The 16th International Conference CONSTRUCTIVE AND TECHNOLOGICAL DESIGN OPTIMIZATION IN THE MACHINES BUILDING FIELD

OPROTEH-2021

Ultrasound-assisted extraction of bioactive compounds from ivy leaves

Cristina Luciana Negrea1, Ioana Popa1, Ioan Calinescu1, Laura Maholea1, Adina Ionuta Gavrila1*
1
Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Material Science, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 1-7 Gh. Polizu, Bucharest, Romania

GOAL OF THE STUDY

Hedera helix L., commonly known as ivy, belongs to the Araliaceae Juss. family and is native to North America, Asia, and Western, Central and Southern
Europe [1]. The most important constituent which is responsible for the ivy plant medical use are triterpene saponins [2]. The first step for using the bioactive
compounds from ivy plant in nutritional supplements or food ingredients is represented by their extraction. The conventional methods require long extraction
times, high temperatures, relatively high solvent and energy consumptions, which could lead to the bioactive compound degradation. The aim of this work
was to study the influence of ultrasound on the extraction efficiency of saponins from ivy leaves.

METHODOLOGY OF THE INVESTIGATION

The extraction of saponin was carried out using the ultrasound apparatus Vibracell VCX750 equipped with a titanium probe. The experiments were
performed in ethanol at different extraction times (20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 min) and temperatures (30, 40, and 50°C). The sonication was applied in a
continuous mode at an amplitude of 20, 40, and 60% corresponding to the following ultrasound power: 5.5, 27.9, and 58.9 W. The ratio of solvent to vegetal
material was 20/1 for all the extractions. To highlight the efficiency of the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), experiments using a conventional method
(CE) - in the same conditions as UAE - were also performed. In order to determine the total saponin content (TSC) of the extracts by vanillin-sulfuric acid
assay, the solvent of the sample (1 mL for each extraction) was evaporated and redissolved in a solution of 80% methanol in water. The results were
quantified as milligrams of diosgenin equivalents per 1 gram of dry matter (mg DE/g DM) using a standard curve corresponding to 50-350 mg/L diosgenin
solution.
MAIN RESULTS FROM THE STUDY
Increasing the ultrasound power leads to high TSC at a temperature of 30 ⁰C and an extraction time of 60 min (see fig. 1). However, considering the facts that
the difference of TSC values between 40 and 60% amplitude is not substantial and the Vibracell apparatus requires a cooling agent, all further experiments
were performed at an amplitude of 40%. Also, it can be noticed in fig. 1 that UAE leads to better results, for all ultrasound power, compared with CE.
As shown in fig. 2, increasing the extraction temperature leads to better results, the maximum TSC value being achieved at 50°C.
70
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TSC, mgDE/gDM

TSC, mgDE/gDM

TSC, mgDE/gDM

50 27.93 W 58.86 W 50
5.48 W 40
40 0W
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30
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20
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30 40 50 0
0 20 40 60 o
Amplitude (%) Temperature ( C) 0 30 60 90 120
Time (min)
Fig. 1. Influence of ultrasound power on Fig. 2. Influence of extraction temperature on Fig. 3. Influence of extraction time on the
the TSC (30 ⁰C, 60 min). the TSC at an amplitude of 40% and 60 min. TSC at 50 ⁰C and an amplitude of 40%.
Regarding the influence of the extraction time on the TSC of ivy leaves, it can be noticed in fig. 3 that, at a temperature of 50°, the saponins concentration
increase up until 80 min and then a slowly decrease occurs.
CONCLUSIONS
The aim of this work was to study the influence of ultrasound on the extraction efficiency of saponins from ivy leaves. The TSC increased when a high
ultrasound power was applied, the maximum value being achieved at an amplitude of 60%. Increasing the temperature from 30 to 50°C led to higher saponins
concentration. The optimum extraction time for a temperature of 50°C and an amplitude of 40% was 80 min. Compared with the CE, UAE led to better
results for all ultrasound power applied.
AKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors acknowledge the financial support received from the Unit Executive for Funding Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation,
Action Joint Demonstration experimental project, PN-III-P2-PED-2019-2118, project: “Technologies for obtaining of natural products with
immunostimulatory properties – IMUNOSTIM,” financed by contract: PED, no. 381PED/2020.
This work was also supported by a grant of the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitization, CNCS/CCCDI – UEFISCDI, project number PCE
12/2021, within PNCDI III”.
KEY REFERENCES
1. Bezruk I, Marksa M, Georgiyants V, Ivanauskas L and Raudone L, (2020) Phytogeographical Profiling of Ivy Leaf (Hedera Helix L.). Industrial Crops
and Products, 154, 112713. 1
2. Tatia R, Zalaru C., Tarcomnicu I, Moldovan L, Craciunescu O and Calinescu I, (2019) Isolation and Characterization of Hederagenin from Hedera Helix
L. Extract with Antitumor Activity. Revista De Chimie, 70, 1157-1161.
Corresponding author: Adina Gavrila, e-mail: adinagav@yahoo.com