Optimization of Total Anthocyanin Content Extraction from Dried Butterfly Pea Flowers (Clitoria ternatea L.) Using Microwave Assisted Extraction (MAE) Method

Butterfly pea flower (Clitoria ternatea L.) has been used in Indonesia as a natural dye in food and cosmetics due to its varying colors, which depend on the acidity (pH) of the environment. The vibrant colors are attributed to the presence of anthocyanin compounds. This study optimized the anthocyanin extraction process from dried butterfly pea flowers using the Microwave Assisted Extraction (MAE) method. The variables tested included different concentrations of hydrochloric acid (HCl) at 0.01%, 1%, 2.5%, 3%, 3.5%, and 3.75% in 96% ethanol, as well as extraction times of 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 minutes. The optimum extraction conditions identified were a HCl concentration of 3.5% in 96% ethanol with an extraction duration of 12 minutes, which yielded an anthocyanin concentration of 116.89 ppm.