Efficient Extraction Method Research Articles

Comparative mineralogical characterization of REEs ore samples from the Mushgai Khudag and Lugiin Gol deposits, Mongolia

Mongolia, situated in the Central Asian orogenic belt, is characterized by geology that is highly conducive to the abundance of mineral resources, including significant rare earth elements (REEs) reserves. However, limited knowledge of the mineralogy of its deposits has hindered the development of efficient REEs extraction methods. This study presents a detailed investigation of the mineralogical characteristics of Mongolian ores and analyzes their compositions, mineral associations, liberation, and REEs concentrations via advanced analytical techniques, including the TESCAN Integrated Mineral Analyzer (TIMA). Additionally, the BCR sequential extraction method was employed to determine the binding and leaching properties of REEs. Our results revealed that the two ore samples were predominantly rich in light rare earth elements (LREEs), with REE-bearing minerals closely associated with gangue minerals such as calcite, albite, and quartz, leading to poor liberation. The extraction data indicated that >85 % of the REEs in the Mushgai Khudag deposit were retained in the residual fraction, whereas in the Lugiin Gol deposit, the majority of the REEs were associated with the reducible fraction. These findings underscore the challenges associated with extracting REEs from Mongolian deposits, which demand stringent conditions for effective recovery. This research contributes valuable insights into the complex mineralogy of Mongolian REEs deposits, offering a foundation for future advancements in REE extraction technologies.

A mineralogical and geological study for tungsten extraction from alkaline granite in Abu Kharif area, North Egyptian Nubian Shield

ABSTRACT Wolframite-quartz vein-type represents a significant global tungsten resource essential to tungsten production. In the northern Arabian-Nubian Shield (Egypt), such mineralisation is associated with the Abu Kharif alkaline granite (614.6 ± 3.6 Ma). Mineralised quartz veins, containing mixed wolframite ore (603.7 ± 7.4 Ma), occur along the contact between these granites and metavolcanic rocks, accompanied by extensive alkali alteration. Wolframite is the foremost valuable mineral in this ore, along with scheelite and hübnerite. Despite extensive research on Abu Kharif alkaline granites and associated ore, tungsten extraction from the mineralised quartz remains understudied. This study presents an efficient method for tungsten extraction involving two stages: physical beneficiation and chemical processing techniques. An optimal tungsten recovery was achieved using a Na2CO3 fusion leaching technique, yielding a high tungsten trioxide concentration in the tungsten concentrate after chemical scrutiny. Key variables, including temperature, time, and concentrate-to-Na2CO3 ratio, were analysed for their impact on leaching efficiency. Experimental results indicate that the fusion leaching method achieves optimal efficiency with a concentrate-to-Na2CO3 ratio of 1/2.5, a fusion time of 3 h, and a fusion temperature of 600 °C. The fusion leaching tests showed that more reagents, higher temperatures, and longer exposure time did not significantly improve the leaching process.

Intensification of extraction of bioactive compounds from pomegranate peel using an ultrasound-microwave assisted extraction approach: Parametric optimization, kinetics and thermodynamics

The expansion of fruit processing industries results in a significant amount of by-products, including peels, seeds, skins, pomace, and rinds, which are rich in bioactive compounds like polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, and dietary fiber. These processing by-products are often deemed of minimal value relative to the processed fruit, largely due to the absence of efficient extraction methods. In this study, ultrasound-microwave assisted extraction (UMAE) technology was used to extract bioactive components from pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel using ethanol as a solvent. The influence of the combined power (ultrasonic 200 W + microwave 100–300 W), extraction time (10–30 min.), liquid to solid ratio (LSR) (20:1–60:1 mL/g) and solvent concentration (30–70 vol%) on extraction yield, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoids content (TFC) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl- radical scavenging activity (DPPH-RSA) was investigated. The optimal conditions using response surface methodology (RSM) for UMAE were found to be an ultrasonic power of 150 W, LSR of 50:1 mL/g, a solvent concentration of 60 %, and an extraction time of 15 min. Under the optimized conditions, 64.964 % of extraction yield, 152.089 mg GAE/g DW of TPC, 38.566 mg QE/g DW and 88.892 % of DPPH-RSA were obtained. The concentration–time data were examined using a second-order rate kinetic model to calculate the extraction constant and activation energy. The thermodynamic analysis indicated that the UMAE process is both spontaneous and endothermic. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of resulted extract under optimal conditions revealed a disrupted structural network, analyzed the nature and identified the primary functional groups, respectively. This research showed that using UMAE with ethanol is a quick, effective, and eco-friendly method for extracting pomegranate peel.

Gaussian Opacity Fields: Efficient Adaptive Surface Reconstruction in Unbounded Scenes

Recently, 3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS) has demonstrated impressive novel view synthesis results, while allowing the rendering of high-resolution images in real-time. However, leveraging 3D Gaussians for surface reconstruction poses significant challenges due to the explicit and disconnected nature of 3D Gaussians. In this work, we present Gaussian Opacity Fields (GOF), a novel approach for efficient, high-quality, and adaptive surface reconstruction in unbounded scenes. Our GOF is derived from ray-tracing-based volume rendering of 3D Gaussians, enabling direct geometry extraction from 3D Gaussians by identifying its levelset, without resorting to Poisson reconstruction or TSDF fusion as in previous work. We approximate the surface normal of Gaussians as the normal of the ray-Gaussian intersection plane, enabling the application of regularization that significantly enhances geometry. Furthermore, we develop an efficient geometry extraction method utilizing Marching Tetrahedra, where the tetrahedral grids are induced from 3D Gaussians and thus adapt to the scene's complexity. Our evaluations reveal that GOF surpasses existing 3DGS-based methods in surface reconstruction and novel view synthesis. Further, it compares favorably to or even outperforms, neural implicit methods in both quality and speed.

Carbazole-Phosphazene Based Polymer for Efficient Extraction of Gold and Precious Elements from Electronic Waste.

The continuous advancement of industry and technology has significantly increased electronic waste, which contributes to the depletion of valuable metal reserves. Therefore, it is crucial to recycle precious metals in electronic waste effectively and sustainably. This study introduces a novel approach by applying a carbazole-phosphazene-based polymer, EBE-06, in a two-stage leaching method for efficient metal extraction. In the first leaching stage, tin is selectively separated using an acid solution at a controlled pH. In the second stage, valuable metals such as gold are recovered through adsorption onto EBE-06. The polymer exhibited a 99% gold adsorption rate within 1 h, independent of pH, and a maximum adsorption capacity of 1.787 g of gold per gram of polymer. The desorption process yielded 95% efficiency, with the polymer maintaining 94% efficiency over three cycles of use.

Extraction of high-quality Antarctic krill (Euphausia Superba) oil using low-temperature continuous phase-transition extraction equipment.

The aim of this study was to explore a processing method for efficient extraction of high-quality krill oil (KO) using a low-temperature continuous phase-transition extraction equipment (LCPE). The efficiency of lipid extraction and quality of KO and defatted krill meal (DKM) by LCPE were compared with those of supercritical CO2 and n-hexane extraction. Results showed that compared to other methods, extraction using LCPE had the highest lipid yield (21.72±0.34%), bioactive substances, and dimethyl sulfide (3.12±0.09mg/kg), the lowest oxidative deterioration. Moreover, compared to other methods, DKM extracted by LCPE had the lowest fat (<2%), the highest protein (>60%), and the best oxidative stability. These benefits would ensure easier transportation and better long-term storage, allowing for its application on distant-ocean fishing vessels. Therefore, LCPE is a method that allows for efficient extraction of high-quality KO.

Pine Needle of Pinus koraiensis (Siebold & Zucc) Essential Oil Through Liquid Nitrogen Quick-Freezing Assisted Solvent-Free Microwave Extraction Process for Antibacterial Application.

This study investigates the composition and antibacterial properties of essential oil extracted from Pinus koraiensis (Siebold & Zucc) pine needles using a liquid nitrogen freezing treatment combined with solvent-free microwave extraction (LNSFM). The aim is to develop a low-energy, high-efficiency extraction method for conifer essential oils, analyze their chemical composition, and evaluate their antibacterial efficacy. Pine needle samples were frozen with liquid nitrogen and subsequently crushed. The essential oil was extracted using solvent-free microwave technology. A single-factor test and response surface methodology were employed to optimize extraction parameters. The extraction efficiency of LNSFM was compared with traditional methods through kinetics, and the essential oil components were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The antibacterial activity of the extracted volatile oil was tested against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. LNSFM proves to be a green and efficient extraction method suitable for obtaining volatile oils from pine needles, which demonstrate significant antibacterial properties.

Emerging Micromolecule-based Aqueous Two-phase Systems and Their Application in Biofuels

Aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) is a system composed of two incompatible solutions, which has excellent performance for extracting proteins, antibiotics, and other bioactive molecules, so it is a very simple, efficient, and green extraction and separation method. In this paper, we introduced three different emerging micromolecule-based ATPSs and introduced their characteristics, applications, advantages, and disadvantages respectively. This is of guiding significance for the synthesis of new ATPSs. One of the important prospects of this ATPS in industrial application is the separation and purification of fermentation-based biofuel. Adding a salt, sugar, or ionic liquid to a biofuel solution can remove most of the water, enabling efficient recovery and dehydration of biofuel. The two-step process can replace the traditional distillation and molecular sieve adsorption processes to obtain high-purity bioalcohols, thus introducing a new purification process for biofuel. An in-depth analysis of the separation performance of the emerging micromolecule-based ATPSs as well as an objective indication of their application provides valuable insights for further optimization and application of this kind of ATPSs in separation science.

All black: a microplastic extraction combined with colour-based analysis allows identification and characterisation of tire wear particles (TWP) in soils

While tire wear particles (TWP) have been estimated to represent more than 90% of the total microplastic (MP) emitted in European countries and may have environmental health effects, only few data about TWP concentrations and characteristics are available today. The lack of data stems from the fact that no standardized, cost efficient or accessible extraction and identification method is available yet. We present a method allowing the extraction of TWP from soil, performing analysis with a conventional optical microscope and a machine learning approach to identify TWP in soil based on their colour. The lowest size of TWP which could be measured reliably with an acceptable recovery using our experimental set-up was 35 µm. Further improvements would be possible given more advanced technical infrastructure (higher optical magnification and image quality). Our method showed a mean recovery of 85% in the 35–2000 µm particle size range and no blank contamination. We tested for possible interference from charcoal (as another black soil component with similar properties) in the soils and found a reduction of the interference from charcoal by 92% during extraction. We applied our method to a highway adjacent soil at 1 m, 2 m, 5 m, and 10 m and detected TWP in all samples with a tendency to higher concentrations at 1 m and 2 m from the road compared to 10 m from the road. The observed TWP concentrations were in the same order of magnitude as what was previously reported in literature in highway adjacent soils. These results demonstrate the potential of the method to provide quantitative data on the occurrence and characteristics of TWP in the environment. The method can be easily implemented in many labs, and help to address our knowledge gap regarding TWP concentrations in soils.

Research progress of plant α-linolenic acid

α-Linolenic acid is a polyunsaturated fatty acid characterized by three double bonds and is recognized as one of the essential fatty acids for human health. It serves multiple critical functions, including nutritional supplementation, enhancement of brain development, and protection of nerve cells. In recent years, researchers globally have investigated natural plant sources abundant in α-linolenic acid and developed more efficient extraction methods, thereby significantly advancing the study of this fatty acid. This paper reviews the physiological effects and sources of plant-derived α-linolenic acid, summarizes the biosynthetic pathways, and outlines the primary extraction processes to provide the theoretical evidence for ongoing research and innovation in this field.

Optimization of Ultrasound-Assisted Enzymatic Extraction Conditions on Yield, DPPH Antioxidant Activity, and Gel Strength of Agar from Gracilaria fisheri

ABSTRACT This study investigated the effect of ultrasound-assisted enzymatic extraction (UAEE) conditions: solid-to-water ratio (1:50–1:100), ultrasonic power (296–506 W), and temperature (40–60°C) on key criteria (responses) of Gracilaria fisheri agar. Response surface methodology resulted in accurate quadratic models for predicting responses. Non-linear (quadratic and interaction) effects of UAEE conditions significantly (p < 0.05) influenced the responses. Optimal conditions (solid-to-water ratio of 1:98, ultrasonic power of 506 W, and temperature of 60°C) produced 32.02% agar yield, 58.05% DPPH antioxidant activity, and 83.48 g/cm2 gel strength, aligning with predictions. This research establishes an efficient agar extraction method with controllable qualities from red seaweed.

High-Resolution Reconstruction of Temperature Fields Based on Improved ResNet18.

High-precision measurement of temperature value distributions in production scenarios is of great significance for industrial production, but traditional temperature field reconstruction algorithms rely on the design of manual feature extraction methods with high computational complexity and poor generalization ability. In this paper, we propose a high-precision temperature field reconstruction algorithm based on deep learning, using an efficient adaptive feature extraction method for temperature field reconstruction. We design an improved temperature field reconstruction algorithm based on the ResNet18 neural network; introduce the CBAM attention mechanism in the model; and design a feature pyramid, using M-FPN, a multi-scale feature aggregation network fusing PAN and FPN, to make the extracted feature information propagate multi-dimensionally among different layers to improve the feature characterization ability. Finally, the mean square error is used to guide the model to optimize the training so that the model pays more attention to the data and reduces the large error to ensure that the gap between the predicted value and the real value is small. The experimental results show that the reconstruction accuracy of the improved algorithm presented in this paper is significantly better than that of the original algorithm in the case of typical peaked temperature field distributions.

Advances in Extracting Bioactive Compounds from Food and Agricultural Waste and By-Products Using Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents: A Circular Economy Perspective

Due to the urgent need for a transition to sustainable, zero-waste green technology, the extraction of bioactives from food and agricultural by-products and waste has garnered increasing interest. Traditional extraction techniques often involve using organic solvents, which are associated with environmental and health risks. Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) have emerged as a promising green alternative, offering advantages such as low toxicity, biodegradability, and the ability to dissolve a wide range of biomolecules. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent trends in the application of NADESs for extracting bioactive compounds from sustainable sources. The review explains the composition and principles of preparation and highlights various applications of NADESs in extracting different classes of bioactive compounds, emphasizing their potential to revolutionize extraction processes. By summarizing the latest advancements and trends, this review aims to support research and industrial applications of NADESs, promoting more sustainable and efficient extraction methods in the food and agricultural sectors.

Enhanced Blue Band Vegetation Index (The Re-Modified Anthocyanin Reflectance Index (RMARI)) for Accurate Farmland Shelterbelt Extraction

Farmland shelterbelts are aimed at farmland protection and productivity improvement, environmental protection and ecological balance, as well as land use planning and management. Farmland shelterbelts play a vital role in determining the structural integrity and overall effectiveness of farmland, and assessing the dynamic changes within these protective forests accurately and swiftly is essential to maintaining their protective functions as well as for policy formulation and effectiveness evaluation in relevant departments. Traditional methods for extracting farmland shelterbelt information have faced significant challenges due to the large workload required and the inconsistencies in the accuracy of existing methods. For example, the existing vegetation index extraction methods often have significant errors, which remain unresolved. Therefore, developing a more efficient extraction method with greater accuracy is imperative. This study focused on Youyi Farm in Heilongjiang Province, China, utilizing satellite data with spatial resolutions ranging from 0.8 m (GF-7) to 30 m (Landsat). By taking into account the growth cycles of farmland shelterbelts and variations in crop types, the optimal temporal window for extraction is identified based on phenological analysis. The study introduced a new index—the Re-Modified Anthocyanin Reflectance Index (RMARI)—which is an improvement on existing vegetation indexes, such as the NDVI and the improved original ARI. Both the accuracy and extraction results showed significant improvements, and the feasibility of the RMARI was confirmed. The study proposed four extraction schemes for farmland shelterbelts: (1) spectral feature extraction, (2) extraction using vegetation indexes, (3) random forest extraction, and (4) RF combined with characteristic index bands. The extraction process was implemented on the GEE platform, and results from different spatial resolutions were compared. Results showed that (1) the bare soil period in May is the optimal time period for extracting farmland shelterbelts; (2) the RF method combined with characteristic index bands produces the best extraction results, effectively distinguishing shelterbelts from other land features; (3) the RMARI reduces background noise more effectively than the NDVI and ARI, resulting in more comprehensive extraction outcomes; and (4) among the satellite images analyzed—GF-7, Planet, Sentinel-2, and Landsat OLI 8—GF-7 achieves the highest extraction accuracy (with a Kappa coefficient of 0.95 and an OA of 0.97), providing the most detailed textural information. However, comprehensive analysis suggests that Sentinel-2 is more suitable for large-scale farmland shelterbelt information extraction. This study provides new approaches and technical support for periodic dynamic forestry surveys, providing valuable reference points for agricultural ecological research.

An innovative green method for efficient extraction of selenium by melt filtration-vacuum distillation

High-purity selenium is important for technological innovation in fields such as aerospace, military, new energy, and semiconductors, and has become a hot topic in developed countries. Unfortunately, traditional preparation of high-purity selenium faces challenges such as high cost, environmental pollution, and low efficiency. In this study, we introduce an innovative green method that efficiently extracts selenium from crude selenium by combining melt filtration and vacuum distillation. Our approach effectively addresses these challenges. We calculated the potential reactions of the impurities in the selenium melt and analyzed the saturated vapor pressures of various substances. The experimental results showed that volatile impurities such as PbSe and PbTe were largely removed in the form of filter residues during the melt filtration of crude selenium residue at 653 K. The filtered selenium melt was distilled for 120 min at 533 K to obtain refined Se with a total purity of 99.9 %. Through the melt filtration-vacuum distillation process, the removal rates of impurity elements Cu, Pb, As, and Te were 99.35 %, 99.97 %, 99.83 %, and 81.11 %, respectively. Impurity elements were enriched and recovered from the filter and distillation residues. The refined Se was efficiently recovered from crude selenium, and the economic benefits were superior to other processes. This process meets the demands of a clean and efficient selenium metallurgy industry.

Enhanced extraction of antioxidant phenolics: Quercetin, Kaempferol, Gallic Acid, Syringic Acid, and Epicatechin from fresh berries and their waste using Ultra-Turrax and Ultrasonication

This study aimed to improve extraction of antioxidant phenolics from fresh berries and berries waste. A combination of Ultra-Turrax milling and ultrasonication, both efficient and eco-friendly techniques widely used in the extraction of bioactive compounds, produced the best extraction of quercetin, kaempferol, gallic acid, syringic acid and epicatechin. These methods, which rely on mechanical disruption and ultrasonic waves to enhance cell wall breakdown, allow for greater release of phenolic compounds while minimizing heat damage. Ultra-Turrax 14,000 r/min, 5 min combined with 1 h ultrasonication led to total phenolics and total flavonoids concentration of 42.29 mgGAE g−1dw, 21.85 mgRE g−1 for blueberry, 97.68 mgGAE g−1dw, 27.62 mgRE g−1 for raspberry and 44.28 mgGAE g−1dw, 16.5 mgRE g−1 for blackberry. In waste, 72.01 mgGAE g−1dw, 41.61 mgRE g−1 from blueberry, 101.18 mgGAE g−1dw, 19.76 mgRE g−1 from raspberry and 96.60 mgGAE g−1dw, 28.90 mgRE g−1 from blackberry were obtained. Syringic acid and epicatechin were the main recovered compounds with 1945 mg g−1dw and 2028 mg g−1dw from fresh raspberry and 884 mg g−1dw and 966 mg g−1dw from blackberry waste. Extracts from blueberry, raspberry and blackberry had antioxidant activities of 832.87, 2757.64 and 583.32 µM TE g−1 dw correspondingly. This study highlights an efficient extraction method that can support more sustainable practices in the food industry by maximizing the recovery of valuable phenolic compounds from both fresh berries and their processing waste.

Optimization of Tantalite Ore Dissolution Using Hydrofluoric-sulphuric Acid and Shrinking Core Model

Aim: This study investigates the dissolution of tantalite mineral from granitic pegmatite in Okpella, Northern Edo State, Nigeria. Study Design: Elemental and mineral composition analysis of tantalite ore sample from Okpella was carried out using X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and the shrinking core model were used in designing the study while the effects of temperature, stirring speed, particle diameter, and mixed acids concentrations were investigated in the dissolution rates of the mineral. Duration of Study: 50 experimental runs were designed using RSM Central Composite Design (CCD) to optimize variables including HF concentration (1-8 M), H2SO4 concentration (0.5-3 M), temperature (32-82°C), stirring speed (0-500 rpm), and particle size (0.1-0.3 mm), with a constant contact time of 240 minutes. Methodology: Pulverized tantalite samples (0.1-0.3 mm) were reacted with varying concentrations of hydrofluoric and sulphuric acids (1-8 M and 0.5-3.0 M, respectively) for 240 minutes, with stirring speeds between 0-500 rpm and temperatures from 32 to 82°C. The mixture was stirred in a water bath with 50 ml of mixed acids solution and 2 g of ore. After the reaction, the solution was decanted, and the residual ore was washed, dried at 60 °C, and weighed. The difference between the initial and final weights indicated the amount of undissolved tantalite ore. Results: Ore characterization results revealed high concentration of tantalum (34.17%), iron (12.55%), niobium (8.38%), and titanium (6.01%), with other elements present in smaller amounts. Optimal conditions were found to be 8 M HF, 0.5 M H2SO4, 82°C, 500 rpm stirring speed, and 0.1 mm particle size, resulting in 97.28% dissolution of tantalite ore. Regression analysis demonstrated model robustness with an F-value of 16.70 and a P-value of 0.0001, indicating HF concentration and stirring speed as the most impactful factors. The model’s R² value of 0.9201 and adjusted R² of 0.8650 confirm its predictive accuracy. Analysis using the shrinking sphere model showed that film diffusion control is the primary limiting step with t/τ=0.999, while reaction control resulted in slightly lower conversion with t/τ=0.973, highlighting film diffusion as the main constraint but with high conversion efficiency. Conclusion: The findings from this investigation not only reveal the dissolution of tantalite ore through a detailed experimental approach, identifying optimal conditions -8 M HF, 0.5 M H2SO4, 82 oC, 500 rpm stirring speed and 0.1 mm particle size- that achieve a 97.28% dissolution, but they also enhance our understanding of mineral processing. These understanding are crucial for mineral dissolution up scaling technologies in industrial applications, which will potentially leads to a more efficient extraction method that could significantly reduce costs and environmental impacts in the mining sector. This research could drive advancements in sustainable resource recovery and contribute to sourcing of critical minerals.

Efficiency comparison of DNA extraction kits for analysing the cockle gut bacteriome

Cockles play a vital ecological role and provide valuable ecosystem services globally. However, the performance, production, and safe consumption of cockles are significantly influenced by their gut-associated bacteriome. Accurate understanding of gut-bacteriome interactions, and surveillance of pathogenic bacteria loads in cockles, rely on efficient DNA extraction methods that yield high-quality and representative bacterial DNA. Despite this importance, reliable extraction methods for cockles are currently overlooked. Therefore, we evaluated the performance of five DNA extraction kits (E.Z.N.A.® Soil DNA; FastDNA® Spin; DNeasy PowerSoil Pro; QIAamp PowerFecal DNA; ZymoBIOMICS™DNA Miniprep) in terms of DNA quality, yield, bacterial community structure (analysed by using denaturating gradient gel electrophoresis; DGGE), and bacteriome composition (analysed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing) in Cerastoderma edule gut. The DNeasy kit provided the highest purity and quantity of bacterial DNA, while the PowerFecal and Zymo kits exhibited reduced extraction efficiency. DGGE profiles revealed significant variability between the tested kits (R = 0.512; mean P = 0.011), but the FastDNA kit under-represented the bacterial community in cockles’ gut. Based on alpha diversity, the DNeasy kit outperformed the others and successfully detected all abundant genera found with the alternative kits. Our findings indicate that the DNeasy kit is an efficient DNA extraction method, enabling a molecular representation of the gut-associated bacteriome in C. edule. These results contribute to the development of effective techniques for studying the cockle gut bacteriome and its ecological implications.

Ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction of phenolics, flavonoids, and major triterpenoids from Centella asiatica leaves: A comparative study

Centella asiatica has been known for its significant medicinal properties due to abundance of bioactive constituents like triterpenoids and flavonoids. Nevertheless, an appropriate solvent system and extraction technique is still lacking to ensure optimized extraction of bioactive constituents present in C. asiatica. Recently, scientists are more focused towards application of green sustainable extraction techniques for the valuable components from plant matrix owing to their eco-friendly and safe nature. Among these, ultrasonication (US) is known as a valuable strategy for separation of bioactive components from medicinal plants. Hence, current research was performed to observe the effect of ultrasonication in the presence of five different solvents (Water, Hexane, Methanol, Chloroform, and Ethyl acetate) on total phenolic contents (TPC), total flavonoid contents (TFC), antioxidant properties (DPPH, ABTS, Nitric oxide radical activity, and Superoxide anion assay), and four major triterpenoid contents in C. asiatica leaves. Herein, ultrasound assisted methanolic extract (UAME) possessed maximum amount of TPC (129.54 mg GAE/g), TFC (308.31 mg QE/g), and antioxidant properties (DPPH: 82.21 % & FRAP: 45.98 µmol TE/g) followed by ultrasound-assisted Water extract (UAWE), ultrasound-assisted ethyl acetate extract (UAEAE), ultrasound-assisted n-hexane extract (UAHE), and ultrasound-assisted chloroform extract (UACE), respectively. Moreover, the superoxide radical and nitric oxide assays depicted a similar trend, revealing the highest percent inhibition for UAME (SO: 83.47 % & NO: 66.76 %) however, the lowest inhibition was displayed by UACE (63.22 % & 50.21 %), respectively. Highest content of major terpenoids were found in UAME of C. asiatica leaves as madecassoside (8.21 mg/g) followed by asiaticoside (7.82 mg/g), madecassic acid (4.44 mg/g), and asiatic acid (3.38 mg/g). Ultrasound-assisted extraction technique can be an efficient extraction method for bioactive compounds present in C. asiatica. However, ultrasonication along with methanol as an extraction solvent can surely enhance the extraction of valuable constituents. The results of this study provide an insight into major terpenoids, and antioxidants present in extracts of C. asiatica, implicating its use in ancient medicine systems and future drug development.

Evaluating the efficacy of ultrasound-assisted extraction of Plantago major L. leaves by response surface methodology through determination of aucubin levels

Plantago major L. (Plantaginaceae) contains bioactive phytochemicals supporting its wide array of pharmacological activities. Aucubin, a bioactive iridoid glycoside found in P. major, has been used as a marker substance for quality control. This study’s objective was to assess the efficacy of ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) on P. major leaf extracts based on the aucubin level. The response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to investigate the impact of process parameters on the UAE. The compound’s studies were developed and validated by the utilization of high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to photodiode array (HPLC-PDA). Four independent variables were studied: extraction temperature (°C), extraction time, ethanol concentration (%), and ratio of solute to solvent. The analytical method used HPLC-PDA to quantify the aucubin content as the dependent variable. The study’s findings indicate that the most favorable conditions for UAE were attained at a temperature of 20°C for 20 min, an ethanol concentration of 25%, and a ratio of 1:5 g/mL. The HPLC-PDA approach that has been verified demonstrates its efficacy as a technique for quantifying the concentration of aucubin in the extract of P. major leaves. The obtained experimental values (5.736% mg/g) for the aucubin content, under the optimal conditions of UAE, exhibited a satisfactory level of concurrence with the values predicted by the RSM (5.774% mg/g). This finding showed that UAE and RSM can be developed as an efficient extraction method for P. major leaves.