Abstract
An efficient microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) technique was employed in simultaneous extraction of luteolin and apigenin from tree peony pod. The MAE procedure was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) and compared with other conventional extraction techniques of macerate extraction (ME) and heat reflux extraction (HRE). The optimal conditions of MAE were as follows: employing 70% ethanol volume fraction as solvent, soaking time of 4 h, liquid-solid ratio of 10 (mL/g), microwave irradiation power of 265 W, microwave irradiation time of 9.6 min, and 3 extraction cycles. Under the optimal conditions, 151 μg/g luteolin and 104 μg/g apigenin were extracted from the tree peony pod. Compared with ME and HRE, MAE gave the highest extraction efficiency. The antioxidant activities of the extracts obtained by MAE, ME, and HRE were evaluated using a 2,2-di(4-tert-octylphenyl)-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical-scavenging assay, a ferric reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP), and a reducing power assay. Meanwhile, the structural changes of the unprocessed and processed tree peony pod samples were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy.
Highlights
Tree peony was loved as an ornamental for its beautiful flower
Species and concentration of solvent is regarded as one of the most important parameters for microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), which affects the solubility of the target component and the absorption of microwave energy [31, 32]
Methanol has a great advantage in MAE for its best absorbance of the microwave energy, it is not recommended in food processing because of its toxicity [33]
Summary
Tree peony was loved as an ornamental for its beautiful flower. During its cultivation for thousands of years, many cultivars of tree peony have been bred. A new source of luteolin and apigenin would be provided if an efficient extraction technology of luteolin and apigenin from tree peony pod was developed. Many methods have been developed for separation of luteolin or apigenin from plant materials, such as maceration extraction (ME) [19], Soxhlet extraction [20], and heat reflux extraction (HRE) [21]. These extraction techniques are inefficient, time-consuming, and energy-consuming [22]. The objective is to develop an effective and environment-friendly microwave-assisted approach for the extraction of luteolin and apigenin from the tree peony pod. The present study offers an alternative method for the highly effective utilization of a side product of tree peony utilization
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
