Abstract
Deep eutectic solvents (DES) are a mixture of two or more components and are classified as ionic solvents with special properties such as low volatility, high solubility, low melting points, low-cost materials and are less toxic to humans. Using DES has been suggested as an eco-friendly, green method for extraction of bioactive compounds from medicinal plants and are a safe alternative for nutritional, pharmaceutical and various sector applications. Conventional solvent extraction methods present drawbacks such as long extraction period, safety issues, harmful to the environment, costly and large volume of solvents required. The extraction method with DES leads to higher extraction yield and better bioactivity results as compared to the conventional solvents. This review provides a summary of research progress regarding the advantages of using DES to extract bioactive compounds such as phenolic acid, flavonoids, isoflavones, catechins, polysaccharides, curcuminoids, proanthocyanidin, phycocyanin, gingerols, ginsenosides, anthocyanin, xanthone, volatile monoterpenes, tannins, lignin, pectin, rutin, tert-butyl hydroquinone, chlorogenic acids, resveratrol and others, as opposed to using conventional solvents. The bioactivity of the extracts is determined using antioxidant, antibacterial and antitumor activities. Hence, DESs are considered potential green media with selective and efficient properties for extracting bioactive ingredients from medicinal plants.
Highlights
IntroductionPublisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
MTT cytotoxicity assay used to determine the activity of 2% NADES/PCW THP-1 and HUVEC cell line with the results showed that at concentration exhibited high deleterious impact on respective viability of 71 and 85%, respectively
Using Deep eutectic solvents (DES) as medium for extraction of bioactive compounds from medicinal plants is superior to methods utilizing conventional solvents and is a green and environmentfriendly approach
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Bioactive compounds of medicinal plants, such as phenolics, alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, polysaccharides, lipids and peptides have several benefits, such as antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties as well as protective effects against diseases [1,2] These bioactive compounds are widely used in agrochemical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries [3] as well as in replacing synthetic material additives and improving quality of food products [4,5,6]. Non-conventional techniques have higher efficiency than conventional techniques because they require shorter extraction time, lower cost and significant purity of the compounds Both techniques present several limitations, such as toxicity of traditional solvents (such as methanol and hexane), thermal instability, low bioactive compound recovery from traditional solvents and possible effects on the compound’s chemical structures due to various pathways [11]. This review aims to summarize the latest efforts dedicated to application of DES in extraction of bioactive compounds and examination of their biological activities, including antioxidant, antibacterial properties and anti-tumor activity
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