Malays. J. Anal. Sci. Volume 30 Number 1 (2026): 1616

 

Research Article

 

Comparative evaluation of phytochemical profiles and antioxidant potential in three citrus leaf varieties (Rutaceae)

 

Norhayati Yusuf1,2, Nur Irdeena Zulkornain1, Asnuzilawati Asari1,3, and Nurul Huda Abdul Wahab1,3*

 

1Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

2Biological Security and Sustainability (Bioses) Research Interest Group, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

3Advanced Nano Materials (ANoMa) Research Group, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

 

*Corresponding author: nhuda@umt.edu.my

 

Received: 10 July 2025; Revised: 20 December 2025; Accepted: 5 January 2026; Published: 28 February 2026

Abstract

Citrus species are widely recognised for their bioactive compounds, which contribute to antioxidant and therapeutic properties. Despite extensive research on Citrus fruits, comparative reports on the antioxidant potential of their leaves remain limited. This study aimed to perform a qualitative phytochemical analysis and assess the antioxidant activity of leaf extracts from Citrus aurantifolia, Citrus hystrix, and Citrus microcarpa. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, triterpenoids, steroids, saponins, flavonoids, reducing sugars, carbohydrates, phenolic compounds, glycosides, and tannins across different solvent extracts. Notably, alkaloids were absent in methanol extracts of C. aurantifolia and C. microcarpa, while C. hystrix tested positive for alkaloids in all extracts. Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH radical scavenging, along with non-enzymatic antioxidant analyses for α-tocopherol and carotenoid content. C. aurantifolia exhibited the highest total antioxidant activity (10.1 ± 0.04 mg/g fwt), correlating with its phenolic content, whereas C. microcarpa recorded the lowest (0.6 ± 0.01 mg/g fwt). Interestingly, DPPH scavenging analysis showed the reverse trend, with C. microcarpa achieving the highest scavenging percentage (96.41 ± 1.62%). This apparent discrepancy may result from differences in the antioxidant mechanisms measured by each assay. Additionally, C. hystrix contained the highest α-tocopherol concentration (2.30 ± 0.05 µg/g fwt), while C. microcarpa showed the greatest carotenoid content (20.40 ± 1.56 mg/g fwt). These variations highlight the diverse phytochemical profiles of Citrus leaves and their potential as natural antioxidant sources. The findings support their future application and potential use in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical development, warranting further studies on pharmacological mechanisms and bioavailability.

 

Keywords: antioxidant, phytochemical profiles, Citrus aurantifolia, Citrus hystrix, Citrus microcarpa

 

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