Abstract
A microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) method was applied to separate saponins from Sapindus mukorossi pericarps. The most important factors of the six extraction parameters were selected using Plackett–Burman designs; therefore, the further extraction procedure was optimized using the Box–Behnken designs; meanwhile, the optimum processing parameters and well-pleasing saponins extraction rate were inferred. The final operation conditions were the ethanol concentration of 40%, soaking time of 3 h, particle size of 80–100 meshes, extraction time of 13 min, solvent-solid ratio of 19 mL/g, and microwave power of 425 W. Based on the optimal extraction parameters, the extraction rate of the saponins by means of MAE technique reached 280.55 ± 6.81 mg/g, which exceeds yields acquired using conventional manners. Saponins from S. mukorossi have obvious xanthine oxidase inhibitory properties in vitro compared with allopurinol. The saponins displayed a type of competitive inhibition of xanthine oxidase. In conclusion, a MAE technique in association with a response surface design provides an efficient extraction tactics, which could sufficiently isolate saponins from S. mukorossi pericarps; further, this technique could be applied to the dissociation of other bioactive substances from plant sources. In addition, the saponins may be a promising alternative to conventional medicine to treat gout and other inflammation-associated disorders to mitigate the side effects of traditional drugs.
Highlights
Sapindus mukorossi of Sapindaceae family, commonly famous for soapnut, washnut, reetha, or ritha, is a well-known, handsome, deciduous, and valuable tree species
S. mukorossi pericarps are a main source of saponins, which make up 7% to 27% of the whole fruit [19]. erefore, it is of our great interest to optimize the extraction process of saponins from S. mukorossi pericarps
An inhibitory mechanism assay was performed by kinetic analysis using Lineweaver–Burk plots (Figure 4), which indicated that S. mukorossi saponins exhibited high Xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibition. e mode of inhibition for saponins was competitive as determined by the Vmax and Km from Lineweaver–Burk plots. e value of Km increased as the saponins concentration increased, while the Vmax values were constant relative to xanthine as the substrate. erefore, saponins may compete with the substrate for the active site of XO, preventing the substrate from binding
Summary
Sapindus mukorossi of Sapindaceae family, commonly famous for soapnut, washnut, reetha, or ritha, is a well-known, handsome, deciduous, and valuable tree species. It is indigenous to the hilly areas of China and Japan below an altitude of 1000 m and is widely cultivated in North India [1, 2] As it is rich in valuable saponins (possessing the property of outstanding surface activity), S. mukorossi is an ecofriendly and promising alternative material of biosurfactant for producing shampoos, cosmetic cleansers, and detergents in sanitary and cosmetic products [3]. BBD has been generally performed to optimize the extraction process of bioactive components from natural raw materials since it offers sufficient information about the main and interaction effects, which cannot be evaluated by univariate techniques [32, 33]. The inhibitory activity of saponins on XO in vitro was preliminary studied
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