Assessment of antioxidant activity and bioactive compound identification of methanol and petroleum ether extracts of male Papaya Leaves (Carica papaya L.) From Indonesia

Papaya (Carica papaya L.) leaves are a potential source of bioactive compounds that possess various pharmacological properties, including antioxidant activity. The utilization of these compounds is crucial for the development of natural products that promote wellness. This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant activity and bioactive compounds in methanol and petroleum ether extracts of papaya leaves. Extraction was performed using the maceration method with both solvents. Antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) assay, while bioactive compound identification was conducted through phytochemical screening and GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry) analysis. Phytochemical screening indicated that the methanol extract contained flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, and saponins, whereas the petroleum ether extract contained alkaloids and steroids. GC-MS analysis identified 26 bioactive compounds in the methanol extract, with Neophytadiene (25.56%), 1,4-Eicosadiene (8.84%), and Benzyl nitrile (7.70%) as the major components. The petroleum ether extract contained 18 bioactive compounds, predominantly Hexadecanoic acid-methyl ester (45.92%), Benzene, (isothiocyanatomethyl)- (12.57%), and Neophytadiene (10.02%). IC50 values indicated that the antioxidant potential of the methanol extract was very weak (280.319 ppm), while that of the petroleum ether extract was moderate (142.565 ppm). These results suggest that the petroleum ether extract of papaya leaves is more effective as a source of antioxidants than the methanol extract and thus has potential for development as a bioactive ingredient in pharmaceutical or nutraceutical applications.