Optimization of bioactive compound extraction from cannabis leaves via ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) utilizing advanced solvent systems
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Abstract
This study evaluates the efficiency of ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) in recovering antioxidant compounds from Cannabis sativa leaves using water and 95% ethanol as solvents. Fresh and dried cannabis leaves were subjected to UAE under controlled conditions to compare the extraction yields and antioxidant activities of the two solvents. The results indicate that ethanol, when combined with UAE, significantly enhanced the extraction of phenolic and flavonoid compounds. The total phenolic content in ethanol-extracted samples was 73.45±2.31 mg GAE/g, compared to 45.32±1.94 mg GAE/g for water extraction. Similarly, the total flavonoid content was 58.12±1.84 mg QE/g for ethanol extraction, significantly higher than 35.78±1.52 mg QE/g obtained from water extraction. The antioxidant activity, assessed using DPPH and ABTS assays, was also highest in the ethanol-extracted samples, with IC50 values of 19.85±0.45 µg/mL (DPPH) and 15.32±0.87 µg/mL (ABTS), demonstrating superior performance compared to water extraction (IC50 = 30.14±1.22 µg/mL (DPPH) and 28.67±1.05 µg/mL (ABTS)). Additionally, the analysis of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD) revealed that fresh cannabis leaves contained a high THC concentration (10,327 mg/kg) with negligible CBD, whereas dried leaves exhibited a higher CBD concentration (6,842 mg/kg) and a lower THC concentration (4,923 mg/kg). These findings suggest that UAE, particularly with ethanol as the extraction solvent, enhances the recovery of bioactive compounds from cannabis leaves, offering promising applications in pharmaceutical and functional food industries.
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