Optimization of drying and maceration parameters on the antioxidant activity and toxicity of Annona muricata bark water extract

Numerous natural products exhibit antioxidant and cytotoxic properties that play a critical role in inhibiting cancer cell proliferation. These compounds mitigate oxidative damage and trigger apoptotic pathways, thereby contributing to their potential use as effective agents in cancer chemoprevention and therapy. This study aimed to explore the potential of water extract from soursop bark ( Annona muricata L) as a natural antioxidant and cytotoxic agent. Furthermore, this study examined the antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of A. muricata bark water extracts using various drying methods, such as wet samples, air-drying, sun-drying, oven-drying, and microwave-drying, as well as varying maceration times (1, 3, and 5 min). Each extract was tested for antioxidant activity using the DPPH (1,1-Diphenyl-2-Picrylhydrazyl) method, Total Phenolic Content (TPC), and Total Flavonoid Content (TFC), as well as cytotoxicity using the Brine Shrimp Lethality Test (BSLT) and (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) (MTT assay) methods. The results of this study demonstrated that the water extract of A. muricata bark obtained using the oven method (3 min) had a TPC and TFC of 776 mg GAE/g and 15.18 mg QE/g, respectively. The water extract prepared by the oven drying method with a maceration time of 3 min (AMBO) exhibited antioxidant activity with an IC 50 value of 28.65 µg/mL (very strong), cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cells with IC 50 value of 2118.41 µg/mL (inactive), and toxicity (BSLT) method with an LC 50 value of 68.49 µg/mL (high toxic). This study demonstrates that the bark extract prepared using the oven method with a 3-minute immersion duration (AMBO) exhibits potent antioxidant activity and pronounced toxicity, yet shows no cytotoxic effects against MCF-7 cells