Three organic solvents (methanol, ethanol, and acetone)
at four different concentrations (90, 70, 50, and 30%
v/v) were used for extraction of hormone-like phenolic
compounds (phytoestrogens) from Larrea tridentata
leaves, namely, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA),
kaempferol and quercetin. Besides the phytoestrogens
extraction the antioxidant potential and the content of
total phenols in the produced extracts were also
determined. Phytoestrogens recovery varied
considerably according to the solvent and concentration
used for extraction. The highest NDGA, quercetin and
kaempferol contents (46.96 ± 3.39, 10.46 ± 1.01 and
87.00 ± 6.43 mg/g DW plant, respectively) were
recovered using 90% (v/v) methanol. All the produced
extracts showed antioxidant capacity, but those obtained
using 70% and 90% (v/v) methanol had significantly
higher (p<0.05) FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant
power) values (2.55 ± 0.09 and 2.73 ± 0.11 mM FE(II)/
g DW plant, respectively) than the remaining ones.
These findings allow concluding that 90% (v/v)
methanol can be successfully used for the bioactive
compounds (phytoestrogens) recovery from Larrea
tridentata leaves
