Extraction Technologies and Solvents of Phytocompounds From Plant Materials : Physicochemical Characterization and Identification of Ingredients and Bioactive Compounds From Plant Extract Using Various Instrumentations

Abstract

Diverse ingredients and bioactive compounds are present in different plant materials, such as leaves, stem, roots, flower, fruits, and seeds. The development of advance and modern instrumentation techniques make the identification and characterization of ingredients and bioactive compounds analysis easier. Phytocompounds is beneficial ingredients (phenolic, vitamin, amino acids, minerals) in the various plant materials, which show the potential therapeutic for various biological activities, such as treatment and prevention of cancer, cardiovascular, and other chronic diseases. This chapter aims to review the several physicochemical extraction techniques, including conventional and advanced techniques, such as solvent extraction, microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE), aqueous extraction, enzymatic extraction, and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). Different solvent system could give different chemical compounds. Polar solvents (water, ethanol, and methanol) are commonly solvent for phenolic compounds extraction, while nonpolar solvent (hexane, chloroform, petroleum ether) are used for oil and fats extraction. Additionally, the impacts of the extraction operations parameters and different polarity of solvent are highlighted. The comparisons of each technique and solvents are also summarized to facilitate better understanding of phytocompounds from plant material extracts. Physical analysis of plant extract includes pH, color, moisture, flavor, and appearance from which was determined using pH meter, colorimeter, and moisture analyzer, respectively. While chemical analysis of plant extract includes fatty acids, heavy metals, amino acids, phytochemical compounds, such as volatile compounds (VOCs) and non-VOCs are determined using the chromatographic methods, such as liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultraperformance liquid chromatography (UPLC). The nutritional value (carbohydrate, fat, protein, fiber, moisture) was assessed using proximate analysis. These physicochemical characterizations of ingredients and bioactive compounds using various instrumentations could provide informative and scientific reference for diverse potential uses of plant extracts especially for nutraceuticals and functional food applications.