Elsa Christine, Nora Susanti
Extraction efficiency of bioactive compounds from natural materials is strongly influenced by solvent polarity, which determines the selectivity of extracted secondary metabolites. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of solvent polarity on extraction yield and phytochemical profile of papaya seed (Carica papaya L.) extracts. Extraction was performed using the maceration method with hexane and ethyl acetate solvents. Extraction yield was calculated based on the ratio between extract weight and initial material weight, followed by phytochemical screening to identify major bioactive compound groups. The results showed extraction yields of 50% for hexane extract and 54% for ethyl acetate extract. Phytochemical analysis revealed that the hexane extract contained alkaloids, steroids, and triterpenoids, whereas the ethyl acetate extract contained alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, and triterpenoids. These findings indicate that solvent polarity plays an important role in extraction efficiency and selective recovery of bioactive compounds from papaya seeds.