A Multi-Analytical Study of Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Annona muricata Leaves with Bioactive Quality

Abstract

This study compared ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) with conventional Soxhlet extraction to evaluate the effect of solvent composition (ethanol–water 70:30–100:0), ultrasonic power rate (10–90%), and extraction time (2.5–15 min) on bioactive release and extraction kinetics. Extraction performance was assessed using a hierarchical framework consisting of extraction yield, total phenolic content normalized to yield (yield × TPC), and total flavonoid content normalized to yield (yield × TFC), followed by functional and chemical characterization through antioxidant activity (IC50 ), phytochemical profiling, colorimetry, FTIR spectroscopy, GC– MS, and HPLC analysis. The results showed that solvent polarity, ultrasonic power rate, and extraction time significantly affected extraction efficiency (p < 0.001). Under optimal UAE conditions (70:30–85:15 ethanol–water, moderate ultrasonic power, and 5–7.5 min extraction), yields reached 3.6–4.1%, which equates to a 17–368% increase compared to Soxhlet extraction. Overall, UAE produced chemically richer, more stable, and more bioactive extracts than Soxhlet extraction, while significantly reducing extraction time, demonstrating its potential as a rapid and energy-efficient method for producing high-quality A. muricata leaf extracts for natural product applications.