Effect of Solvent Polarity on Antioxidant Capability of Salvia hispanica Seed Extract by the DPPH Method

The polarity of the solvent in the extraction process has a significant influence due to the different polarity characteristics of each chemical compound. The separation of compounds based on their polarity is expected to reduce adverse interactions and increase their synergy in order to reduce free radical activity. This study aims to evaluate the effect of solvent polarity differences on the antioxidant activity of Salvia hispanica (chia seed) extract using the DPPH method. Various solvents with different polarity levels, such as water, ethyl acetate and N-hexane, were used to extract bioactive compounds from chia seeds. Antioxidant activity was assessed based on the extract’s ability to scavenge DPPH free radicals, expressed as the IC₅₀ value. The results showed that extracts obtained with more polar and semipolar solvents exhibited higher antioxidant activity compared to those extracted with non-polar solvents. Water and ethyl acetate extracts demonstrated the best antioxidant capacity with the lowest IC₅₀ value, indicating that phenolic and flavonoid compounds responsible for antioxidant activity are more effectively extracted in polar solvents. The findings of this study highlight that solvent selection significantly influences the antioxidant potential of chia seed extract, with implications for its application in the pharmaceutical industries.