Sains Malaysiana 55(4)(2026): 625-633

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2026-5504-03

 

Effects of Solvents on Phenolic Compounds and Bioactivities of Fig (Ficus carica) Leaf Extracts using Ultrasound-Assisted Method

(Kesan Pelarut terhadap Sebatian Fenol dan Aktiviti Biologi Ekstrak Daun Tin (Ficus carica) menggunakan Kaedah Berbantukan Ultrabunyi)

 

NURLIYANA ZAZLI¹, DARMAN NORDIN^1,*, NORAZIAH MOHAMAD ZIN², SALMA MOHAMAD YUSOP³ & NOR YULIANA YUHANA¹

 

¹Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

²Center of Diagnostics, Therapeutics & Investigations, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kampus Kuala Lumpur, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

³Department of Food Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

 

Received: 7 February 2025/Accepted: 11 March 2026

 

Abstract

Fig (Ficus carica Linn.) leaves are well-known for their abundant phytochemicals and various bioactivities, including antioxidant and antibacterial properties. The choice of solvent plays a crucial role in extracting these bioactive compounds. However, there are limited studies on comparing the effects of different solvents in fig leaf extraction using ultrasound-assisted methods. This research investigates the influence of 100% methanol, 80% methanol, and water on the bioactive potential of the fig leaf extracts. Total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity were determined using Folin–Ciocalteu, aluminium chloride, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assays, respectively, while antibacterial activity was tested through disk diffusion method. Results showed that the 100% methanol extract displayed the highest TPC (61.68 mg GAE/g) and TFC (166.52 mg QE/g) whereas the 80% methanol extract demonstrated the highest extraction yield (19.47%) and the strongest antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. The water extract exhibited the highest antioxidant activity (IC₅₀: 1343.83 µg/mL). In conclusion, the type of extraction solvent significantly influenced the extraction efficiency and biological activities of fig leaf extracts, with 80% methanol providing the highest yield and antibacterial activity while exhibiting moderate antioxidant performance. These findings highlight the importance of solvent selection in developing fig leaf extracts for potential food and pharmaceutical applications.  

Keywords: Antibacterial activity; antioxidant activity; Ficus caricaLinn.; total phenolic content; ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE)

 

Abstrak

Daun tin (Ficus caricaLinn.) terkenal dengan kandungan fitokimia yang kaya dan pelbagai aktiviti bioaktif, termasuk sifat antioksida dan antibakteria. Pemilihan pelarut memainkan peranan penting dalam pengekstrakan sebatian bioaktif ini. Walau bagaimanapun, kajian yang membandingkan kesan pelbagai pelarut dalam pengekstrakan daun tin dengan menggunakan kaedah berbantukan ultrabunyi adalah terhad. Penyelidikan ini mengkaji pengaruh pelarut 100% metanol, 80% metanol dan air terhadap potensi bioaktif ekstrak daun tin. Jumlah kandungan fenol (TPC), jumlah kandungan flavonoid (TFC) dan aktiviti antioksida masing-masing ditentukan melalui ujian Folin-Ciocalteu, aluminium klorida dan perencatan radikal bebas 2,2-difenil-1-pikrilhidrazil, sementara aktiviti antibakteria diuji melalui kaedah resapan cakera. Keputusan menunjukkan bahawa ekstrak 100% metanol menghasilkan nilai tertinggi TPC (61.68 mg GAE/g) dan TFC (166.52 mg QE/g), manakala ekstrak 80% metanol memberikan hasil pengekstrakan tertinggi (19.47%) dan aktiviti antibakteria terkuat terhadap E. coli dan S. typhi. Ekstrak air menunjukkan aktiviti antioksida yang paling kuat (IC₅₀: 1343.83 µg/mL). Kesimpulannya, jenis pelarut pengekstrakan mempengaruhi kecekapan pengekstrakan dan aktiviti biologi ekstrak daun tin dengan ketara dengan 80% metanol memberikan hasil dan aktiviti antibakteria tertinggi sambil menunjukkan prestasi antioksida yang sederhana. Penemuan ini menekankan kepentingan pemilihan pelarut dalam pembangunan ekstrak daun tin untuk potensi aplikasi makanan dan farmaseutikal.

Kata kunci: Aktiviti antibakteria; aktiviti antioksida; Ficus caricaLinn.; jumlah kandungan fenol; pengekstrakan berbantukan ultrabunyi

 

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*Corresponding author; email: darman@ukm.edu.my