Oxidative stress, triggered by an imbalance between the production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and the body's antioxidant defence mechanisms, contributes significantly to various chronic diseases. This study aimed to compare the antioxidant activity of ethanolic extract and aqueous fraction of purple sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) leaves using the DPPH method. Extraction was performed using maceration with ethanol, followed by liquid-liquid fractionation with n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and water. Phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of flavonoids in both samples. Antioxidant activity testing revealed IC50 values of 95.57 μg/mL for the ethanolic extract and 85.69 μg/mL for the aqueous fraction, indicating strong antioxidant activity for both samples. The aqueous fraction demonstrated superior antioxidant activity compared to the ethanolic extract, suggesting that the fractionation process successfully concentrated polar antioxidant compounds. The results indicate that purple sweet potato leaves, particularly the aqueous fraction, possess significant potential as a natural source of antioxidants.
Wulandari et al. (2026) studied this question.