Impact of Solvent Selection on the Extraction Efficiency of Antioxidant Compounds from a local population of Pisum sativum Cultivated in Arid Southern Tunisia

This study evaluates the effect of different solvents (methanol, water, acetate, chloroform, and hexane), on the extraction of antioxidant compounds from a local pea population (Pisum sativum) cultivated in the arid region of southern Tunisia. The extraction efficiency was assessed by determining the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), condensed tannins (TC), anthocyanin content, and antioxidant capacity. A one-way ANOVA analysis revealed a significant influence of solvent type on the extraction yield of these bioactive compounds. Among the five tested solvents, methanol and acetate demonstrated the highest extraction efficiency, yielding the highest concentrations of TPC, TFC, anthocyanins, and antioxidant activity. In contrast, chloroform was particularly effective for extracting condensed tannins, whereas water and hexane exhibited the lowest extraction efficiency. These findings emphasize the crucial role of solvent selection in optimizing the extraction of bioactive compounds from Pisum sativum seeds, which can enhance their nutritional and medicinal value.