Optimization of ultrasound-assisted extraction of bioactive compounds from B. forficata subsp. Pruinosa

Extracts containing bioactive compounds were obtained from Bauhinia forficata leaves by ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) with three different solvents (n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol) and were compared with those obtained by a conventional method (maceration). Box-Behnken experimental design was applied to examine and optimize the effect of the extraction temperature (40°C-60°C), power (20%-80%), and sample to solvent ratio (1:10 to 1:20 (w/v)) on the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of B. forficata leaf extracts. This experimental design generated second-order polynomial models, which accurately describe the experimental data, allowing the prediction of optimal conditions for the investigated responses. Optimal extraction was achieved under the following conditions: 80% power, temperature of 41°C, and a 1:20 sample to solvent ratio. Under these conditions, the experimental yield was 8.33 ± 0.32%, total phenolic content was 59.47 ± 0.71 mg GAE · g_extract^?1, total flavonoid content was 62.30 ± 3.38 mg QE · g_extract^?1, and the ferric reducing antioxidant power was 726.7 ± 15.7 μmol Fe(II)EQ · g_extract^?1, which were close to the predicted values, which validated the models. The major compounds found in B. forficata extracts were tocopherols, phytol, heneicosane, and β-Sitosterol.