<![CDATA[Background: Degenerative diseases caused by oxidative stress continue to increase globally. Maja fruit (Aegle marmelos) is known to contain bioactive compounds that have potential as natural antioxidants, but comprehensive research on ethyl acetate fractions is still limited. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the ethyl acetate fraction of maja fruit using the DPPH and FRAP methods and to identify its secondary metabolite content through phytochemical testing. Methods: This was a quantitative laboratory experimental study with a comparative approach. Maja fruit was extracted with 96% ethanol and subsequently fractionated using ethyl acetate. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using the DPPH method at concentrations of 12.5–200 ppm and the FRAP method at concentrations of 25–200 ppm, with vitamin C as a positive control. Phytochemical screening was conducted to identify secondary metabolites. Data were analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis test followed by Dunn's post hoc test with Holm correction. Results: The ethanol extract yield reached 48.891% and the ethyl acetate fraction 8.52%. Phytochemical testing showed that the fraction contained alkaloids, tannins, saponins, and steroids, but was negative for flavonoids. DPPH antioxidant activity showed an IC₅₀ value of 64.41 ppm (strong category), lower than vitamin C (IC₅₀ = 19.47 ppm). The FRAP method showed that antioxidant capacity increased with concentration, reaching 193.28 µM TE/g at 200 ppm. The Kruskal-Wallis test showed significant differences between concentrations (p = 0.009 for DPPH; p = 0.002 for comparison with vitamin C). Conclusion: The ethyl acetate fraction of maja fruit (Aegle marmelos) has strong antioxidant activity through free radical scavenging (DPPH) and electron transfer (FRAP) mechanisms, with contributions from alkaloids, tannins, saponins, and steroids, making it a potential source of natural antioxidants.]]>
