Extraction Strategy Affects Biochemical Compounds and Antioxidant Capacity of Artemisia absinthium

Extraction temperature and solvent type were altered in order to investigate their individual effects on the biochemical compounds and antioxidant capacity of Artemisia absinthium. Therefore, alternations on biochemical composition and antioxidant potential of plant extracts were studied in response to temperatures (30-60 °C), solvent types (methanol, ethanol and acetonitrile) and solvent concentration (25-100%). Total phenolic content (612-1033 mg GAE/100 g DW) and total flavonoid content (239-392 mg CE/100 g DW) were measured using the appropriate chemical procedures. The antioxidant tests including DPPH (51-79%), FRAP (151-287 µM TE /100g DW) and ABTS (17- 39 mM TE/g FM) were performed in triplicate experiments. The results indicated that methanol was the solvent of choice for subsequent extraction procedures. On the other hand, according to HPLC results the highest anabsinthin content was obtained when 75% methanol (16.58 µg/g DW) was used as extraction solvent, while it was lowest by 25% methanol (9.45 µg/g DW).