Characterization by LC-MS and evaluation of the antioxidant capacity of particle size fractions from Manihot esculenta leaves

This study examined how the particle size fractionation of Manihot esculenta leaves influences their phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity. Of the three fractions (ground, sieved, and residue), only the residual fraction was analyzed by LC-MS in this study, while for the ground and sieved fractions had already been obtained under identical conditions. The residue fraction contained only three major metabolites (rutin, gallic acid, and caffeic acid), while the ground fraction exhibited greater diversity, including hydroxycoumarins and nicotiflorin. The sieved fraction, although lacking hydroxycoumarins, was rich in phenolic compounds. Antioxidant activity, as measured by spectrophotometry using the DPPH radical, was highest in the sieved fraction, followed by the ground fraction, while the residual fraction exhibited low activity. These results highlight the key role of particle size in metabolite diversity, bioactivity, and extraction optimization.