| Abstract: | Microwave, ultrasonic, and reflux extraction were compared to provide an optimized method for flavonoids from Radix Scutellariae including the antioxidant activity of the extracts. The antioxidant activities of the extracts were evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and oxygen radical absorbance capacity assays. Baicalin, wogonoside, baicalein, wogonin, and oroxylin A were quantified using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography. For microwave extraction, with a ten minutes treatment, the extraction efficiencies of the analytes were higher than treatments by refluxing for 180 minutes and sonication for sixty minutes. In addition, the antioxidant activity of the microwave extracts was slightly higher than the extracts obtained by the other methods. Microwave extraction conditions were further optimized by a single-factor experiment and the optimum conditions were 50 percent ethanol–water (volume by volume), an extraction temperature of 100 degrees celsius, an extraction time of ten minutes, and a sample to solvent ratio of 1:50. This study combines extraction, phytochemistry, and bioactivity to screen the most efficient extraction procedure for flavonoids from Radix Scutellariae. |
