The Effect of Different Solvents on Extraction Yield, Total Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity of Extracts from Pine Bark (Pinus pinaster subsp. atlantica)

Abstract

Pine bark extracts are a rich source of natural polyphenols with potential beneficial antioxidant properties. The extraction yield, antioxidant activity, as well the type of polyphenols recovered not only depend on the extraction method but also on the solvent used for extraction. Thus, the aim of the present study was to ascertain the effect of different solvents on extraction yield, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of extracts from Pinus pinaster subsp. atlantica, the major forest biomass of Northwest of Portugal. Soxhlet extractions with water, water/ethanol (1/1) and just ethanol, as solvents, were performed for 4 hours. Best results were obtained with the water/ethanol mixture. Overall, the solvent’s performance was as follows: water/ethanol> ethanol> water.