Effect of extraction method on phenolic content and antioxidant activity of mistletoe extracts from Viscum album subsp. abietis

The total content of polyphenols and flavonoids determined in the same plant and their corresponding antioxidant activities may vary widely, depending on the extraction conditions applied. This study was conducted to optimise the extraction conditions of phenolics and flavonoids from the mistletoe plant. Various extraction methods, i.e. ultrasound-assisted extraction technology, maceration, maceration with stirring, accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), and extraction under reflux were evaluated for their percentage extraction of polyphenols (TPC) and flavonoids (TFC) from Viscum album subsp. abietis. In addition, the anti-radical activity of extracts was analysed using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl method. The effects of temperature, solvent type, and concentration on the phenolic extraction efficiency and antioxidant activity were studied using chemometric and statistical methods. The results showed that the extracts of V. album subsp. abietis contained large amounts of polyphenols and flavonoids (up to 57.673 mg g^?1 and 9.955 mg g^?1 of dry extract, respectively) and exhibited potent antioxidant activity, hence representing promising sources of powerful antioxidants. Due to its high extraction efficiency and considerable saving of time and solvent, ASE was more effective than the other extraction techniques. Extracts prepared with water-polar solvent mixtures displayed the highest TPC, TFC, and antioxidant activity, while organic polar solvents were the least efficient extractants.