Microwave-assisted extraction as an advanced technique for optimization of saponin yield and antioxidant potential from Phyllanthus amarus

The objective of this study was to apply microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) as an advanced technique for optimization of saponin yield and antioxidant potential from Phyllanthus amarus. The findings indicated that the optimal MAE parameters consisted of 100% methanol, irradiation time 4 s/min, extraction time 50 min, and solvent to sample ratio 50 mL/g. Under these optimal parameters, saponin content (SC), saponin extraction efficiency (SEE), and total phenolic content (TPC) of P. amarus were 229.5 mg escin equivalents (EEs)/g dried sample, 82.8%, and 40.7 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAEs)/g dried sample, respectively. The antioxidant capacity of P. amarus in terms of 2,2ˊ-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical scavenging capacity (ARSC), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazil radical scavenging capacity (DRSC), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were 487.3, 330.6, and 233.5 mg trolox equivalents (TEs)/g dried sample, respectively. These measured values were not significantly different from the predicted values by response surface methodology (227.9 mg EE/g dried sample, 82.1%, and 39.2 mg GAE/g dried sample for SC, SEE, and TPC and 484.8, 297.3, and 226.6 mg TE/g dried sample for ARSC, DRSC, and FRAP, respectively). Hence, the optimal MAE parameters are suggested for effective extraction of saponins from P. amarus for further investigations and applications.