Extraction, Identification, and Antioxidant Activity of Flavonoids from Hylotelephium spectabile (Boreau) H. Ohba

The extraction of total flavonoids from <i>Hylotelephium spectabile</i> (Boreau) H. Ohba (<i>H. spectabile</i>) leaves was studied through the use of a double enzyme-assisted ultrasonic method, and the extraction process was optimized using the Box-Behnken design. Eight different macroporous resins were screened for purification in single-factorial experiments, and the flavonoid compounds in the extract of <i>H. spectabile</i> leaves were identified using HPLC-MS. Through the evaluation of the total reducing capacity and capacity for reducing 1,1-diphenyl-2-trinitrophenylhydrazine (DPPH), hydroxyl radicals (·OH), and 2,2'-biazobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS), the in vitro antioxidant activities of the crude extracts of the total flavonoids and purified total flavonoids of <i>H. spectabile</i> leaves were investigated. The results showed that the most efficient conditions for flavonoid extraction were an ultrasonic extraction time of 60 min, an ethanol concentration of 35%, a liquid-to-material ratio of 20:1 mL/g, and an amount of enzyme (cellulose/pectinase = 1:1) of 1.5%, forming <i>H. spectabile</i> powder. Under these conditions, the total flavonoid extraction rate in the <i>H. spectabile</i> leaf extract was 4.22%. AB-8 resin showed superior performance in terms of purification, and the optimal adsorption and desorption times were 1.5 h and 3 h, respectively. The recommended parameters for purification included a liquid volume of 5.5 BV, a flow rate of 1.2 BV/min, a pH of 5, and a concentration of 0.8 mg/mL. The observed order for reducing capacity was ascorbic acid (VC) > rutin > purified total flavonoids > crude extract of total flavonoids. The purified total flavonoid extract from <i>H. spectabile</i> showed a good scavenging ability against DPPH, ·OH, and ABTS^·+, suggesting strong antioxidant activity. Therefore, this study can serve as technical support and reference data for the further development and utilization of <i>H. spectabile</i> resources.