The potential use of pulsed electric field to assist in polygodial extraction from Horopito (Pseudowintera colorata) leaves

Abstract

Horopito (Pseudowintera colorata) contains polygodial as an active compound that has many health beneficial properties. The potential of applying a continuous pulsed electric field (PEF) as a pretreatment step prior to solvent extraction of polygodial from Horopito leaves was studied. Horopito leaves suspended in water were subjected to PEF at electric field intensity ranging from 5 to 25 kV/cm and pulse frequencies from 200 to 800Hz. The interaction between electric field intensity and pulse frequency was found to have a significant role in extraction. Both electro-permeabilization and temperature increase from treatment caused some polygodial leaching from the leaves prior to solvent extraction. The study revealed that PEF at low electric field intensity and high frequency is the most effective way to achieve higher solvent extraction yield while minimizing the effect of leaching. The maximum improvement was obtained when PEF at 5 kV/cm and 800Hz for 348 μs were applied, giving a polygodial extraction yield of about 16.6% higher than that of non-PEF treated leaves.