Optimization of Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Acacia Seyal Gum Using Response Surface Methodology and Their Chemical Content Identification by Raman, FTIR, and GC-TOFMS.

Tahani Maher,Ferid Abdulhafiz,Djabir Daddiouaissa,Arifullah Mohammed,Mohamed E S Mirghani,Jihad I Omran,Mohammad Khairul Azhar Abdul Razab,Md Z Alam,Mohd Farhan Hanif Reduan,Nassereldeen A Kabbashi

doi:10.3390/antiox10101612

Abstract

Acacia Seyal gum (ASG), also known as gum Arabic, is an antioxidant-rich soluble fiber. ASG has been reported to have many biological activities, including anticancer, antidiabetic, antiulcer, and immunomodulatory activity. Extraction of bioactive compounds from ASG is commonly performed using conventional extraction methods. However, these techniques have certain limitation in terms of extraction time, energy, and solvent requirements. Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) could be used as an alternative technique to extract bioactive compounds in less time, at low temperature, and with less energy and solvent requirements. In this study, the UAE extraction of ASG was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). A face-centered central composite design (FCCCD) was used to monitor the effect of different independent factors of ultrasound operation (sonication time, temperature, and solvent ratio) on ASG extraction yield. In addition, screening and characterization of phytochemicals in 60% ethanol ASG extract was carried out using Raman microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectroscopy (GC-TOFMS) analysis. The results indicated that, under optimal conditions (extraction time 45 min, extraction temperature 40 °C, and solid–liquid ratio of 1:25 g/mL), the yield of ASG was 75.87% ± 0.10. This yield was reasonably close to the predicted yield of 75.39% suggested by the design of experiment. The ANOVA revealed that the model was highly significant due to the low probability value (p < 0.0001). Raman spectrum fingerprint detected polysaccharides, such as galactose and glucose, and protein like lysine and proline, while FTIR spectrum revealed the presence of functional groups peaks value of alkanes, aldehydes, aliphatic amines, and phenol. GC-TOFMS spectroscopic detected the presence of strong d-galactopyranose, carotenoid, and lycopene antioxidant compounds. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the UAE technique is an efficient method to achieve a high yield of ASG extracts. The selected model is adequate to optimize the extraction of several chemical compounds reported in this study.

Highlights

Over the last few years, the use of natural compounds for the prevention and treatment of various diseases is becoming increasingly popular and they have shown significant results in the treatment of cancer, Alzheimer, metabolic disorders, inflammations, arthritis, etc. [1]
The face-centered central composite design (FCCCD) under response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to investigate the optimal parameters of the three variables to maximize the extraction yield
Acacia Seyal gum (ASG) had a wide range of yields from 64% to 76%, and the maximum yield was found at the extraction time of 45 min, an extraction temperature of 40 ◦ C, and the solid–liquid ratio of 25 g/mL

Summary

Introduction

Over the last few years, the use of natural compounds for the prevention and treatment of various diseases is becoming increasingly popular and they have shown significant results in the treatment of cancer, Alzheimer, metabolic disorders, inflammations, arthritis, etc. [1]. The utilization of natural compounds from various sources has been increased in the food and pharmaceutical industries [2]. As a source of natural health-benefitting compounds, ASG has been used in folk medicine globally. ASG is a dried secretion from trees of Acacia Senegal and Acacia Seyal. These trees are primarily grown in sub-Saharan African countries, Sudan, Chad, Uganda, and Eritrea. ASG provides a rich source of antioxidant and is reported to have many biological activities including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, antidiabetic, antioxidant, and antiulcer activity [3,4]. The biological activity of ASG is associated with its high flavonoid and polyphenolic components [5,6]. It is reported to have abundant terpenoids, tannins, lignans, alkaloids, coumarins, and quinones [7,8]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion