Abstract
This study evaluates the utilization of ethyl lactate as an environmentally friendly solvent for extracting phenolic compounds from the Orthosiphon stamineus (O. stamineus) by employing aqueous two-phase system (ATPS). Ethyl lactate (EL) was selected as the primary component for the top phase due to its non-toxic attributes and cost-effectiveness. The impact of type of salt, phase compositions, sample loading, pH, equilibration time, and neutral salt’s composition on the partition coefficient, K; yield, Y; and 2,2-diphenyl-1-pircrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity of phenolic compounds was evaluated. The EL-salt ATPS contained 41.9% (w/w) EL and 14.6% (w/w) sulfate at 1.4% (w/w) of sample load, 1.5% (w/w) of potassium chloride, and pH 6.0, had the greatest K of 23.28 ± 0.12, Y of 99.03% ± 1.37%, and DPPH scavenging activity of 98.22% ± 0.40%. Therefore, the study underscores the efficiency of EL-based ATPS for extracting phenolic compounds from plants.
