Impact of Extraction Solvent on Phenolic Diversity, Protein Content, and Antioxidant Efficiency of Carthamus tinctorius L.

This study explored the antioxidant capacity, protein content, and phenolic profile of Carthamus tinctorius L. (safflower) using ethanol (ETOH) and water (AQUA) as extraction solvents. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP assays. The ethanol extract exhibited significantly higher ABTS (1126 μM TE/gDW) and FRAP (1128.69 μM TE/gDW) activities, alongside greater protein content (58.55 µg/gDW), suggesting that ethanol is more effective in extracting lipophilic antioxidants and proteins. Conversely, the aqueous extract demonstrated markedly higher DPPH activity (2500 μM TE/gDW), indicative of abundant hydrophilic compounds with strong radical scavenging properties. The water extract was particularly rich in chlorogenic acid (79.65 µg/g), hesperidin (52.46 µg/g), hyperoside (31.38 µg/g), quercetin, and unique compounds such as ellagic acid and pinoresinol, detected exclusively in this fraction. Employing a combination of solvents and antioxidant assays is essential for comprehensive evaluation of plant-based bioactive compounds and their functional potential in food and pharmaceutical applications.