7.2 mm (ethyl acetate), and 9.5 cm and 7.5 cm (hexane). Chemically, hexane solvent was more antimicrobial than others.