Modern green approaches for obtaining Satureja kitaibelii Wierzb. ex Heuff extracts with enhanced biological activity

Abstract

Modern trends in phytochemical extraction from alternative crops support the use of alternative technologies, such as ultrasound- and microwave-assisted extractions. Considering the reduction of toxic solvents, rapid and effective extraction process, the above-mentioned technologies have become the foundation of green chemistry approaches in a wide range of applications. These extractions have not been studied on Satureja kitaibelii Wierzb. ex Heuff, which is a highly potent plant when considering its aromatic and medicinal properties. This preliminary study presents an in vitro evaluation of biological activities of ultrasound- and microwave-assisted extracts of S. kitaibelii, for the first time. Furthermore, it offers a totally green, modern, fast and reproducible method for extraction of phytochemicals from S. kitaibelii herba (Rtanj Mountain, Serbia). This short communication suggests that the applied microwave-assisted extraction, using only water as the solvent, can be a promising approach for obtaining green products with commercial potential.