Bioactive compounds profile of extracts from Pereskia aculeata Miller leaves prepared with different solvents by ultrasound-assisted extraction

Abstract

The ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) technique is an emerging method of recovering bioactive molecules, which has the advantages of low cost and good yield, in addition to meeting the requirements of green chemistry. The present work aimed to optimize the UAE in obtaining bioactive compounds from ora-pro-nobis leaves using seven different solvents in the extraction process. The analysis of the crude extracts by chromatographic methods (GC-MS and LC-MS/MS) revealed a nonpolar hydrocarbon mixture rich in triacontan, steroids, flavonoids and diterpene, among which we highlight the acids (malic, ferulic, palmitic, linoleic, gluconic), as well as phytol, campesterol, γ-sitosterol and silicic acid. The exploratory multivariate statistical analysis performed through principal component analysis (major chemical compounds, chemical class and solvent toxicity) allowed the election of ethanol as the best solvent for the recovery of interest compounds via UAE. Taken together, the results indicate that P. acuelata has a large number of bioactive compounds in its cellular structure, and that UAE is an efficient technique for the recovery of such molecules.