Antioxidant Potential of Liquidambar orientalis Mill. Fruit Extracts: A Total Phenolic Content and Radical Scavenging Evaluation

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Soydemir D., BİLGİ M., PEKSEL A.

Journal of the Mexican Chemical Society, vol.70, no.1, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

Abstract

Antioxidant compounds act as key defenders, preventing the harmful processes associated with oxidative stress by neutralizing free radicals and preserving cellular homeostasis. Synthetic antioxidants are generally more cost-effective than natural ones and are thus widely used across many industries. However, the potential toxicological risks associated with certain commonly used synthetic antioxidants have made the search for natural antioxidant alternatives inevitable. In this study, ethanol and water extracts of Liquidambar orientalis Mill. (Anatolian sweetgum tree) fruits were prepared by ultrasound-assisted extraction after the fruits were ground. The results showed that both extracts contained significant amounts of phenolics and flavonoids; however, the water extract exhibited the most notable antioxidant activity. The water extract showed nearly 92 % activity at 100 µg mL-1 in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging test and 66 % activity at 200 µg mL-1 in the N, N-dimethyl-1,4-phenylendiammonium dichloride (DMPD) radical scavenging test. And in the β-carotene assay, the water extract showed results similar to those of butylated hydroxyanisole. Additionally, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging, reducing power, metal chelating activity, and total anthocyanin content were determined. The results demonstrated that both extracts exhibited good antioxidant activity and contained natural compounds with promising antioxidant potential, but the water extract showed superior antioxidant performance. This suggests that the fruit of L. orientalis may be utilized for its antioxidant potential, thereby increasing its value.