Sonic Solutions: How Ultrasound Technology Enhances Nettle’s Nutrient Extraction

This research article examines the application of ultrasound technology for extracting specialized metabolites from nettle powder (Urtica dioica L.). The researchers compared conventional extraction methods with ultrasound-assisted extraction (using two different ultrasound systems) to evaluate their effectiveness in extracting specialized metabolites, including ascorbic acid, polyphenolic compounds, and pigments. The findings reveal that ultrasound-assisted extraction, particularly with a probe system, is significantly more efficient for obtaining higher yields of specialized metabolites in a shorter time compared to conventional and bath-ultrasound extraction. The study also found that ethanol concentration plays a critical role in extraction efficiency: 80% ethanol is more effective for extracting ascorbic acid and pigments, while 50% v/v is more effective for extracting polyphenolic compounds. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.870923

More info: https://juancastagnini.github.io/