Ultrasonic-assisted Extraction Method Research Articles

Green and Efficient PEG-Based Ultrasonic-Assisted Extraction of Polysaccharides from Tree Peony Pods and the Evaluation of Their Antioxidant Activity In Vitro.

We adopted and developed an ultrasonic-assisted extraction method to obtain polysaccharides from tree peony pods using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as the solvent. The technological parameters have been designed as a single factor to enhance the tree peony pod polysaccharide extraction yield. Specific conditions (ultrasound irradiation power, 250 W; ultrasound irradiation time, 30 min; reaction temperature 50°C; liquid-solid ratio, 25 mL/g; and concentration of PEG, 0.2 g/mL) generated an experimental yield of 14.14% ± 0.44%. Subsequently, the monosaccharide composition of the tree peony pod polysaccharides was determined by HPLC using a 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone precolumn derivatization method. The results indicated that tree peony pod polysaccharides contained mannoses, rhamnose, glucuronic acid, galacturonic acid, glucose, galactose, arabinose, and fucose with a molar ratio of 1.44 : 2.87 : 0.32 : 18.99 : 3.99 : 10.21 : 0.96 : 1.85 : 0.21. The tree peony pod polysaccharides obtained are mainly galacturonic acid and galactose, which are acidic polysaccharides. Finally, the antioxidant activities (DPPH and FRAP) of the tree peony pod polysaccharides were assessed, and the compounds exhibited moderate antioxidant activities.

EXTRACTION OF POLYSACCHARIDES FROM LINGZHI BY ULTRASONIC-ASSISTED ENZYMATIC METHOD

The medicinal values of polysaccharides (PS) in Lingzhi have been shown to lie in many anti-cancer effects and good benefits for human health. Lingzhi, which is rich in healthy PS, has been used more and more commonly in Vietnam in recent years. In the present work, ultrasonic-assisted enzymatic extraction (UAEE) was used for extraction of PS from Lingzhi. The experiments were conducted according to a Box-Behnken design (BBD), with four independent variables: solvent temperature, ultrasonic power, pH, and ultrasonic irradiation time. The results showed that the best adequate extraction conditions were extraction time of 144 min, extraction temperature of 55°C, ultrasonic power of 240W, pH 7.9, and ultrasonic irradiation time of 144 min. Under these conditions, the predicted optimal yield was 3.716%. Whereas by following the optimized conditions, the experimental yield of PS was 3.65% ± 0.14, which was in good agreement with that of the prediction. Compared to the hot water extraction (HWE) method, ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) method and enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE) method, the yield of PS obtained by UAEE was favorable. The PS yield obtained by HWE, and EAE were 1.96% and 3.10%, respectively. These results demonstrated that UAEE was an appropriate and effective extraction of polysaccharides from Lingzhi.

Optimization of Ultrasonic-Assisted Simultaneous Extraction of Three Active Compounds from the Fruits of Forsythia suspensa and Comparison with Conventional Extraction Methods.

An efficient ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) method was developed for simultaneous extraction of three active compounds, forsythiaside A (FSA), phillyrin (PHI) and rutin (RT), from the fruits of Forsythia suspensa. The effects of various factors including a binary mixed solvent of methanol/water and ethanol/water, the pH of the solvent, particle size, temperature, solvent to material ratio, ultrasonic input power and extraction time on UAE were investigated in detail. The mass transfer mechanism of UAE using different mixed solvents was further explained by comparison with the maceration extraction method. The response surface methodology was used to optimize the experimental variables including ethanol concentration, solvent to material ratio and extraction time. The optimized conditions for the simultaneous extraction of RT, FSA and PHI were: particle size 60–80 mesh, temperature 30 °C, ultrasonic power 200 W, ethanol concentration 50%, solvent to material ratio 32 mL/g and extraction time 37 min. Compared to conventional extraction methods, UAE provided the highest extraction efficiency and offered many advantages including the reduction of solvent, temperature and time for extraction.

Ultrasonic-assisted extraction of squalene and vitamin E based oil from Zizyphi Spinosae Semen and evaluation of its antioxidant activity

Zizyphi Spinosae Semen (ZSS) is an herbal medicine with a variety of biological activities. In this study, the oil fraction of ZSS was extracted using an ultrasonic assisted extraction (UAE) method and the value of this underutilized byproduct was explored. The effects of operational parameters of the UAE process (extraction temperature, extraction time, liquid-to-solid ration, and ultrasonic power) on the extraction efficiency were evaluated based on the yield of vitamin E and the squalene, two important compounds in ZSS oil with antioxidant bioactivities. A central composite design was used to optimize these operational parameters. The optimized UAE process resulted in a vitamin E yield of 29.58 ± 0.19 mg/100 g ZSS and a squalene yield of 820.49 ± 3.66 µg/100 g ZSS, which were much higher than those obtained through the conventional heating reflux extraction (HRE) (i.e., vitamin E yield of 18.67 mg/100 g ZSS, and squalene yield of 627.25 µg/100 g ZSS). The ZSS oil contained oleic acid and linoleic acid as the main fatty acid. In addition, the UAE-derived ZSS oil exhibited stronger activities of scavenging ABTs, superoxide anions and hydroxyl radicals, compared to the ZSS oil extracted from HRE. Collectively, this work demonstrated that UAE was an effective method to extract ZSS oil with high yield. The ZSS oil can be used as a potential an antioxidant agent in food and pharmaceutical industries.

Application of Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent-Based Ultrasonic Assisted Extraction of Total Polyphenolic and Caffeine Content from Coffe Beans (Coffea Beans L.) For Instant Food Products

This study aims to determine and obtain the total polyphenolic and caffeine content from coffee beans (Coffea arabica L) with some combination of factors. The extraction process was performed using natural deep eutectic solvent-based ultrasonic-assisted extraction (NADES–UAE) method with the different condition including extraction time, NADES ratio, and liquid-solid ratio. The total polyphenolic content was calculated using a microplate reader 96 well. The caffeine content was examined using high-performance liquid chromatography. Based on the results demonstrated the effect of different NADES components (namely lactic acid–sucrose and citric acid–glucose) on the total polyphenolic and caffeine content. The highest total polyphenolic content was 87.01 mg GAE/g sample (2 g/g lactic acid–sucrose ratio and 10 mL/g liquid-solid ratio for 15 minutes) and 62.91 mg GAE/g sample (5 g/g citric acid–glucose ratio and 15 mL/g liquid-solid ratio for 15 minutes). Whereas, the highest caffeine content was 4.45 mg/g (4 g/g lactic acid–sucrose and 15 mL/g liquid-solid ratio for 35 minutes) and 1.30 mg/g (2 g/g lactic acid–sucrose and 30 mL/g liquid-solid ratio for 5 minutes), respectively. These results were obtained the green extraction method with rapid, easy, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly.

The Chemical Composition and Functional Properties of Essential Oils from Four Species of Schisandra Growing Wild in the Qinling Mountains, China.

The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical composition and functional properties of the essential oils from the plants Schisandra grandiflora (Wall.) Hook. f. et Thoms, Schisandra rubriflora (Franch). Rehd. et Wils., Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd. et Wils., and Schisandra propinqua (Wall.) Baill var. sinensis Oliv. collected in the Qinling Mountains. Under the optimum conditions of the ultrasonic-assisted extraction method, the extraction yields were 7.51% (S. grandiflora), 6.91% (S. rubriflora), 6.11% (S. sphenanthera), and 5.88% (S. propinqua). A total of 86 components were identified from four species of Schisandra and 16 components were shared among the essential oils of all samples with different contents. However, some components were identified only in a certain plant, for example, β-caryophyllen (S. grandiflora), α-bulnesene (S. rubriflora), and α-Chamigrene (S. propinqua). Terpenoids (sesquiterpenes and oxygenated sesquiterpenes), accounting for 73.87–82.08% of the total compounds, were the main components. Meanwhile, the antioxidant activities of the essential oils were evaluated through three free radical scavenging assays and a reducing power assay, which were related to the contents of the individual bioactive composition. These results provide a phytochemical foundation for the use of four species, and for the further study of the identification of Schisandra species.

Static Headspace GC-MS Analysis for Volatile Components in Eleocharis Tuberosa Peel

Volatile components of Eleocharis tuberosa peels were extracted with absolute ether by ultrasonic wave assisted evaporating. The experiment mainly researches on three positive factors solid-liquid ratio, extraction time and ultrasonic power influencing the extraction efficiency. According to the results of one factor optimization, the orthogonal experiment L9(34) was designed to confirm the optimum extraction conditions. The volatile chemical constituents of the extract were separated and identified by GC-MS. The optimal extraction conditions were as follows: solid-liquid ratio was 1:25 g/mL, extraction time was 60 min and ultrasonic power was 250 w. Confirmed by the practice, the average extraction rate was 3.25%, the conditions shown that the method was credible and reliable. There were 10 volatile compositions in the extract from E. tuberosa peels by the ultrasonic assisted extraction method. The relative content of volatile compositions were 2,6-Di-tert-butyl-4-methoxyphenol (45.24%), Ageratochromene II (23.17%), 3,5-Bis(1,1-dimethylethyl) phenol (9.18%), 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid ethyl ester (5.84%), Ethyl palmitate (4.94%), 1-Linolenoylglycerol (4.11%), Dimethyl phthalate (3.30%), 1,3-Dimethyl-5-tert-butyl-2-acetophenone (2.10%), Phenylacetaldehyde (1.42%), Cedrol (0.70%).

Ultrasonic Assisted Extraction- Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Chemical Components of Dandelion Root

The components of dandelion root were extracted by ultrasonic-assisted extraction method and its chemical compositions were analyzed by GC-MS. Based on the single experiment, the extraction yield of components in dandelion root as the response value, the best condition of chemical components extraction was optimized by orthogonal array design and analysis. At last, the results showed that ultrasonic extraction time had the greatest impact on the extraction yield of chemical components, followed by the volume ratio of ethanol to ether, material-liquid ratio affected least. The optimum extraction conditions were the volume ratio of ethanol to ether 2:5, ultrasonic time 15 min, and material-liquid ratio 1:35 (g:mL), Under this condition, the average value of the experiment turned out to be 7.72%; Totally 17 compounds were identified by GC-MS, accounting for 89.97% of the total separated compounds. The major compounds identified were Germanicus(34.84%); Olean-18- en-28-olc acid, 3-oxo-, methyl ester(16.21%); 2H-1-Benzopyran-2-one, 6-acetyl-7 -(acetyloxy)-4- methyl-(14.14%); urs-20-en-3-ol(3s,18a,19a)(11.49%); 6S-2,3,8,8- Tetramethyltricyclo [5,2,2,0](1,6)]undec-2-ene(2.15%); Genistein(1.51%); a-Amyrin (1.48%); urs-20-en -3-ol (3s,18a,19a)(1.38%), ect.

Extraction and fractionation of anthocyanins from red cabbage: ultrasonic-assisted extraction and conventional percolation method

We extracted the anthocyanins from red cabbage through ultrasonic-assisted extraction and conventional percolation method. The effect of ultrasonic output power, ultrasonic operation time and temperature, as well as ultrasonic pulse duration on the extraction efficiency was investigated. As a conventional method, red cabbage leaves were percolated in water to obtain the crude extract. We showed that ultrasonic irradiations enhanced the extraction of anthocyanins significantly in comparison to the conventional percolation method. The optimum extraction efficiency was obtained at ultrasonic output power of 100 W, pulse mode of 30 s ON: 30 s OFF, at 15 °C for 90 min. Fractionation of crude extract was further carried out using three different concentration of ethanol in ion-exchange column chromatography HP20. We demonstrated that the fraction obtained through the fractionation with ethanol/water (1:1) showed the highest antioxidant activity, anthocyanin content and phenolic compounds.

Optimization of ultrasonic-assisted extraction of antioxidant tannin from young astringent persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.) using response surface methodology

Ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) was applied for tannin extraction from young persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.) and extraction conditions were optimized using response surface methodology to compare with traditional water bath extraction (WBE). The maximum yield (33.96 mg/g) extracted by UAE was obtained under conditions of ultrasonic power 207 W, time 30.9 min, L:S ratio 21.1:1 (mL:g) and 55.0 °C, whereas tannin yield reached 32.39 mg/g under parameters of 73.5 °C, time 63.0 min, and L:S ratio 32.4:1 (mL:g) when using WBE. Comparatively, higher tannin was extracted under optimal UAE condition than WBE method, mainly associated with its great damage on original structure of persimmon pulp and peel based on morphological analysis. While there was no significant difference for UV and FT-IR spectra among tannin extracted by different methods. Moreover, tannin possessed excellent DPPH radical scavenging and ferric reducing activities in a dosage-dependent manner, showing potential application in medicinal and food industry. Practical applications Young astringent persimmon possesses abundant functional tannin that is beneficial to human health. Tannin extraction is the most fundamental process for its further research and application. Traditional methods for bioactive compounds extraction are generally conducted with high temperature, large solvent consumption and long time. This study illuminated that ultrasonic-assisted extraction method had great potential to replace traditional water bath to extract antioxidant tannin from young persimmon.

A simple one-step ultrasonic-assisted extraction and derivatization method coupling to high-performance liquid chromatographyfor the determination of ε-aminocaproic acid and amino acids in cosmetics

Nowadays, the safety of cosmetics is a widespread concern. Amines are common cosmetic additives. Some of them such as amino acids are beneficial. Another kind of amines, however, ε-aminocaproic acid (EACA) is prohibited to add into cosmetics for its adverse reactions. In this study, a simple, rapid, sensitive and eco-friendly one-step ultrasonic-assisted extraction and derivatization (UAE-D) method was developed for determination of EACA and amino acids in cosmetics by coupling with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). By using this sample preparation method, extraction and derivatization of EACA and amino acids were finished in one step in ultrasound field. During this procedure, 4-fluoro-7-nitrobenzofurazan (NBD-F)was applied as derivatization reagent. The extraction conditions including the amount of NBD-F, extraction and derivatization temperature, the ultrasonic vibration time and pH value of the aqueous phase were evaluated. Meanwhile, the extraction mechanism was investigated. Under optimized conditions, the method detection limits were 0.086–0.15 μg/L, and method quantitation limits were 0.29–0.47 μg/L with RSDs less than 3.7% (n = 3). The recoveries of EACA and amino acids obtained from cosmetic samples were in range from 76.9% to 122.3%. Amino acids were found in all selected samples and quantified in range from 1.9 ± 0.9 to 677.2 ± 17.9 μg/kg. And EACA was found and quantified with the contents of 1284.3 ± 22.1 μg/kg in a toner sample. This UAE-D-HPLC method shortened and simplified the sample pretreatment as well as enhanced the sensitivity of analytical method. In our record, only 10 min was needed for the total sample preparation process. And the method detection limits were two orders of magnitude less than literature reports. Furthermore, we reduced the consumption of solvent and minimized the usage of organic solvents, which made our method moving towards green analytical chemistry. In brief, our UAE-D-HPLC method is a simple, rapid, sensitive and eco-friendly analytical method for the determination of EACA and amino acids in cosmetics.

Development of ultrasonic-assisted extraction of antioxidant compounds from Petai (Parkia speciosa Hassk.) leaves

Research on Petai (Parkia speciosa Hassk.) suggests it has an antihypertension, antidiabetic, analgesic, and antiulcer effects. In the present study, an ultrasonic-assisted extraction method was developed for the effective extraction of active compound from petai leaves. Some parameters such as ethanol concentration (0, 20, 40, 60, 70, 80, 100 %v), solid-to-liquid ratio (1:5; 1:10; 1:15; 1:20; 1:25; 1:30; 1:35; 1:40; 1:50 g/mL), extraction time (15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50 minutes) and extraction temperature (40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70°C) were studied and evaluated base on extract yield and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picry hydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity. The result showed that the highest extract yield was obtained at 40% ethanol concentration, 1:30 (%w/v) of solid-to-liquid ratio, 30 minutes and 65°C of temperature with DPPH scavenging activity 92.53 ± 0.87% and extract yield 21.25 ± 2.38%. The result obtained is helpful for the utilization of Petai leaves, and also indicated that ultrasonic-assisted extraction is a very recommended method for the extraction of active compounds from plant material.

Seeds of Giant Dodder (Cuscuta reflexa) as a Function of Extract Procedure and Solvent Nature

Seeds of a renowned medicinal plant, giant dodder (Cuscuta reflexa), were assessed to appraise the effect of solvent and extraction technique variation on antioxidants potential. Dodder seed, also called cuscuta seed, has been considered superb tonic in traditional herbal medication for eyes, liver, spleen and kidney. Results show that selected solvent and procedure plays a key role in the composition and activity of extractable material. Three extraction procedures Orbital shaker, Decoction and Ultrasonic assisted extraction and five different solvents n-hexane, ethyl acetate, 100% methanol, 80% methanol and 60% methanol were used to get optimized conditions. Total phenolic and flavonoids content were found maximum in the extracts of aqueous organic system containing 80% methanol in Ultrasonic assisted extraction method but in case of tannins ethyl acetate and Orbital shaker extraction was found more suitable partner. Antioxidant estimation assays showed a little bit variation as DPPH and ABTS exhibited maximum inhibition in 80% methanol and Ultrasonic assisted extraction but 100% methanol was found better for FRAP assay. Decoction results were mostly in between the both Orbital shaker and Ultrasonic assisted extraction. Overall results indicate that coexistence of polar solvents and Ultrasonic assisted extraction gives a better choice for extractability of potent antioxidants from seeds. HPLC analysis confirmed presence of valuable phenolic acids. Pearson’s correlation coefficient reveals a significant relationship between extracted components and antioxidant capacity P< 0.05 or 0.01.

The conjunction of a new ultrasonic-assisted dispersive solid-phase extraction method with HPLC-DAD for the trace determination of diazinon in biological and water media

Herein, a new ultrasonic-assisted dispersive solid-phase extraction method was successfully developed for the trace detection of diazinon.

Characterization of Antioxidants Extracted from Thai Riceberry Bran Using Ultrasonic-Assisted and Conventional Solvent Extraction Methods

Riceberry bran (RBB), a waste product from rice processing, contains several antioxidants with potential health benefits. This study aims to compare the two main parameters affecting the extraction efficiency of antioxidants from RBB, namely, the extraction technique (ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) and conventional solvent extraction) and solvent (ethanol and d-limonene). The highest values of total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, total anthocyanin content, and antioxidant activity using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays were detected in ethanolic extracts obtained by UAE. High-performance liquid chromatography investigation of the chemical composition of RBB revealed five major groups of antioxidants: (1) phenolic acids, including protocatechuic acid, vanillic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, and sinapic acid; (2) flavonoids, including rutin, myricetin, and quercetin 3-glucuronide; (3) anthocyanins, including cyanidin 3-glucoside and peonidin 3-glucoside; (4) vitamin E, including γ-tocotrienol, β-tocotrienol, δ-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol, and α-tocopherol; and (5) γ-oryzanol. Protocatechuic acid exhibited the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity and FRAP values, whereas the lowest values were observed for γ-oryzanol.

Investigating acidic ionic liquid-based ultrasonic-assisted extraction of leonurine from Herba Leonuri

ABSTRACTAn ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) method based on the acidic ionic liquid (IL) of 1-methyl-3-H-imidazolium hydrogen sulfate ([HMIM][HSO4]) has been successfully developed to extract leonurine from Herba Leonuri. The results indicate that the acidity of the IL has remarkable effect on the extraction efficiency. In addition, several parameters affecting the extraction efficiency, such as ultrasonic power and time, concentration of IL and solid-liquid ratio, were also optimized. Using the proposed approach, the extraction efficiency of leonurine from Herba Leonuri powder reached 0.136‰ within 30 min using only 20 mL of 1 mol·L−1 [HMIM][HSO4] aqueous solution.

Acrylamide in bread samples: Determining using ultrasonic-assisted extraction and microextraction method followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

In the present research, a various bread samples were analyzed to determine acrylamide using highly sensitive ultrasonic assisted extraction and microextraction method. Xanthydrol was used in derivatization step and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) as a powerful instrumentation was implied. Response surface methodology (RSM) based on central composite design (CCD) was applied to optimize the effective factors in microextraction process. The best microextraction efficiency was obtained under optimum conditions. The calibration graph of the proposed method was linear in the range of 10–500 ng g−1 with the correlation coefficient (R2) 0.9982. The relative standard deviations were 5.4% (n = 7). The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.54 ng g−1 and the recovery of these compounds in spiked bread sample was 98%. The increased sensitivity in using the proposed method has been demonstrated. Compared with other methods, UAE-DLLME-GC-MS is an accurate, sensitive, fast and reliable sample-pretreatment method for determining the very low amount of acrylamide in various bread samples.

Optimized ultra-high-pressure-assisted extraction of procyanidins from lychee pericarp improves the antioxidant activity of extracts.

To establish optimal ultra-high-pressure (UHP)-assisted extraction conditions for procyanidins from lychee pericarp, a response surface analysis method with four factors and three levels was adopted. The optimum conditions were as follows: 295MPa pressure, 13min pressure holding time, 16.0mL/g liquid-to-solid ratio, and 70% ethanol concentration. Compared with conventional ethanol extraction and ultrasonic-assisted extraction methods, the yields of the total procyanidins, flavonoids, and phenolics extracted using the UHP process were significantly increased; consequently, the oxygen radical absorbance capacity and cellular antioxidant activity of UHP-assisted lychee pericarp extracts were substantially enhanced. LC-MS/MS and high-performance liquid chromatography quantification results for individual phenolic compounds revealed that the yield of procyanidin compounds, including epicatechin, procyanidin A2, and procyanidin B2, from lychee pericarp could be significantly improved by the UHP-assisted extraction process. This UHP-assisted extraction process is thus a practical method for the extraction of procyanidins from lychee pericarp.

Using Safranin T as a Charge Transfer-Sensitive Ion-Pairing Reagent in Ultrasound-Assisted Cloud Point Extraction: Determination of Bisphenol A in Selected Beverages.

In this study, a new ultrasonic-assisted cloud point extraction method coupled with spectrophotometry was developed to extract from and determine bisphenol A (BPA) in a sample matrix. The method is based on charge transfer-sensitive ion-pairing complex formation between BPA and Safranin T in the presence of nitrate in a micellar interface at pH 5.0. The variables affecting extraction efficiency were optimized. A good linear relationship with a significant sensitivity difference was obtained in the ranges of 2-40 and 2-120 µg/L with LODs of 0.54 and 0.38 µg/L after preconcentration with two different extractants, respectively. From a preconcentration of a 15 mL sample, a preconcentration factor of 60 was obtained. Due to the lack of a certified material compatible with the sample matrix, the method was validated by conducting intraday and interday accuracy and precision studies based on two spiked QC samples (with a recovery rate greater than 94% and an RSD ranging from 3.8 to 5.9%). Moreover, the beverage samples were analyzed by the standard addition method to control for possible matrix effects. BPA was detected in the range of 1.8-7.2 µg/L in beverages with Triton X-114, whereas the levels changed to a range of 1.8-7.3 µg/L with Triton X-45. In such a way not to create a threat, these levels were considerably lower than the specific migration limit set by the European Union.

Extraction and Purification of Polyphenols from Freeze-dried Berry Powder for the Treatment of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells In Vitro.

Epidemiological studies indicate that increased flavonoid intake correlates with decreased mortality due to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in the United States (US) and Europe. Berries are widely consumed in the US and have a high polyphenolic content. Polyphenols have been shown to interact with many molecular targets and to exert numerous positive biological functions, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cardioprotective effects. Polyphenols isolated from blackberry (BL), raspberry (RB), and black raspberry (BRB) reduce oxidative stress and cellular senescence in response to angiotensin II (Ang II). This work provides a detailed description of the protocol used to prepare the polyphenol extracts from freeze-dried berries. Polyphenol extractions from freeze-dried berry powder were performed using 80% aqueous ethanol and an ultrasonic-assisted extraction method. The crude extract was further purified and fractionated using chloroform and ethyl acetate, respectively. The effects of both crude and purified extracts were tested on Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells (VSMCs) in culture.