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New Approaches in the Extraction of Biomolecules from Plants–Molecular and Application Basics

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A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2024) | Viewed by 12770

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Sławomir Dresler

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1. Department of Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 4a, 20-093 Lublin, Poland 2. Department of Plant Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Akademicka 19, 20-033 Lublin, Poland
Interests: phytochemistry; pharmacognosy; plant–environment interactions; elicitation of secondary metabolites; chemoinformatics in phytochemistry
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Prof. Dr. Maciej Strzemski

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Department of Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 4a St., 20-093 Lublin, Poland
Interests: natural deep eutectic solvents; green extractions; phytochemistry; ethnopharmacology; interaction between environmental stress and secondary metabolites in plants
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The extraction of secondary metabolites including flavonoids, phenolics, glycosides, terpene compounds, or nitrogenous compounds from plants is one of the most important steps in phytochemical research. Currently, numerous extraction methods and techniques are used; however, new approaches are constantly being developed to meet the new requirements and expectations. The modern approach to the extraction of plant material is targeted not only at the minimization of costs, but also simplicity, flexibility, and care for the natural environment. The process of miniaturization is also important, as it allows analyzing very small samples. The researchers' attention is therefore focused on the use of micro- and nano-extraction, limiting the consumption of toxic extractants through the appropriate design of experiments (DOE) and the use of non-toxic extractants such as supercritical carbon dioxide or natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES).

This Special Issue of Molecules will focus on new approaches in the extraction of biologically active molecules from plants and, in this context, the chemical and physical interactions between molecules and extracted constituents (liquid phase, solid phase, and gas phase). We welcome research and review articles that contribute to the following topics, among others:

Utilization of computation techniques in extraction (DOE);
NADES (natural deep eutectic solvents);
New equipment and techniques for extraction processes;
Micro- and nano-extraction;
Supercritical fluid extraction;
Enzyme-assisted extraction;
Theoretical background of "green extraction".

Prof. Dr. Sławomir Dresler
Prof. Dr. Maciej Strzemski
Guest Editors

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Keywords

plant secondary metabolites
biologically active compounds
design of experiments
natural deep eutectic solvents
ionic liquids
micro- and nano-solid phase extraction
accelerated solvent extraction
supercritical fluid extraction
single-drop extraction

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 3281 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Optimizing the Extraction of the Polyphenolic Fraction from Defatted Strawberry Seeds for Tiliroside Isolation Using Accelerated Solvent Extraction Combined with a Box–Behnken Design

by Magdalena Wójciak, Barbara Mazurek, Weronika Wójciak, Dorota Kostrzewa, Magdalena Żuk, Mariusz Chmiel, Tomasz Kubrak and Ireneusz Sowa

Molecules 2024, 29(13), 3051; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29133051 - 27 Jun 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1166

Abstract

Tiliroside is a natural polyphenolic compound with a wide range of biological activity, and defatted strawberry seeds are its rich source. The goal of this study was to optimize accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) conditions, including temperature, solvent composition, and the number of extraction cycles, using Box–Behnken design to maximize the yield of tiliroside. UPLC-DAD-MS was applied to investigate the polyphenolic composition of the extracts, and preparative liquid chromatography (pLC) was used for isolation. All obtained mathematical models generally showed an increase in the efficiency of isolating polyphenolic compounds with an increase in temperature, ethanol content, and the number of extraction cycles. The optimal established ASE conditions for tiliroside were as follows: a temperature of 65 °C, 63% ethanol in water, and four extraction cycles. This allowed for the obtainment of a tiliroside-rich fraction, and the recovery of isolated tiliroside from plant material reached 243.2 mg from 100 g. Our study showed that ASE ensures the isolation of a tiliroside-rich fraction with high effectiveness. Furthermore, defatted strawberry seeds proved to be a convenient source of tiliroside because the matrix of accompanying components is relatively poor, which facilitates separation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Approaches in the Extraction of Biomolecules from Plants–Molecular and Application Basics)

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12 pages, 1664 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Methodological Aspects of Green Extraction of Usnic Acid Using Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents

by Magdalena Kulinowska, Sławomir Dresler, Agnieszka Skalska-Kamińska, Agnieszka Hanaka and Maciej Strzemski

Molecules 2023, 28(14), 5321; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28145321 - 10 Jul 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1558

Abstract

Usnic acid (UA) is a compound with multiple biological activities that make it useful in various industries, e.g., pharmaceutical, cosmetic, dentistry, and agricultural sectors. Lichens are the primary source of UA, which is primarily extracted using acetone. This study aimed to investigate the solubility of UA in numerous natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) and use a mixture of thymol and camphor as a NADES in the optimization of the UA extraction process with the design of experiments method. For numerical optimization, the following parameters were employed in the experiment to confirm the model: a camphor-to-thymol ratio of 0.3, a liquid-to-solid ratio of 60, and a time of 30 min. The obtained experimental results aligned well with the predicted values, with the mean experimental value falling within the confidence interval, exhibiting deviations between 11.93 and 14.96. By employing this model, we were able to optimize the extraction procedure, facilitating the isolation of approximately 91% of the total UA content through a single extraction, whereas a single acetone extraction yielded only 78.4% of UA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Approaches in the Extraction of Biomolecules from Plants–Molecular and Application Basics)

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13 pages, 3314 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cinnamomum japonicum Siebold Branch Extracts Attenuate NO and ROS Production via the Inhibition of p38 and JNK Phosphorylation

by Jae Min Kim, Moon-Hee Choi and Ji Hye Yang

Molecules 2023, 28(4), 1974; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28041974 - 19 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1819

Abstract

Cinnamomum japonicum (CJ) is widely distributed in Asian countries like Korea, China, and Japan. Modern pharmacological studies have demonstrated that it exhibits various biological activities, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. However, most studies have confirmed the efficacy of its water extract but not that of its other extracts. Therefore, in this study, Cinnamomum japonicum Siebold branches (CJB: 70% EtOH extract) were separated using hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate (CJB3), butanol, and water. Then, their antioxidative activities and phenolic contents were measured. Results revealed that the antioxidant activities and phenolic contents of CJB3 were higher than those of the other extracts. Further, the inhibitory and anti-inflammatory effect of CJB3 on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and LPS-activated macrophages, respectively, was determined. CJB3 suppressed oxidative stress in LPS-activated cells and dose-dependently decreased LPS-stimulated ROS production. CJB3 reduced oxidative stress and reversed the glutathione decrease in LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells. The inhibitory and reducing effect of CJB3 on LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) production and inducible NO synthase protein and messenger RNA levels, respectively, was investigated. CJB3 inhibited LPS-induced cytokine production and p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation but not extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation. Overall, the study results suggest that CJB3 may exert its anti-inflammatory effects via the suppression of p38, JNK, and c-Jun activation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Approaches in the Extraction of Biomolecules from Plants–Molecular and Application Basics)

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19 pages, 3765 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Isolation of the Main Biologically Active Substances and Phytochemical Analysis of Ginkgo biloba Callus Culture Extracts

by Violeta Le, Andrey Sukhikh, Timothy Larichev, Svetlana Ivanova, Alexander Prosekov and Anastasia Dmitrieva

Molecules 2023, 28(4), 1560; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28041560 - 6 Feb 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2438

Abstract

The work reveals the results of studying the content of biologically active substances in samples of extracts of Ginkgo biloba callus cultures. Callus cultures grown in vitro on liquid nutrient media were the objects of the study. Considering various factors affecting the yield of the target components during extraction, the volume fraction of the organic modifier in the extracting mixture, the temperature factor, and the exposure time were identified as the main ones. The maximum yield of extractive substances (target biologically active substances with a degree of extraction of at least 50%) from the samples of callus culture extracts was detected at a ratio of extragent of 70% ethanol, a temperature of 50 °C, and exposure time of 6 h. Flavonoids, such as luteolin, quercetin, isoramentin, kaempferol, and amentoflavone, were isolated in the extract samples. As a result of column chromatography, fractions of individual biologically active substances (bilobalide, ginkgolide A, B, and C) were determined. The proposed schemes are focused on preserving the nativity while ensuring maximum purification from associated (ballast) components. Sorbents (Sephadex LH-20, poly-amide, silica gel) were used in successive stages of chromatography with rechromatography. The degree of purity of individually isolated substances was at least 95%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Approaches in the Extraction of Biomolecules from Plants–Molecular and Application Basics)

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18 pages, 4604 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Application of Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents for Extraction of Bioactive Components from Rhodiola rosea (L.)

by Nikita Tsvetov, Oksana Paukshta, Nadezhda Fokina, Natalia Volodina and Artemiy Samarov

Molecules 2023, 28(2), 912; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28020912 - 16 Jan 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2739

Abstract

Rhodiola rosea (L.) is a valuable source of nutrients. Nutrients have adaptogenic, immunostimulating, nootropic, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) consisting of choline chloride and malonic, malic, tartaric or citric acids have been first used to extract biologically active substances from R. rosea. The total content of polyphenols has been determined by the Folin–Ciocalteu method for all extracts. Antioxidant activity has been determined by the phosphomolybdate method, and antiradical activity has been determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. Rosavin concentration has been determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Extraction kinetics has been evaluated regarding the effectiveness of NADES with each other and with reference solvents (water and 50% ethanol) has been made. Extraction conditions have been optimized according to the Box–Behnken design of the experiment. The optimal parameters of the extraction process have been established. The antibacterial activity of NADES-based extracts against bacterial cultures of Micrococcus luteus, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Bacillus subtilis has been studied. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Approaches in the Extraction of Biomolecules from Plants–Molecular and Application Basics)

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12 pages, 2529 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ultrasound-Assisted Water Extraction of Gentiopicroside, Isogentisin, and Polyphenols from Willow Gentian “Dust” Supported by Hydroxypropyl-β-Cyclodextrin as Cage Molecules

by Miloš S. Jovanović, Nemanja Krgović, Katarina Šavikin and Jelena Živković

Molecules 2022, 27(21), 7606; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27217606 - 6 Nov 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1721

Abstract

The residue after sieving (“dust”) from the willow gentian underground parts is an unexploited herbal tea by-product, although it contains valuable bioactive compounds. Cyclodextrins as efficient green co-solvents, cage molecules, and multifunctional excipients could improve the extraction and contribute to the added value of the resulting extracts. The objective of this study was to determine the optimal conditions for the extraction of gentiopicroside, isogentisin, and total phenolics (TPC) from willow gentian “dust” using ultrasound-assisted water extraction coupled with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD). The influence of extraction temperature (X₁: 20–80 °C), time (X₂: 20–50 min), and HPβCD concentration (X₃: 2–4% w/v) was analyzed employing the response surface methodology (RSM). The optimal extraction conditions for simultaneously maximizing the extraction yield of all monitored responses were X₁: 74.89 °C, X₂: 32.57 min, and X₃: 3.01% w/v. The experimentally obtained response values under these conditions (46.96 mg/g DW for gentiopicroside, 0.51 mg/g DW for isogentisin, and 12.99 mg GAE/g DW for TPC) were in close agreement with those predicted, thus confirming the suitability and good predictive accuracy of the developed RSM models. Overall, the developed extraction system could be an applicable alternative strategy to improve the extraction of bioactive compounds from the underutilized “dust” of willow gentian underground parts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Approaches in the Extraction of Biomolecules from Plants–Molecular and Application Basics)

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