PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILE, ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL, AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF DIFFERENT PARTS OF Licania tomentosa SUBJECTED TO EXTRACTION WITH DIFFERENT SOLVENTS

Bioactive compounds present in various plant parts are widely recognized for their
high functional potential, notably antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic modulating
properties. These attributes justify the growing interest in their extraction and application in
nutraceutical and pharmacological formulations. The efficiency of the extraction process
depends on multiple factors, among which the choice of solvent plays a central role,
decisively influencing both the yield and the phytochemical composition obtained. In this
context, this study aimed to characterize the phytochemical profile, antioxidant capacity, and
in vitro biological properties of three different plant matrices from oiti (Licania tomentosa):
pulp + peel, seeds, and leaves, evaluating the performance of four solvents with different
polarities: water, 60% ethanol, methanol, and a Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent (NADES).
Extractions were performed separately for each matrix, and the contents of total phenolics,
flavonoids, flavonols, ortho-diphenols, condensed tannins, and total reducing capacity were
determined in the extracts, as well as the antioxidant activity using the DPPH, FRAP, and
ABTS methods. Biological properties were analyzed by lipid peroxidation inhibition (LPI)
and α-amylase inhibition. The results, expressed as mean ± standard deviation, were
statistically analyzed using the Tukey test (p < 0.05), demonstrating significant differences
related to the solvent and plant part used. The total phenolic content ranged from 40.33 mg
AGE 100 g−1 (leaves, water) to 82.96 mg AGE 100 g−1 (seeds, methanol). In comparison, the
highest total flavonoid content was obtained in the pulp + peels extracted with methanol
(30.42 mg CE 100 g−1), and that of flavonols in the leaves with 60% ethanol (4.12 mg QE
100 g−1). The highest antioxidant activity by DPPH was recorded in the pulp + peels extract
with NADES (96.03% inhibition), and in FRAP, the maximum value occurred in the leaves
extracted with water (57.75 mg AAE 100 g−1). Pars ABTS, seeds, and leaves showed

inhibition greater than 92% regardless of the solvent used. Lipid peroxidation inhibition was
most efficient in leaves extracted with methanol (78.88%), while the most significant
inhibition of α-amylase occurred in leaves extracted with NADES (62.39%). Overall,
methanol stood out as the most efficient solvent for phenolic extraction and promoting high
bioactivity, while NADES proved to be a sustainable alternative with competitive
performance. Leaves and seeds proved to be matrices rich in relevant bioactive compounds,
demonstrating their potential for the development of nutraceutical, pharmacological, and
functional food products.